Volunteer, Give, Attend, Spread the Word
How You Can Join The Movement
Volunteer
Come be a part of the team! Volunteers are always needed at monthly pass out sites as well as during the Thanksgiving distribution event. Please fill out the volunteer form to learn more.
Give
Help our efforts to relieve food insecurity in metro Detroit by donating today! Any amount helps to make a difference in our community.
Be an Advocate
Our work can’t be done without our sponsors and partners! If you have an organization that would like to partner with Higher Hopes! we welcome the conversation and we are grateful for your consideration.
Charitable Giving
Donating appreciated stocks, bonds or mutual funds is a great way to support the mission of Higher Hopes! You may receive a tax deduction for the full market value of the stocks. You can transfer a gift of stock electronically by contacting your broker and filling out the form below.
You and Your Friends Can Be Hunger Relief Advocates!
It is a ton of fun to volunteer for our events at Higher Hopes! Grab your BFF’s and meet at Gleaners Food Bank or one of our pass out locations during the year. It will be valued memories for a lifetime!
Other Resources
Higher Hopes! does not directly identify recipients of our events, but instead works through Head Starts and the Food Bank Council of Michigan. If you are in need of food assistance, below are a list of resources to help.
Food Assistance Resources
211 Helpline & More
211 Helpline
For 24/7 assistance in locating your nearest emergency food resource, dial 2-1-1.
United Way for Southeastern Michigan’s 2-1-1 team serves the counties of Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Lapeer and Washtenaw. The 2-1-1 helpline provides referrals to programs to assist with food, housing, financial assistance, utility assistance and more. The operator will ask you a few basic questions (family size, location, etc.) and will provide you with the nearest food distribution location.
Help is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year, from anywhere in the State of Michigan. Link – https://unitedwaysem.org/get-help/#:~:text=A%20lifeline%20in%20times%20of,in%20the%20state%20of%20Michigan.
Food Banks
Food Banks
Food Bank of Eastern Michigan
Find Food Page – https://www.fbem.org/find-food/
South Michigan Food Bank
Find Food Bank – https://smfoodbank.org/findfood/
Food Delivery Page – https://smfoodbank.org/delivery/
Greater Lansing Food Bank
Food Pantries and Mobile Distributions – https://greaterlansingfoodbank.org/get-help/pantries
Home Delivery – https://greaterlansingfoodbank.org/get-help/home-delivery
Feeding America West Michigan
Find Food Page – https://www.feedwm.org/findfood/
Food Pantries
Food Pantries
Forgotten Harvest
Find Food Page – https://www.forgottenharvest.org/find-food/
Food Gatherers
Food Map – https://www.foodgatherers.org/foodresources/
Gleaners Community Food Bank
Food Pantry map – https://pantrynet.org/
Food Pantries by City – https://www.foodpantries.org/st/michigan
FAQ
How can I volunteer?
Typically, Higher Hopes! has three volunteer opportunities throughout the year to help with our holiday meal distributions. The Labor Day BBQ distribution occurs at four sites throughout Detroit the Friday before the holiday. The Thanksgiving event has two volunteer opportunites: pack-up day the Saturday before Thanksgiving and distribution day which occurs the following Monday. To learn more about how to sign up, visit our volunteer page here.
Can my group/organizaion volunteer?
Yes! Higher Hopes! welcomes groups to help pack-up and distribute food at our events. Your point person will need to provide and send out information to all your participants. Visit our Volunteer Group Registration page here.
Can my child volunteer?
Thanksgiving pack-up day is run out of Gleaners Community Food Bank, and they require that all volunteers must be 14 years old. For distrubution events, we ask that volunteers be at least 10 years old. Please be aware that the event is entirely outdoors and recipients will be driving through to pick up their meal kits.
Can I get community service hours through your events?
Yes! Bring your community service documents to volunteer event and one of our staff would be happy to fill it out.
Can I donate a product?
Due to the nature of how Higher Hopes! operates, we are only able to accept product donations in high quantities (for holiday events at least 1,000). If you have a large quantity of products you wuld like to donate, please contact us with more information. If not, local food pantries are always looking for donations (LINK TO FOOD/BANK PANTRY SITE.)
How can I get food assistance?
Higher Hopes! distributes food through Head Start Programs which identify the families that receive the food kits. To find local assistance, this page click here, this is a good place to start. Or you can call the 211 helpline to find referrals and programs that assist with food, housing, financial assistance, utility assistance, and more.
Are you currently hiring?
No. Higher Hopes! is fully run by a small gruop of volunteers that handle administrative tasks.
