Reach Studio Art Center
Volunteer at REACH Art Center
This is a non-profit neighborhood art center located in REO Town near the heart of Lansing. REACH focuses on offering residents of the surrounding urban neighborhoods (and the Greater Lansing area) free and low-cost opportunities to make art, and in so doing, build skills and self-confidence, connect people and improve the community. REACH was founded and is directed by URC’s Alice Brinkman.
1. Give Reach Studio a thorough cleaning: A small group of people (5 – 10) can do wonders during a “work day” (4 hours) at Reach Studio, cleaning and doing light maintenance work. Saturday afternoons are best, but other times could be arranged (such as Tuesday, Thursday or Friday evenings, or some weekday mornings). Good “off season” times for workdays are: very end of May, end of August and September, and over Christmas Break.
2. Provide snacks for Creative Connections, the free after-school program run by Reach Studio: October through May, 10 – 16 children come to Reach on Tuesdays and Wednesdays who benefit from having a light snack before doing art with volunteers from 3:45 – 5:45. A small group or several individuals might enjoy taking turns bringing or providing a healthy snack for these children, most of whom come from families on the “free or reduced meal program” at their schools.
3. Be a volunteer mentor at Creative Connections: All the children who attend benefit from special attention and guidance by young adult and adult mentors who help them engage in the art activities, model positive behaviors and communication skills, and provide friendship. Contact Alice to get a volunteer application and more information.
4. Provide regular office or cleaning help for Reach Studio: Volunteers interested in helping out “behind the scenes” on a regular basis at Reach can contribute in the following areas: weekly or bi-weekly cleaning, monthly book-keeping, quarterly mailings. Tasks require approximately 2 to 6 hours per month.
Contact Alice if you’re interested or phone 517.999.3643. There is also volunteer information on the Reach website.
