Donate & Volunteer for Kids Archives | Seattle's Child https://www.seattleschild.com/category/take-action/donate-volunteer/ Activities and Resources for Parents and Kids in greater Seattle Mon, 02 Feb 2026 04:16:05 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.4 https://images.seattleschild.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/seattle-icon-32x32.jpg Donate & Volunteer for Kids Archives | Seattle's Child https://www.seattleschild.com/category/take-action/donate-volunteer/ 32 32 Do some good together in February https://www.seattleschild.com/family-volunteer-opportunities-in-february/ Mon, 02 Feb 2026 03:04:20 +0000 https://www.seattleschild.com/?p=107879 Volunteer opportunities for big-hearted families

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]]> At Seattle’s Child, we believe in community and in the importance of all of us working together to improves the lives of the kids and families in our neighborhoods and cities. That’s why we’ve partnered with national nonprofit Doing Good Together, an organization committed to making volunteering and service, along with daily kindness, easy and accessible for every family. Check out the volunteer opportunities compiled by the organization below and make “giving back” a natural part of life’s early lessons. 

Craft Valentine Greeting Cards for Isolated Seniors / Full Life Care

  • Date/Time: Our preferred deadline to receive cards is by February 6.
  • Location: Please mail or drop off cards to Full Life Care Main Office, 1625 South Columbian Way, Seattle, WA 98108.
  • Ages: Everyone can participate.
  • Time Commitment: Varies.

Full Life Care is a non-profit providing home and community-based services for adults with chronic illnesses and disabilities, and their caregivers, regardless of their income level. Full Life Care is dedicated to enhancing individuals’ quality of life, respecting their dignity, and providing for them with care and compassion. Your family can help brighten an elder’s day using your card making supplies and creativity! Hand make Valentine’s Day themed greeting cards to donate to participants in Full Life Care’s ElderFriends program, and support its mission to relieve isolation and loneliness among older adults in King County, WA.

Contact: Email jessicac@fulllifecare.org to receive more details about guidelines and instructions to mail or drop off completed cards at our South Seattle office in Beacon Hill.

My Dear Friend Valentine’s Day Card Writing Campaign / GlamourGals

  • Date/Time: The campaign runs from Monday, January 19 through February 11.
  • Location: Please sign up for the campaign and get started here.
  • Ages: Anyone can get involved and spread love this Valentine’s Day!
  • Time Commitment: Varies. Every card makes a difference.

Your family can help bring smiles to 30,000 isolated seniors this Valentine’s Day by writing heartfelt cards to seniors living in care. Since 2000, GlamourGals Foundation Inc. has created important connections between teens and seniors through conversation and its signature complimentary beauty makeover program to reduce senior isolation. In addition, their award-winning My Dear Friend card campaign invites participants of all ages across the country to make a difference by simply writing and mailing heartfelt cards to partnering senior homes, spreading joy and love to over 300,000 isolated older adults nationwide.

Contact: Learn more about how you can get involved with GlamourGals here.

Second Saturday Work Parties / Volunteer Park Trust

  • Date/Time: Saturday, February 14 and Saturday, March 14, 10 a.m.–noon. Work parties run every second Saturday.
  • Location: Volunteer Park, 1247 15th Ave E, Seattle. Meet us at the Black Sun Sculpture across from Seattle Asian Art Museum at 10 a.m. on Saturday. If you arrive late, look for a group of folks gardening and/or a pile of gardening tools within the park, and one of our leaders will be able to get you up to speed quickly.
  • Ages: Families with children of all ages are welcome to volunteer. For this event, please ensure that parents or adults volunteer in conjunction with anyone younger than 16 years old.
  • Time Commitment: Two hours.

Come meet your neighbors and friends, and enjoy gardening in Volunteer Park at our monthly second Saturdays Stewardship events. Join us as we weed, mulch, prune and clean up the garden beds in Seattle’s Volunteer Park, rain or shine. We will provide gloves and tools. This event is a great way to get outdoors, meet your neighbors, and help keep your park looking beautiful for everyone. Families are welcome!

Contact: admin@volunteerparktrust.org. Registration is available online. Please note, no RSVP is necessary, but helpful for a headcount of volunteers to prepare for. Anyone is welcome to stop by and help

Planting at Sammamish Landing / City of Sammamish

  • Date/Time(s): Monday, February 16, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. or Wednesday, February 18, noon–3 p.m.
  • Location: 4607 E Lake Sammamish Pkwy NE, Sammamish.
  • Ages: Families with children 8 years old and older or welcome to participate. Volunteers 13 years old and younger should be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
  • Time Commitment: Three-hour shifts.

Join the city to help plant native plants along the shoreline at Sammamish Landing. Give back to your community, learn about native plants and enhance wildlife habitat!

  • Who can volunteer: This project is perfect for individuals, or families (8+) and groups/organizations looking for service projects/hours and students looking to complete community service hours for school.
  • What we provide: Water, snacks, gloves and tools will be provided.
  • What to wear: Please dress appropriately for outdoor work in cold weather including dressing in layers, wear long sleeves/pants and closed-toed shoes preferably boots with good tread.
  • What to bring: If you have any dietary restrictions or food allergies, please bring your own snacks.

