Arbor Circle is a caring, community-focused organization that reaches thousands of people each year. The need for counseling services and child-development support is enormous. Without intervention, the damaging family cycle will self-perpetuate generation after generation. But Arbor Circle offers help and hope for a better future.

Bethany Christian Services seeks mentors to play basketball, go to the park, and just hangout with youth in one of the following programs: Domestic/Foster Care, Life Skills, Reconnect, and Refugee. No special skills or experience required- just the desire to listen, learn, and have fun! You don't need to be Superman to make a difference in a young man's life. Mentors are required to spend one hour a week for a minimum of six months with their mentees. All mentors must undergo an interview process, screening/background check, be at least 18 years of age and have their own transportation. 
We need volunteers who are free at these times: Evenings, Weekdays, Weekends, Monthly

This volunteer opportunity is available to the following types of volunteers: Young Adults (18-25), Adults (26-54), Adults (55+), Interns, Individual, Women's Leadership Council Member

Big Brothers Big Sisters: Volunteers, high school age and older, are matched to children 5-17 in either the community based program where contact is 2-3 hours a week or in a school based program where contact is less than an hour a week and on school grounds. Service areas include Kent and Eastern Ottawa County. Interested mentors must be at least 18 years of age and graduated from high school; unless mentoring for the school based program, but must have own transportation. Mentors must fill out an application then a BBBS social worker does a home visit with all potential mentors, and goes over a training manual. Mentors must be willing to make a one year commitment and 2-3 hours per week of interaction with the mentee as well as once a month contact with the mentee's family.

Web Site: www.dablodgett.org

We need volunteers who are free at these times: Evenings, Weekdays, Monthly, Weekends

This volunteer opportunity is available to the following types of volunteers: Adolescents (13-17), Young Adults (18-25), Adults (26-54), Adults (55+), Individual, Women's Leadership Council Member

Bridging the Gap is a program designed for the academic success of middle school-aged African-American males, by motivating and enhancing their skills through the discipline of sports and arts, with the guidance of mentors.

Bridging the Gap focuses on two factors that build the linear relationships:

1. Personal and emotional factor programs improving their quality of life.  Having a high quality of life was the strongest emotional perdictor of academic success among school-age black males.  Findings suggest that their academic success is more dependent upon emotional well-being than their female counterparts.

2. Social and environmental factor programs will supplement school efforts.  This will include programs in the areas of sports, arts, and technology, with resources to build and maintain school-based activities.  We will also work to improve the dietary practices of our participants, which is associated with higher academic achievement.

Web Site: www.bgcgryc.org

We need volunteers who are free at these times: Evenings, Weekdays

This volunteer opportunity is available to the following types of volunteers: Adult African-American males only at this time.

Interested in this opportunity? Click Here to Apply

Camp Fire USA is a school based program which serves males and females in the Kent County area in grades K-8th. Camp Fire USA builds caring, confident youth and future leaders. Camp Fire USA works with seven schools in the area and mentors are needed at these schools between the hours of 3:30 pm and 6:00 pm. Volunteers assist students with their homework and school projects. Volunteers may be of high school age and older. There is no specific time requirement for mentoring as far as hours or months, but the volunteer must be consistent, even it is one hour every other week. Volunteers should not expect to meet with the same child every time. Individual who are interested in volunteering will undergo a background check and have an interview through Camp Fire USA, then volunteers are assigned to a school site and have a tour of the school building.

Web Site: www.campfireusawmc.org

We need volunteers who are free at these times: Monthly, Weekdays

This volunteer opportunity is available to the following types of volunteers: Adolescents (13-17), Young Adults (18-25), Adults (26-54), Adults (55+), Interns, Individual, Small Group (2-10), Women's Leadership Council Member