Global Service Month Brings Back Excitement for In-Person Volunteerism

There’s no doubt our community has experienced immense challenges over the past two years as a result of the pandemic. Local nonprofits and charitable organizations were particularly impacted as they faced increased demand for their services and support while losing in-person volunteers due to safety concerns.

Junior Achievement of Southeastern Michigan (JASEM), an organization dedicated to career exploration training, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy for Detroit area youth, saw a need to reinstate in-school programming as schools slowly began to loosen restrictions created by the COVID pandemic for in-person volunteering and fieldtrips.

While monetary giving to organizations was up in 2021, volunteerism rates continued to trend downward, an unfortunate pattern over the last few years that was only made more difficult by limited in-person activities during the pandemic. Many local nonprofits, like JASEM, rely on volunteers to assist in delivering critical services, resources, and tools to vulnerable and historically marginalized communities.

“Volunteers are a key component of the JA experience,” said Jason Lee, President & CEO of JASEM. “During the pandemic, we were successful with virtual volunteering, however, there’s nothing like the experience of being in-person with young people. Bank of America was the first local corporation to engage JA students in the classroom since the pandemic began. It was very emotional moment for our staff, education partners and students. The in-person program is a symbol that we are moving forward.”

To help, many public and private sector companies like Bank of America found unique ways to safely contribute and give back in Detroit, such as the bank’s recent Better Money Habits JA In A Day program, where bank employees contributed many hours to events; mentoring high school students through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Detroit; and longstanding volunteer support for the Salvation Army. In the past decade, more than 200,000 volunteer hours have been logged by bank teammates across the state.

“As part of our approach to address issues in the community to advance economic mobility and social progress, we actively encourage employee volunteerism by offering weekly paid time off in order for them to give back to the community,” said Matt Elliott, President, Bank of America Michigan. “Fostering partnerships between the public and private sectors, we can create pathways to connect employees to more meaningful opportunities, while embracing our community’s passion for lending a helping hand.”

As society begins reopening safely, April’s Global Service Month is exciting as community members renew their commitment to volunteerism through onsite and in-person opportunities for the many nonprofits making a positive impact in Detroit. As we rediscover our new normal and start to enjoy more of the in-person activities we missed in the last two years, we’re excited to drive volunteer engagement through live and virtual opportunities.

The early days of the pandemic were full of heartwarming stories about people banding together to help their community, and we must carry that giving spirit forward, not just in times of crisis. We encourage everyone to support a cause they’re passionate about to raise awareness, foster connectivity and advocate for community engagement. We can make a difference by connecting our passion with purpose to ensure a brighter future for all.