HarmonyFlowVolunteer / Metro Detroit
Volunteer in Metro Detroit
Organizations in and around Detroit that take volunteers: food banks, programs for seniors and the riverfront.
HarmonyFlow does not run these programs. Each card says what volunteers do and who can join, from the organization's own volunteer page, and the button takes you to sign up with them.
Organizations taking volunteers in Metro Detroit
Gleaners Community Food Bank: Warehouses, gardens and pantries
Sort and pack food in its warehouses, tend community gardens, hand out food at pantries, or help with office work. Some outdoor distribution shifts load food into cars.
Who can join: Individuals, families, corporate teams and community groups. Outdoor distribution shifts are 18 and up. It is not taking court-ordered community service hours right now.
On the day: Outdoor distribution shifts load food into cars and clean up afterwards.
How to start: See every shift in its volunteer portal.
Open Gleaners' shift calendar (we read their volunteer page on October 27, 2026; open shifts are on their site)
Focus: HOPE: Food for seniors and early learning
Pack food boxes for homebound seniors, deliver them to seniors around metro Detroit, or help care for young children in its early learning center.
How to start: Pick an opportunity in its volunteer portal.
Open Focus: HOPE's volunteer portal (we read their volunteer page on October 27, 2026; open shifts are on their site)
Detroit Riverfront Conservancy: Riverfront events and projects
Help run the events and programs on the Detroit Riverfront. Groups can book projects along the riverfront year-round.
Before your first shift: Fill in the volunteer paperwork, then attend an in-person training, where you get a uniform.
How to start: After training, sign up for assignments in its volunteer system.
See how to join the Riverfront team (we read their volunteer page on October 27, 2026; open shifts are on their site)
Forgotten Harvest: Packing, farm and food rescue
Pack emergency food boxes and sort or repack fresh food for Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties at its distribution center. There are also farm days, food-rescue driving routes (Harvest Heroes) and longer-term roles.
Who can join: Distribution center: 10 and up; anyone under 18 comes with a parent or guardian. Food-rescue routes: 18 and up.
Before your first shift: Training is given at the start of each session.
Getting there: Harvest Heroes run a weekly route of about 2–3 hours, usually starting around 9am.
How to start: Pick an opportunity in its volunteer portal.
Open Forgotten Harvest's volunteer portal (we read their volunteer page on October 27, 2026; open shifts are on their site)
Pope Francis Center: Meals, donations and showers
Prepare and serve meals, sort donations, or help with showers at its Day Center and Bridge Housing Campus.
On the day: Wear comfortable clothes, long pants and closed-toe shoes. Kitchen volunteers are given a hat or hairnet.
Getting there: Its volunteer portal has parking details for each location.
How to start: Sign up for Day Center or Bridge Housing Campus shifts in its volunteer portal.
Open Pope Francis Center's volunteer portal (we read their volunteer page on October 27, 2026; open shifts are on their site)
Cass Community Social Services: Volunteering for an hour, a day or regularly
Help in a variety of ways, for an hour, a day or as a regular. Groups can also stay overnight or for several days.
Who can join: Adults, youth and children; it says over 10 is best.
How to start: Contact its volunteer office from its volunteer page.
See Cass volunteer details (we read their volunteer page on October 27, 2026; open shifts are on their site)
Lighthouse: Grocery delivery
Deliver groceries and supplies to older, homebound and other neighbors.
How to start: Fill in its volunteer form.
Open Lighthouse's volunteer form (we read their volunteer page on October 27, 2026; open shifts are on their site)
The Greening of Detroit: Trees, parks and gardens
Plant trees, clean up parks and work in its urban garden.
How to start: Start from its volunteer page.
See Greening of Detroit volunteer options (we read their volunteer page on October 27, 2026; open shifts are on their site)