There are two important ways that you can help grieving families by giving time or money. We’ve all said it, “I’m going to volunteer just as soon as I have some free time” or “As soon as I have more money, I’m going to start giving to a charity.” The majority of us will never feel like we have enough time or money. Giving back is something that we have to make an allotment for. Volunteer time can be scheduled like we would any other appointment and we can make donating a part of our monthly budget.
Volunteer Opportunities:
- Group Facilitator
- Advisory Committee
- Fund Development Committee
- Administrative
- Organizing/Inventory of Books and Supplies
- Summer Camp
- Community Outreach and Speaker’s Bureau
- Grief Garden
Group facilitators work with professional counselors to help children who are grieving the loss of a loved one process their emotions and create healthy ways to cope with their loss. Volunteers are required to take our 3 part training and make a 1 year commitment for 3 hours each week.
Advisory committee members help Open Arms by giving program direction, helping with fund raising goals and community outreach.
Fund Development committee members help with the sustainability of the Open Arms program by assisting with fund raising initiatives and events.
Administrative volunteers help with data entry, organizing information, and making phone calls.
Organizing /Inventory volunteers help by keeping our storage areas neat and clean.
Summer camp volunteers help by facilitating craft activities, developing camp workshops, and chaperoning field trips.
Community outreach and speaker’s bureau volunteers help by distributing brochures in the community, giving out information and answering questions at community fairs and speaking about the Open Arms programs at Kiwanis, Rotary, civic groups and churches.
Grief Garden volunteers will help with the planning and planting of Open Arms Grief Garden at Belle Isle Park.
Donating 
The services that Open Arms provides are free to families, so we need your help to sustain the program.
- $600 sponsors a child for six months
- $500 provides 8-weeks of transportation for families who would not otherwise attend
- $200 provides supplies for a 10-week session in the schools
- $75 purchases books/materials for our resource library
- $50 provides education materials for community outreach
Remember a loved one while helping a grieving child
By making a gift of $25.00 to Open Arms you can commemorate the life of your loved one. We will place a plaque with you loved one’s name on our memorial wall.
Make Checks payable to Open Arms and mail to:
Open Arms
c/o St. John Health Foundation
P.O. Box 673271
Detroit, MI 48267-3271
Click here for a printable form to mail.
All donations are tax deductible. You will receive an acknowledgement of your contribution for tax purposes.
