Volunteer Center Events

In addition to our long-term programs and the hundreds of volunteer opportunities available through our community partners, we hold special events to help build awareness and connect students to service opportunities. These events include:

9/11 Day of Service & Remembrance

Every year the Volunteer Center hosts drop-in service projects in honor and remembrance of those lost on September 11th, 2001. Projects vary annually, but include activities such as: snack pack decorating, letters of gratitude, Valentines for Veterans, and more.

Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week

Every November, the Volunteer Center hosts a number events and awareness campaigns during Hunger & Homelessness Awareness week. Visit our Student Food Pantry Engage Central page for details on this year's programming.

MLK Jr. Day of Service

The Mary Ellen Brandell Volunteer Center ensures the CMU community can make Martin Luther King Jr. Day a "day on" rather than a day off. Service projects are offered throughout the UC and typically take place after the Peace Brunch and before the Unity March. For details on this year's service projects, please check out our event listings on our Engage Central page.

Valentines for Veterans

Each year, the Volunteer Center sends hundreds of handmade Valentine's Day cards to Veterans Hospitals throughout Michigan to show our support to those who served our country. When safe to do so, during the week of Valentine's Day, Volunteer Center staff members, along with the university President, make a trip to the Aleda E. Lutz VA Medical Center in Saginaw to hand-deliver some of these cards to the residents!

Individuals and groups are asked to make these Valentine's Day cards throughout the year and deliver them to the Volunteer Center. Throughout the year, the Volunteer Center provides card-making supplies and invites the campus community to visit our office to decorate cards.

Be My Neighbor Day

CMU students and alumni take a day to give back to the community during Be My Neighbor Day in April, traditionally held at the end of National Volunteer Week. Individuals and groups on campus, as well as alumni, have been coming together to give back since the formation of the Volunteer Center in 1992.

Students have volunteered with Habitat for Humanity Restore, Laurels Assisted Living Community, the Isabella County Parks and Rec, Hope Well Ranch, Goodwill and many other community organizations.

Host Your Own Event: Student Organization Event Advising

The Volunteer Center is happy to provide guidance and best practices to student organizations seeking to host service projects. Additionally, we are happy to coordinate a project with your organization and will provide a project host who can facilitate educational discussion and reflection. Contact the Volunteer Center for more information.