Where can you join more than 1,000 volunteers committed to improving Detroit? Volunteer Impact’s Hands on Detroit Day (HODD). This year’s Hands on Detroit Day takes place on Saturday, June 25th at Comerica Park and Volunteer Impact is planning it’s largest one-day volunteer effort.

HODD 2005 will be part of the All-Star Super Sweep, a series of regional beautification projects leading up to the Major League 2005 All-Star Baseball Game. More than 1,000 volunteers will contribute their time and energy in the Comerica Park/Woodward Avenue area and other sites throughout the Detroit area.

Founded in 1990 with the understanding that people want to give something back to the community, but often don’t have the time or know-how to get involved, Volunteer Impact has grown to become Detroit’s leading “hands-on” volunteer organization with a growing membership base of more than 12,000.

Hands on Detroit Day is a one-day volunteer opportunity where participants can work on projects including park and neighborhood beautification, food packaging/delivery, and rehabilitating houses. HODD is Volunteer Impact’s major fundraising effort of the year. Similar to a charity 10K race or a walk-a-thon, participants are asked to raise a minimum pledge of $25.00.

Volunteer Impact Executive Director Joan Bodnar said, “This is a wonderful day to roll up your sleeves, Get In The Game and Help Our City Shine!

Whether you like to paint and repair houses, plant flowers, pack food boxes, our help with the clean up of Woodward Avenue, Hands on Detroit Day is a great way to give back to the community”.

This one-day event provides the funding that allows Volunteer Impact to coordinate more than 650 volunteer projects year-round at metro Detroit organizations including: Habitat for Humanity, Hadassah, Gleaners Community Food Bank, Focus:HOPE, Detroit Public Library, Food Bank of Oakland County, the Ronald McDonald House and the Michigan Animal Adoption Network.

In 2004, Volunteer Impact provided more than 35,000 community service hours for agencies and organizations throughout Southeast Michigan.

Hands on Detroit Day begins at 8 a.m. with volunteer sign-in at Comerica Park and a kick-off celebration beginning at 8:30 a.m. Volunteers will disburse to their sites by 9:30 a.m. with work scheduled from 9:30 – 1:30 p.m.

In addition to individual volunteers, several teams of corporate volunteers representing some of Detroit’s largest companies also will take part. Volunteers will also include teams of young people from area schools.

The morning kick-off celebration will include special recognition to Hands on Detroit Day Volunteer of the Year 2004, Julie Kroflich and the presentation of the Impact Award being awarded to Melanie Odem, VP and Manager of Civic Affairs for Comerica Bank.

Some of the day’s sponsors include Blue Cross/Blue Shield, PriceWaterhouseCoppers, Kanter & Associates, Ilitch’s Holdings, Inc., Pine State Enterprises, Krispy Kreme, New York Bagel, Caribou Coffee, Detroit Wholesale Produce and Whole Foods.

For more information on Hands on Detroit Day, call Volunteer Impact at

(248-559-4950)
Joan E. Bodnar, Executive Director
Volunteer Impact
Phone: (248-559-4950)