DEARBORN, Mich. — The holiday season is normally the busiest time of year for the Ford Volunteer Corps, and while traditional, in-person volunteering is being strictly limited by the coronavirus pandemic, Ford employees are eager to embrace alternate ways to help the community.
COVID-19 will force adjustments to holiday traditions from Thanksgiving dinners to Christmas and Hanukkah celebrations and New Year's festivities. Over the past 15 years, the Ford Volunteer Corps has created its own traditions, such as serving meals at soup kitchens, helping food banks prepare packages for delivery and collecting gifts that bring joy to children.
"The pandemic is making life more difficult for all of us, especially our nonprofit partners and the people they serve," said Todd Nissen, director, Ford Volunteer Corps. "However, COVID-19 has not dampened the spirit of giving among Ford employees. They have been actively working with us to rethink our role during the pandemic and developing different ways we can help."
With a renewed focus on safety, the Ford Volunteer Corps is offering many ways for employees to give back to their community in the areas of hunger relief, in-kind donations and holiday gifts.
If you are a Ford employee or retiree with an active CDSID you can find more details on these types of projects and many other opportunities, by visiting our Ford Volunteer Corps page. You can easily find opportunities by searching for "Holiday" under the Event Type filter.
If it is your first-time logging into the new Ford volunteer system, please complete your profile first. This will help us to highlight future volunteer opportunities that best fit your interests and skills.
The following in-kind donations and holiday gifts are open to employees and more information can be found on each respective nonprofit's website or through the summary below.
Food/Hunger Relief
- Virtual Food Drive – Gleaners Community Food Bank
Employees can shop for food donations online that will go directly to people in need
In-Kind Donations
- Warm Clothing for the Unsheltered – Capuchin Soup Kitchen
New or gently used coats, boots, hoodies, gloves and sweaters needed for clients. All items can be dropped off at the Capuchin Service Center (6333 Medbury St., Detroit).
- Amazon and Target Toy Wish Lists – Penrickton Center for Blind Children
Wish Lists have been created for essential Items, food and gifts. All items should be mailed directly or dropped off at Penrickton by Dec. 14.
- Build DIY Kits – United Way for Southeastern Michigan
Ford is partnering with United Way to safely build hygiene kits to support our neighbors. Volunteers can build the kits at home and deliver them to a local organization for delivery.
All volunteers are required to review and adhere to updated COVID safety guidelines.