NJHS members are responsible for completing a minimum of twelve hours total for the year. Service fits into one of two categories:
GROUP and INDEPENDENT
I. GROUP SERVICE:
Six hours will be completed through participation in school-sponsored, group service projects. Members will select the service projects in which they are interested.
Service Hours must be completed by the May morning meeting.
Only hours fully documented on the Service Log form will be accepted, so keep track of those hours as you complete them!
Each member is responsible for completing six additional service hours ON THEIR OWN. These independent hours may be completed over the summer as well as during the school year.
Independent service hours must also be documented on the Service Hours Log form. These hours must be verified by a supervisor other than a parent or family member. Your supervisor is the contact person with whom you make arrangements to provide your service.
It is strongly recommended by the national organization that Independent Service be done on behalf of community organizations in an area of particular interest for the student. For instance, while it's great to babysit for your neighbor for free or shovel Aunt Betsy's driveway, NJHS is encouraging its members to work for an organization and/or cause about which you are concerned. See some examples below.
Service Log forms may be submitted to the Vice President, Ms. Vogel, or deposited in the NJHS folder in the office.
This year due to the pandemic we need to adapt to how we are implementing group service hours. We will support the following:
West Michigan Meals on Wheels Food Drive
West Michigan Meals on Wheels Pantry
Boo at the Zoo
Mel Trotter Shoeboxes for the Homeless
Gratitude Breakfast for the Bus Drivers
Kids Food Basket Supper Bags
Examples of independent service opportunities that may be available include:
- Kids Food Basket
- Humane Society of West Michigan
- Gilda's Club
- Kent District Library
- Help the Homeless and Hungry
Meet a Need-Catholic Charities West Michigan
There are many ways in which you can provide help and create hope for the individuals and families served through Catholic Charities West Michigan.
If you are interested in any of these activities please call 616.551.5667 for more information.
Some opportunities include:
Donate personal care items. We are in need of personal care items, shampoo, perfume, soap, shavers, deodorant, lotion, q-tips, Kleenex, etc.
Collecting items to be used at our Casa Family Support Center. Previously a transitional housing shelter, the home “reopened” in December 2010 as a visit and education center for the agency’s foster children and their families. While children are in foster care, they are now able to visit with their siblings and biological parents in the comfort of a home setting, which allows for flexibility during parenting time and increased parent/child interaction. The Center would appreciate donations of paper towels, coffee filters and coffee, dish soap, dishes, silverware, board games (various age appropriate), a stroller or two, play dishes and food for the kitchen in the playroom. There are several other "wishes" for the center including wood chips for the play area outside, light fixture/fan replacement for the office, flooring for the main floor, outdoor toys and a Wii with games. Plainfield Township Branch of KDL
2650 5 Mile Rd. NE
Contact: Susan Erhardt
784-2007
Kids must be 13 or older and will need to fill out an application ahead of time.
You can contact Susan Erhardt to discuss service opportunities. The Plainfield Library also takes volunteers during the summer months and applications are available the beginning of May for those slots. The library requests that volunteers can give at least 2-4 hours per week. Students would be helping sign people up for the summer reading programs at the library and working with other special library programs.
North Country Trail Association—West Michigan Chapter
Events are posted on the website
Contact: Paul Haan
phaan@me.com or 616-734-9443
Senior Meals Program, Inc.
1954 Fuller Ave. NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49505
Contact: Danielle Simmons
364-1104
Volunteers needed to sort and box food donations from the food drive and also stock shelves at the pantry. Please contact Danielle ASAP if you would like to help.
Humane Society Kent County
3077 Wilson NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49534
Contact: Ashley Dahl
453-8900
The Humane Society has an ongoing need for volunteers. They need middle school-age kids to read to and spend one-on-one time with the dogs in a relaxing, home-like atmosphere. They also need cattery attendants and small animal attendants (rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, mice, rats, etc.). Kids under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Both adults and minors will need to fill out an application available online at www.hswestmi.org. There is a required orientation session. Call to determine the dates. There will also be a training session determined by what species you want to work with. Orientation sessions tend to fill up 1-2 months in advance. The Humane Society would like a minimum 6-month commitment and at least 6 hours per month.
West Michigan Environmental Action Council (WMEAC)
Anne Marie
annemarie@wmeac.org
451-3051 ext. 40
In the spring and fall WMEAC makes rain barrels and then holds workshops to show residents in the community how to install them outside their homes. The barrels are donated by Coca Cola and then need to have holes drilled in them and some prep work done prior to the workshops. A waiver will need to be signed prior to volunteering. In the spring, volunteers are needed to weed the rain garden and the green roof at the WMEAC building. Volunteers could also help with the Teach for the Watershed program. This involves going into schools and teaching younger kids about stream sampling and invertebrate identification among other things. This may require volunteering during school hours, so would need advanced permission from school teachers/staff and and NJHS administrator.
In The Image
1823 South Division
Grand Rapids, 49507
616-456-6150
Noe Islas or Sheena Walls
In The Image gives away clothing and gently used household items at their store on South Division. They also run several programs throughout the year including a shoe collection and give-away for school children at the end of the summer. They need volunteers to sort donated items, hang and tag clothing, organize recycling, repair furniture and other damaged items, answer the phone, and perform other office work.
Equest Center for Therapeutic Riding
3777 Rector Ave NE
Rockford, MI 49341
Contact: Marissa Freyling
866-3066 ext. 102 marissaleigh16@gmail.com Volunteer opportunities for working with kids, leading horses in a class, greeting people, office assistant, data entry, unloading hay, landscape and maintenance projects, special events and fundraisers, and more. Must be 14 to work in the riding area, and 12 to work in the barns accompanied by an adult. See the website (www.equestcenter.org) for additional information.
3777 Rector Ave NE
Rockford, MI 49341
Contact: Marissa Freyling
866-3066 ext. 102 marissaleigh16@gmail.com Volunteer opportunities for working with kids, leading horses in a class, greeting people, office assistant, data entry, unloading hay, landscape and maintenance projects, special events and fundraisers, and more. Must be 14 to work in the riding area, and 12 to work in the barns accompanied by an adult. See the website (www.equestcenter.org) for additional information.
Parks Department Spring Clean-up
Contact Volunteer Services at park.volunteers@kentcountymi.gov or phone 616-632-7842. Volunteers are needed for countywide clean-up events. Call to determine dates and times. Volunteers will be raking and cleaning up the golf course located south of 44th Wabasis. Lake Campground and Millennium Park also have several clean-up dates scheduled, and workers will be doing mulching, raking, planting, trail trimming, and other special projects. Volunteer Services is also available to help volunteers plan a park clean-up project at a park of their choosing that fits their interests and schedule.
Contact Volunteer Services at park.volunteers@kentcountymi.gov or phone 616-632-7842. Volunteers are needed for countywide clean-up events. Call to determine dates and times. Volunteers will be raking and cleaning up the golf course located south of 44th Wabasis. Lake Campground and Millennium Park also have several clean-up dates scheduled, and workers will be doing mulching, raking, planting, trail trimming, and other special projects. Volunteer Services is also available to help volunteers plan a park clean-up project at a park of their choosing that fits their interests and schedule.
