Pontiac, Mich. — Leadership Oakland Class XXXVI has selected Oakland HOPE, Oakland County’s largest food pantry, as the recipient of its 2026 Day of Service award. The partnership will support a large-scale volunteer and grant-funded project focused on expanding access to fresh food and enhancing community engagement at Oakland HOPE’s Pontiac campus.
Founded in 2013, Oakland HOPE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free weekly groceries, practical resources and compassionate support to Oakland County residents living at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. Operating five days a week, including Saturdays, Oakland HOPE serves approximately 16,000 residents each month, including more than 4,500 children.
Through the 2026 Day of Service, Leadership Oakland Class XXXVI will mobilize 50 classmate volunteers and provide a fundraising for $10,000–$20,000 grant to support two interconnected outdoor projects at Oakland HOPE’s E. Walton Boulevard location in Pontiac.
The first project will significantly expand Oakland HOPE’s Fresh Food Garden, adding 22 new raised garden beds and planting the organization’s existing beds for the spring and summer growing seasons. Volunteers will repurpose donated wooden pallets to construct the beds, fill them with soil, line them for sustainability, and plant vegetables and herbs. Once complete, the garden will more than double Oakland HOPE’s output of fresh, organically grown produce for food pantry clients and provide hands-on education opportunities for local residents and students.
The second project will focus on beautifying the thrift shop donation area through the creation of a large-scale outdoor mural designed by a local Southeast Michigan artist. The mural will provide a welcoming, long-lasting visual enhancement for donors and volunteers and support Oakland HOPE’s thrift store, which serves as the primary funding source for its food pantry operations.
If additional funds are raised beyond the initial grant, Oakland HOPE plans to further expand the garden, invest in irrigation and storage solutions, and increase community education and volunteer engagement around food access and nutrition.
In 2024 alone, Oakland HOPE distributed more than 2.5 million pounds of food to 19,630 unique individuals, including residents from more than 2,500 newly registered households. Survey data show that 98% of responding clients reported increased food security as a result of Oakland HOPE’s services.
Leadership Oakland Class XXXVI invites local businesses, organizations and community partners to support the 2026 Day of Service by becoming project sponsors through monetary contributions, in-kind donations, or by participating in upcoming fundraising events that will directly support project implementation and long-term sustainability.
Leadership Oakland’s Day of Service program is designed to strengthen nonprofit organizations while providing participants with meaningful, hands-on leadership and community impact experiences.
The 2026 Day of Service project will take place later this year, with scheduling dependent on weather conditions to ensure volunteer safety and project success.
For more information about Oakland HOPE, visit www.oaklandhope.org.
About Leadership Oakland
Established in 1990, Leadership Oakland is a 501 (c)(3) organization focused on business and community leadership development. The organization provides a nine-month Cornerstone Program to participants from businesses, organizations, and governmental agencies that are selected based on an application process. Leadership Oakland graduates are key business and community leaders serving as catalysts on boards of various organizations throughout the region.
Media Contact: Susan Hollady, Executive Director, Leadership Oakland
Email: info@leadershipoakland.com