Sabrina's First DP Day at SVSF

Where societies and institutions fail, it is often up to community efforts to step in and bridge that gap in resources and opportunity. The St. Vincent and Sarah Fisher Center (SVSF) is a prime example of this – they are a non-profit organization with a long, rich history of service to the children and families in Southeastern Michigan. SVSF was originally founded in 1844 as a kindergarten for orphaned children and, over the years, has evolved into an educational center that supports at-risk children and adults and affords them the opportunity to achieve academic and employment success on their own terms.

Last year, I got to experience Detroit Partnership (DP) Day for the first time. My group was assigned to assist with the cleaning and maintenance of the newly-renovated SVSF headquarters down on Lappin Street in Detroit. What I was unaware of until we arrived and were briefed by the staff was that this was the first building ever owned by SVSF in their 178-year history. You wouldn’t have been able to tell just by looking at it – what was once a vacant, unused structure had been transformed into a welcoming space for those who needed it the most. For example, this is one of the sole locations for miles where GED-seekers could attempt to take the exam. It is difficult to imagine the extensive planning, coordination, and risk-taking by the staff and volunteers that must have gone into realizing such a major milestone and long-standing goal of the organization. By the time we had gotten there, the headquarters had been operating for just under a year. And within this short time, the headquarters had become a sanctuary for the children and adults it served.

Knowing the significance of the building made the experience all the more meaningful. Understanding the “why” put the work we were doing, normally mundane tasks such as disinfecting tables and organizing the toys shelf, into context, making the work seem less like meaningless manual labor and more so necessary tasks that would have a tangible, positive impact on those who used the facility down the line. A lesson that I took away from the experience was an understanding of the importance of volunteers – both general and skilled – to the work of nonprofits. By virtue of being a nonprofit organization, they often lack the resources to hire full- or part-time staff solely dedicated to the maintenance of their space, yet it is a task that cannot go overlooked. The children and adults who benefit from SVSF services deserve the dignity of a well-kept space; moreover, a well-kept space is conducive to their learning and engagement. While it is true that nonprofits are always in need of volunteers who can contribute skills such as finance management, graphic design, academic tutoring, etc., general volunteers who can contribute to more everyday tasks such as cleaning or the restocking of shelves are just as important.

If any of what has just been described appeals to you, whether it be helping adults earn their GED, providing mentoring to under resourced elementary children, or assisting with the day-to-day operations of a nonprofit organization, considering volunteering through the Detroit Partnership! Even if it may not seem like it at first, every effort and contribution we make does make a difference.

Written by Sabrina Wong (Education Team 2023-2024)