Adopt-A-Garden at First Step
Help our Healing Gardens flourish by adopting a garden at First Step. We invite you to partner with us in caring for these peaceful outdoor spaces that provide comfort, healing, and hope for the survivors and families we serve.
Whether you adopt a garden for one season or return year after year, your efforts help create beautiful, welcoming environments where children can play, families can reflect, and healing can begin. From planting flowers and pulling weeds to watering, mulching, and seasonal cleanup, every helping hand makes a lasting difference.
Adopt a Healing Garden and become part of creating spaces that nurture both nature and the individuals and families who find comfort, peace, and healing here at First Step.
Who Can Adopt a Garden?
By adopting a garden bed, you're doing more than caring for flowers, you’re helping create a peaceful, welcoming space where survivors and their families can heal. Here's who can get involved:
Individuals
A rewarding way to give back while enjoying gardening as a relaxing and meaningful hobby.
Families
Spend quality time together outdoors while teaching children the importance of community service and caring for others.
Corporate Teams
Build teamwork, boost employee engagement, and make a visible impact through a hands-on volunteer experience.
Garden Clubs & Master Gardeners
Share your gardening expertise, beautify a community space, and inspire others through your passion for horticulture.
Community & Civic Organizations
Unite members around a service project that creates a welcoming environment and demonstrates a commitment to giving back.
Volunteer Guidelines
These guidelines help ensure Healing Garden volunteer opportunities are safe, organized, and successful for everyone involved. Thank you for partnering with First Step to create welcoming outdoor spaces that provide comfort, hope, and healing for the families we serve. If you have additional questions, check out our FAQ Page, or email communityservices@firststep-mi.org.
Pre-Scheduled Visits
To protect the safety and confidentiality of the individuals we serve, all volunteer visits must be scheduled in advance with your assigned staff liaison. We ask that volunteers only come onsite during their approved volunteer shifts so we always know who is expected in our facilities.
Plants & Planting Guidelines
To help maintain healthy, sustainable Healing Gardens, all new plants must be approved by your Volunteer Specialist before they are purchased or planted. We ask that volunteers select non-invasive plants that are appropriate for Michigan's climate and compatible with the existing landscape.
Please do not plant invasive species or plants that may spread aggressively or require specialized maintenance.
If annual flowers are planted, they should be removed at the end of the growing season to prepare for next season.
Decorative items, garden art, small signs, and similar additions are welcome. Please keep in mind that our grounds are enjoyed by children and other visitors, so items may occasionally be moved, damaged, or go missing. Permanent installations should be approved by your Volunteer Specialist.
Any mulch added should be natural brown in color to maintain a cohesive appearance throughout First Step's Healing Gardens.
Garden Supplies & Contributions
Individuals and groups adopting a Healing Garden are responsible for providing any plants, mulch, soil amendments, and other approved supplies needed to care for and enhance their adopted garden. If you purchase or donate items for your garden, please notify your staff liaison and complete a donation form. This helps us properly acknowledge your generosity and ensures your contribution is recorded for recognition and tax purposes, when applicable.
Tools & Equipment
First Step has a selection of gardening tools and equipment available for volunteers to use. You are also welcome to bring your own tools if you prefer.
Confidentiality
Confidentiality Reminder:
To protect the privacy and safety of the families we serve, volunteers may not take or share photos, videos, or identifying information about First Step clients or their families.
Photos of gardens are encouraged; however, they may only include volunteers and First Step staff who have given their consent to be photographed.
Adopt Your Healing Garden
First Step has 27 unique Healing Gardens that provide peaceful outdoor spaces enjoyed by survivors and their families, staff, volunteers, and visitors. Each garden creates an opportunity to bring beauty, comfort, and hope to the people we serve.
Healing Gardens are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and many are lovingly cared for by returning gardeners year after year.
Choosing Your Garden
You can select your Healing Garden by scheduling a tour with First Step to explore available spaces in person, or you can choose one virtually through our Virtual Healing Garden Tour.
Group Size & Flexibility
Our Healing Gardens can accommodate groups of all sizes. Larger groups that may not be able to volunteer together as often are welcome to share responsibility by sending smaller groups of 1–2 volunteers at a time to care for their adopted garden.
Garden Care Commitment
Adopting a Healing Garden is a commitment to helping maintain a welcoming and peaceful space throughout the growing season (May to October). Garden care may include watering, weeding, removing debris, seasonal cleanup, and other maintenance needs.
Volunteers are responsible for watering their adopted garden as needed throughout the season. Due to staffing limitations, First Step employees are not able to provide routine watering during the workday. Please coordinate a watering schedule with your staff liaison to help keep your garden healthy.
Registration & Age Requirements
Volunteers of all ages are welcome to participate. Volunteers under 18 must be supervised by a parent, guardian, or approved adult at all times.
All volunteers must complete required registration forms before participating:
- Volunteers age 18 and older must complete an online profile through My Impact and sign the Visitor Agreement.
- Minor volunteers ages 5-18 must have a completed Minor Consent Form.
Location
Our Healing Gardens are located at our Wayne Office (4400 Venoy Rd., Wayne, MI).
Ready to Get Started?
Whether you're an individual, family, business, or community group, we'd love to help you find the perfect Healing Garden.
Complete one of the request forms below, and send to communityservices@firststep-mi.org.
Individual Adopt-A-Garden Request Form
Group Adopt-A-Garden Request Form
Questions?
Not sure which garden is right for your group or have questions about your commitment? We are happy to help with any questions you may have. Contact our Volunteer Specialist at communityservices@firststep-mi.org.
Thank You
Thank you for helping our Healing Gardens flourish and for creating outdoor spaces where hope grows and healing begins.