Volunteer Opportunities

S.M.I.L.E. The S.M.I.L.E. program stands for Sharing, Memories, Ideas, Laughter and Encouragement. This program is designed to help Girl Scouts and Girl Scout Troops perform volunteer service throughout the council area. The agencies involved in the S.M.I.L.E. program are in need of volunteers on an ongoing basis. If you or your troop would like to perform volunteer service please contact one of the agencies below to set up a time and date to volunteer.

For your volunteer service you are eligible to purchase the S.M.I.L.E. patch from the council store. This patch may be purchased after your first volunteer service. After you have received your S.M.I.L.E. patch you may begin to keep track of your volunteer service hours to earn rockers for your patch. The rockers are for 25 hours, 50 hours, 75 hours & 100 hours of volunteer service. This program is open to all age levels, however some agencies do have age restrictions, please contact the agency you are interested in to discuss their requirements.

Gilda's Club
(616) 453-8300
1806 Bridge NW
Grand Rapids, MI
Volunteer Needs: Help with children's programs in "Noogie Land", clean up, baked goods, yard clean-up and various other programs throughout the year including house cleaning, data entry, book donations and puppet theatre.

Grand Rapids Home for Veterans
Contact: Jan Rosochacki
(616) 364-5261
3000 Monroe NW
Grand Rapids, MI
Volunteer Needs: Adopt a floor; help with Bingo; also see special programs in events section, such as flag placement, etc. Contact the home for other opportunities.

Domestic Violence Center Ionia
Contact: Vera Homenik
(616) 527-3351 ext. 231
PO Box. 93
Ionia, MI
Volunteer Needs: Children's activity leader-arts & crafts, cooking, reading books, games; Lawn care-plant flowers snow removal, food storage organization-organize & sort food by storage date; Donation organization-organize clothing & household donations; Office Aide-answer phones, file, general office duties.

Camp Anna Behrens
Contact: Rob Garrison
(616) 754-4782
Colby Rd.
Greenville, MI
Volunteer Needs: Volunteer at CAMP! Camp is always in need of clean up help with projects such as pruning trails and brush clean-up. Contact Rob for additional opportunities.

Lutheran Community
Contact: Sharon Munson
(616) 452-6084
2000 32nd SE
Grand Rapids, MI
Volunteer Needs: Clean-up of property in spring/fall, gift collection and distribution such as personal hygiene items, candy and small token gift are needed for Bingo and holiday gifts. Hostesses at events, planning and hostessing small event, donating or demonstrating crafts, delivering hand-made cards, assisting with a game night, Silver and Gold Award opportunities available.

Caretree Adult Day Services
Contact: Rolina Bastiaanse
(616) 464-3665
4065 Saladin Dr. SE
Grand Rapids, MI
Volunteer Needs: Sharing and leading songs, sharing and assisting with crafts, assisting with therapy activities such as arm chair exercises and art therapy projects and gardening (Junior level and above), hosting holiday events, sharing special snack for cocktail hour, lead outdoor games and activities, holiday gift drive, Silver and Gold Award opportunities available.

Friendship Place Adult Day Service
Contact: DeeDee Tate
(616) 456-6135
516 Cherry St
Grand Rapids, MI
Volunteer Needs: Sharing and leading songs, sharing and assisting with crafts, assisting with therapy activities such as arm chair exercises (Junior level and above), hosting holiday events, holiday gift drive, Silver and Gold Award opportunities available.

Belknapp Commons
Contact: Jeanette or Andrea
(616) 742-9927
751 Lafayette NE
Grand Rapids, MI
Volunteer Needs: Make Thanksgiving baskets, help at the Christmas store, book give away-write messages in books, serve food at community picnic, work game tables, direct residents, prepare and serve food at appreciation dinners, collect donations and stock food pantry, fall and spring clean-up, unload food pantry shipments.

Grand Rapids Symphony
Contact: Rebecca Veal
(616) 454-9451 ext. 25
169 Louis Campau Promenade Suite 1
Grand Rapids, MI
Volunteer Needs: Help out at the summer picnic pops concerts. Volunteer for kids activities.

Girl Scouts Michigan Trails 3275 Walker Avenue NW Grand Rapids, MI 49544 (616) 784-3341 (800) 442-1401 FAX: (616) 784-8187