GET INVOLVED. EMPOWER COMMUNITY.

Volunteers have an enormous impact on the health and well-being of communities worldwide, making a difference in day-to-day life in countless ways. As community needs change, grow, and emerge, the time and talents of volunteers are more important than ever to help those most in need in our neighborhoods.

United Way Volunteer Center

The United Way Volunteer Center approaches our important work by ensuring that volunteers have a great experience as they serve and connect people with the community in a variety of ways by:

Connecting volunteers to service opportunities: We are dedicated to helping individuals find the perfect match for their interests and commitment levels. Whether it's a one-time event or an ongoing commitment, there's a volunteer opportunity tailored for everyone.
Building capacity for effective volunteer engagement: We will help local organizations to strengthen how they manage the volunteers that help them deliver their much-needed services.
Promoting volunteering: We will honor those effectively serving in the community as well as organize regular opportunities for all volunteers to work alongside each other in the spirit of service.
Participating in strategic initiatives that mobilize volunteers: We will lead or join in sensible and vital efforts that mobilize volunteers to meet local needs.

Workplace & Professional Development Volunteer Opportunities
Affinity Group Steering Committees - Join a committee that helps connect individuals to leading and impacting our community. Steering committees include Labor United, Mission United (Veterans), Newaygo Community Committee, Oceana Community Committee, RSVP Advisory Council, Seniors United, Students United, Women United, and Next Gen Leaders United.
Advisory Committees - Join an advisory group that helps set and guide United Way to reach its community goals through community impact, philanthropy, and volunteerism. These committees include Campaign Cabinet, Community Engagement Advisory Council, Community Impact Strategy Team, Development Council, and Personnel Committee.
Community Investment Panels - Community Investment volunteers help determine where the funds raised during United Way’s annual campaign are invested. They review program applications, tour program sites & meet to discuss the program’s effectiveness.
Workplace Champions - Workplace champions are key to the success of every company’s United Way fundraising campaign. You serve as the connector between United Way & the employees of your company.
Live United Campaign Ambassadors - The focus for ambassadors is to engage other company leaders to encourage workplace campaigns or a company gift. Your relationships & connections will help United Way thank, ask, & inform others and will allow us to engage new businesses & smaller businesses.
Loaned Executives - Loaned Executives provide leadership, fundraising, & teamwork skills to assist local employers plan, implement, & run successful United Way campaigns. They serve as a United Way spokesperson conveying the needs of the community, specifically in the area of health and human services.
Community Volunteer Opportunities
Community Engagement Booth - Hang out and spread the word about United Way of the Lakeshore and important programming at community fairs, festivals, and major events!
Homeless Continuum of Care (CoC) - Help end homelessness and work with the CoC. This includes helping with the Point In Time Count which helps gauge the number of homeless individuals in our community.
Light Up The City - Join Consumers Energy, local Police Departments, and United Way in a community collaborative initiative to promote neighborhood safety & healthy communities with a series of community walks.
Mobile Food Pantries - Volunteer at United Way hosted mobile food pantries in Oceana County in partnership with Feeding America West Michigan.
Reading Buddies - This reading initiative was created by a team of students to promote literacy in childcare centers and elementary schools.
Skilled Volunteers - Have a passion or skill you think would be useful for an agency? Let us know! We can work with you and find an agency in need of your special skill. Skills like web design, carpentry, strategic planning, writing, and so much more are incredibly beneficial to our nonprofit agencies.
Welcome Desk - Volunteer at our Welcome Desk at United Way of the Lakeshore! Help us answer phones, welcome clients, handle mailings, and general assistance to our organization.
Special Events - United Way of the Lakeshore loves to have fun and make an impact while doing it! Join us as a special events volunteer and serve on your choice of planning committees, sort-a-thons, or support on the day of the event. Examples include:
- Adopt a Family
- ALICE Roll Out
- Beards for Books
- Coffee & Conversation
- Community Baby Shower
- Day of Action
- Day of Caring
- Earth Day
- Euchre Tournaments
- Golf United
- Heroes Celebration
- Memorial Clean Up
- Mistletoe & Music
- Parades
- Ride United
- Supply Drives
- Veterans Day
- Wild Game Dinner
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Welcome, Volunteer Administrators!

GetConnected is FREE for agencies, clubs, churches, and schools in Muskegon, Newaygo, and Oceana counties! Get started today at volunteer.unitedwaylakeshore.org.
Why Use GetConnected?
- Easy Volunteer Management: Volunteers can quickly find and sign up for opportunities.
- Corporate Partner Tools: Strengthen partnerships with custom landing pages, automated communications, and real-time impact tracking.
- Simple Check-In: Use an onsite kiosk or mobile app for quick volunteer check-in.
- Track Hours & Impact: Capture volunteer hours and generate impact reports automatically.
- Mobile Volunteer App: Volunteers can find opportunities, check-in, and track hours on the go.
- Scheduling & Waivers: Manage shifts and collect digital liability waivers seamlessly.
- Groups & Teams: Enhance engagement with streamlined group management tools.
GetConnected Training Materials
Click Here to download the “Get Started Manual.”
Need help? Contact Sara at sara@unitedwaylakeshore.org or call (231) 332-4010.
Lakeshore Verified Volunteers
Lakeshore Verified Volunteers provide free, secure background checks to ensure nonprofit organizations can trust their volunteers. Volunteers manage and share checks through an online platform, creating a vetted volunteer community.
What We Offer:
- Free ICHAT & Sex Offender Registry Checks for volunteers in Muskegon, Newaygo, and Oceana Counties.
- Annual Re-Screening: We recheck all volunteers in January with their permission.
- Easy Access for Nonprofits: Organizations with a signed MOU can request background checks anytime.
- Volunteer Flexibility: Volunteers can securely share checks with unlimited organizations for free.
Benefits Include:
- Paperless, self-service process
- Cost-sharing options between volunteers and nonprofits
- Automatic annual updates
- Volunteer management and communication tools
Interested in becoming a Lakeshore Verified Volunteer Site? Contact Sara at sara@unitedwaylakeshore.org or call (231) 332-4010.
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