~Day of Caring 2026
~Day of Caring 2026
What Makes 2026 Different in Muskegon?
Day of Caring for Muskegon is moving to the spring to expand participation, increase outdoor project opportunities, and create visible community impact earlier in the year.
This year’s event is especially meaningful as we partner with Muskegon Community College during its 100th Anniversary, celebrating a shared belief that education, service, and community go hand in hand.
MCC will serve as the official kickoff location, welcoming volunteers to campus before they fan out across the county — together, painting Muskegon Blue & Gold.
Day of Caring is United Way of the Lakeshore’s largest volunteer mobilization, bringing together businesses, nonprofits, students, and neighbors for a countywide day of service.
Friday, April 24, 2026 | Muskegon County
Friday, September 18, 2026 | Oceana County (Come Back in May for More Information)
Friday, September 25, 2026 | Newaygo County (Come Back in May for More Information)
Who Can Participate?
Day of Caring is open to everyone. Volunteers are welcome to participate as individuals or as part of a team, including:
Community members
Friends and family groups
Corporate and workplace teams
School groups and students
Nonprofit staff groups
Neighborhood associations
Service clubs and faith-based groups
No special skills are required. Projects are designed to be welcoming, accessible, and impactful. Whether you volunteer with coworkers, classmates, friends, or on your own, your time and energy help create real, visible change across Muskegon County.
What the Day Looks Like:
Volunteers will begin the morning together with:
A community pancake breakfast
Welcome remarks from United Way, MCC, and event sponsors
A group stretch to kick off the day
From there, volunteers will travel to assigned service projects across Muskegon County.
Projects typically focus on:
Supporting local non-profit agencies
Improving parks and community spaces
Light outdoor clean-up, painting, and beautification
Organizational prep and support projects
Most projects wrap up in the early to mid-afternoon, depending on the project size and location.
All Muskegon Projects have been selected. Come back in May for Newaygo & Oceana!
Have a project that could use extra hands?
Volunteer Project Placement:
Day of Caring brings hundreds of volunteers together to complete service projects across Muskegon County. Because each project has a limited capacity based on the size and scope of the work, teams are not able to select their specific project location during registration.
Our team works to match individuals and groups with projects that best fit their size and abilities, while ensuring each site has the right number of volunteers to complete the work safely and successfully.
If you or someone on your team has physical limitations or accessibility needs, please note this during registration. We reserve certain project locations specifically for volunteers who may benefit from lighter-duty tasks or accessible environments.
Thank you for your flexibility and willingness to serve wherever the community needs it most.
2026 Muskegon Day of Caring Project Locations:
Angell Garden
AmeriCorps Seniors - Acts of Kindness Project
Bethlehem Community Park
Camp Pendalouan
Fruitport Township - Pine Park
Fruitport Schools - Beach Elementary Softball Field
Habitat for Humanity Angell Neighborhood Build
Marquette Microforest
Michigan Community Birth Initiative
North Muskegon Microforest
Pioneer Trails
Read Muskegon
Saturday Breakfast Community Garden
Veteran’s History Project
No project is too big. Day of Caring has helped complete some truly amazing community projects over the years, and we welcome ideas of all sizes.
We are currently accepting project requests from:
Nonprofit organizations
Churches and faith-based organizations
Schools
Neighborhoods and public spaces
Other community-serving locations
Projects may be indoor or outdoor, skilled or unskilled, and should be designed to create a clear, visible impact within a single day.
After a project is submitted, our team will review and, when needed, conduct a site visit to provide a realistic estimate of what can be accomplished during Day of Caring. While some limited pre-work may be approved, all projects must be completed on Day of Caring on Friday, April 24.
In most cases, project hosts provide materials, and Day of Caring volunteers provide the labor. In special circumstances, United Way of the Lakeshore may be able to assist with materials and can provide basic gardening or hand tools.
If your organization has a project that could benefit from extra hands and big hearts, we invite you to submit a project request and be part of this community-wide day of service.
Partner With Us
Day of Caring sponsorships offer meaningful visibility, employee engagement opportunities, and the chance to be part of one of Muskegon County’s most impactful days of service.
From presenting sponsorships to engaged sponsor opportunities, partners help power volunteer coordination, project supplies, and community impact.
