At WMed, we believe that part of our social responsibility as a medical is to give back to the community. As such, we have implemented WMed as a new initiative to encourage our employees to go out into the community and serve in areas that align with our mission and values. All employees are provided with eight hours of paid volunteer time annually, but are encouraged to go beyond the eight hours as they develop impactful relationships through local organization efforts.
The Office of Health Equity & Community Affairs is here to help connect you with volunteer opportunities and with organizations in the community. Please see the list below of organizations we partner with and information on how to connect with those sites.
Community Partners
Creating community partnerships is a key element to our mission of building health equity in the community. Here at WMed, we maintain these relationships by providing our faculty, staff, residents, and students opportunities to be involved with community organizations through volunteering with our WMed Volunteers! Initiative for employees, and our Engagement & Discovery course which creates community engagement opportunities for students.
- Community Organization Highlights
WMed Volunteers! Lunch & Learn sessions are an avenue to learn more about local organizations WMed partners with by highlighting our community partners via virtual sessions. See more at the links below.
Volunteer Opportunities
- Cheff Therapeutic Riding Center
The Cheff Therapeutic Riding Center is in need of volunteers. For more information about volunteer opportunities, please visit cheffcenter.org/volunteering.
- Kalamazoo Ed 360
Youth Mentoring (Individuals)
Contact: Jesse Herron, Program Director
To volunteer, send an email to healthequityandcommunityaffairs@wmed.edu. A background check required and training is provided. This is a school year-long commitment to establish relationship with mentees.
- Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes
Food Pantry (Groups & Individuals)
Website: https://kzoolf.org/volunteer
Contact: Ray Kuerth, Volunteer Coordinator (raykuerth@klf.org)
All volunteer projects are food related and directly benefit individuals suffering from food insecurity in our community. These projects may include but are not limited to:
- Making C.S.F.P. (Commodity Supplemental Food Program) boxes for senior citizens
- Making ASP (After School Packs) or Weekend Food Packs for children in local grade schools
- Making non-perishable boxes of food for our home delivery and contactless pickup programs
- Making outreach food bags for individuals experiencing homelessness
- Nonperishable and perishable food sorting
All of the warehouse projects do require some degree of lifting, bending, stooping, and standing.
Volunteer Teams
For teams, Loaves and Fishes is able to facilitate up to 14 volunteers at a time. If a team would like to come in to volunteer, the visit needs to be set up and scheduled at least a month in advance. Loaves and Fishes can schedule teams as far into the future as is convenient. It is preferred to have a single contact for teams and groups and if a team has a preferred day or days but needs time to confirm interest from volunteers, it is recommended that teams reserve a day so another team is not scheduled first.
Individual Volunteers
Loaves and Fishes has a monthly contact list used to reach out to potential volunteers to cover volunteer needs. Volunteer projects have maximum capacity limits so all are first come, first serve
- Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity
Website: https://habitatkalamazoo.org/volunteer-volunteer-orientation/volunteer-opportunities/
Contact: Eddie DeGraw, Volunteer Coordinator (269.344.2443, ext. 204 or edegraw@habitatkalamazoo.org)
- Construction Volunteers: Our teams build and repair homes on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
- Habitat ReStore Volunteers: Volunteers keep our Habitat ReStore humming. Volunteers can help on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. We have flexible shifts on our online calendar.
- Photographers: We need good photographers to take high-resolution photos at Habitat events, construction sites, and the Habitat ReStore. The photos are used in publications and social media. Time commitment can vary.
- Habitat Gardeners: Help tend our garden. This plot, in the process of being moved from the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church to our Habitat Warehouse, accepts donations of perennials, shrubs, and trees that are used to landscape Habitat homes. We need volunteers to keep the beds organized, mow the grass between the raised beds, and tend the plants. Time commitment varies and is seasonal.
- Milestone Senior Services
Senior Service Center
Website: https://www.milestoneseniorservices.org/volunteer
Contact: Traci Wheeler, Volunteer Services Supervisor
Interested volunteers can fill out an application at https://www.milestoneseniorservices.org/volunteer. A background check is required and onboarding and training are provided.
Meals on Wheels
Meal delivery takes place Monday through Friday in Kalamazoo or Calhoun counties. This volunteer opportunity starts each day between 10:15 and 11:00 a.m. depending on meal pickup location. Most deliveries take 1.5 to 2.5 hours and it is recommended that you be available to volunteer between 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Volunteers typically work in pairs for each route, but routes can be done individually, if preferred. Drivers use their own vehicle and navigation while hoppers take meals to the door and provide a brief check of a person's well-being. Volunteers deliver nutritious meals and a friendly smiles to our seniors.
Meal pick-up/delivery locations:
Calhoun County: Albion Forks Senior Center (Two routes; 11:00 a.m.) Calhoun County: Battle Creek office inside the Kool Family Center (Seven routes; 10:00 a.m.) Kalamazoo County: Milestone Office (11 routes, two routes have apartment drop sites; 10:00 a.m.) Kalamazoo County: Apartments (Three routes; Hope Woods, Crosstown Parkway, Skyrise; 10:30-10:45 a.m.) Kalamazoo County: South County Community Services: (One route; Vicksburg; 11:00-11:15 a.m.)Ramp Builds with our Home Repair Team: Generally, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, volunteers go to homes in Kalamazoo or Calhoun counties to build and install accessible wheelchair ramps. Typically, minimal carpentry skills are required but many tasks can be taught on the spot. Volunteers work with our certified home repair technicians and other volunteers who do pre-building projects and ramp builds and installation. Shifts begin at 8:30 a.m. in Kalamazoo County, and between 9:30 and 10:00 a.m. in Calhoun County.
Companionship: Uplift seniors and offer reassurance, socialization with a meaningful conversation in-person or by phone. We offer placement matches, training, and scheduling with clients in Kalamazoo and Calhoun counties.
Transportation: Provide non-emergency medical transportation, grocery shopping rides and assistance, and basic errand rides. We offer placement matches, training and scheduling with clients in Kalamazoo and Calhoun counties.
Home Safety projects with our Home Repair team: Volunteers go to homes in Kalamazoo or Calhoun counties to install grab bars or handrails, repair stairs, install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and more. Knowledge of basic hand and powers tools, and basic home repair skills such as general home maintenance, carpentry, electrical, or plumbing required. Shifts are between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday.
- Kalamazoo County: Crossroads Apartments: (Two routes; Portage, In-town and Lake; 10:00-10:15 a.m.)
- YMCA
After School Enrichment Program
Contact: Alison Koch (alisonk@bgckzoo.org)
Website: https://www.ymca.org/get-involved/volunteer/opportunities
Help provide kids with positive experiences that enrich their lives. Volunteer after school, and join us in providing a safe space for kids that is accessible and engaging. To volunteer fill out the application at https://boysandgirlsclub.wufoo.com/forms/general-volunteer-application/.
- YWCA Kalamazoo
Website: https://www.ywcakalamazoo.org/how-you-can-help/volunteer
Kalamazoo Academy Reading Program