All volunteers should also bring a full, refillable water bottle and may also bring a travel mug for hot drinks. Compostable cups will be provided for those that don’t have them or forget them.

Contact: Sebastian Ritacco, sritacco@sammamish.us, 425.414.0829. Click on the dates below for registration. Monday, February 16; Wednesday, February 18

Help Local Children; Pack, Organize, Distribute Donations / WestSide Baby

Date/Time(s): 

  • Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, 9 a.m.–noon.
  • Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1:30–3:30 p.m.
  • Teen hours: Wednesdays from 3–5 p.m. Teen volunteer hours are reserved for teens 13–18 years old only.
  • Evening shifts on the 2nd Tuesday and the 4th Thursday of the month from 5–7 p.m.

Check the website for details.

  • Location: White Center, 10002 14th Ave SW.
  • Ages: Families with children 8 years old and older are welcome to participate. Volunteers 8–12 years old need an adult who will work with them for the entire shift. All minors must have a signed consent form.
  • Time Commitment: Shifts are two to three hours.

WestSide Baby provides essentials to local children in need by collecting and distributing diapers, clothing, and equipment. Volunteers are an integral part of the organization and tasks can include sorting incoming donations of clothing and other items, packaging diapers, packaging toys, filling orders for children, and other projects as needed. We work every day with the hope that all babies and young children in our community have their physical basic supply needs met by providing diapers, clothing, toys, books, and safety equipment for their care.

Contact: volunteer@westsidebaby.org or call 206.686.5156. Registration is available online.

Birthday Dreams Volunteer Opportunities /Birthday Dreams

  • Date/Time: Check the Birthday Dreams online schedule for party dates, times, and items needed.
  • Location: Check the Birthday Dreams online schedule for location information.
  • Ages: Varies, depending on party location. Please check the age requirements for a party location before you register to volunteer. Please note that volunteers must be 18 years or older to volunteer for a party at Mary’s Place.

Time Commitment: Varies.

Birthday Dreams is dedicated to bringing joy to homeless children with the gift of a birthday party. Birthday Dreams provides onsite birthday parties at homeless shelters and transitional housing facilities with all the trimmings. Kids are treated to cupcakes, ice cream, and a great time. Volunteers can help in a number of ways: by volunteering at parties, baking cakes, or donating the ingredients to provide a child with a special birthday party!

Contact: info@birthdaydreams.org. Register for a volunteer opportunity online.

Valentines for Veterans / Soldiers’ Angels

  • Date/Time: Cards should be delivered by February 14.
  • Location: Mail your cards and $1 per card to: Soldiers’ Angels Valentines for Veterans, 2895 NE Loop 410, Suite 107, San Antonio, Texas 78218
  • Ages: Everyone is welcome to participate
  • Time Commitment: Varies

Holidays like Valentine’s Day are fun to celebrate when you can share the day with your friends or loved ones. Unfortunately, our military heroes often find themselves alone or feeling homesick during holidays. The mission of Soldiers’ Angels is to make sure no one who serves this country feels unloved – and that’s especially true on Valentine’s Day! You and your family can help by making or purchasing Valentines cards for our military and veteran heroes. Why do we ask for the $1 per card? The $1 helps cover the cost to distribute the thousands of cards we receive. Have questions? Check out our FAQs here.

  • Feel free to purchase or make your Valentines.
  • Our heroes love hearing from children. Making Valentines is a good activity to do with the kids one afternoon.
  • Be sure to write a note of encouragement or thanks on your cards.
  • Individually wrapped candy can be included if it is attached to the card.
  • You can include the envelope if you want, but it is not necessary. If you include an envelope, do not seal it.
  • Include $1 per card, cash or check.
  • Don’t be afraid to sign your name! You are welcome to include your return address in the event the recipient may write back to you. However, it is also okay if you do not include any personal information.
  • If you would like a donation receipt mailed to you, make sure to include your name and mailing address somewhere on or in the box, otherwise we will not know where it came from!

Contact: info@soldiersangels.org. Learn more here.

Provide Sack Lunches / Plymouth Housing Group

  • Date/Time: Any day of the week around lunchtime.
  • Location: Assemble the lunches at home and coordinate with Kirsten Mintun, kmintun@plymouthhousing.org, to make arrangements to deliver your lunches. Our buildings are concentrated in the Downtown/Belltown/South Lake Union neighborhoods with one in Bellevue and one in Ballard.
  • Ages: Families are welcome to participate.
  • Time Commitment: Varies. This can be a one-time opportunity or a monthly recurring opportunity. We would love to work with you in whatever capacity is best for you.

Volunteers are needed to purchase supplies, assemble lunches at home or with a community group, and then deliver 50–100 sack lunches to one of our buildings across the Seattle region. This is a great opportunity to directly impact our residents and address a large need for the community! A lot of residents are seniors or have dental issues so softer foods are ideal.

Here are examples of what to include in a paper bag sack lunch:

  • One main protein item such as a meat and cheese sandwich, or a meat and cheese wrap.
  • One healthy item such as a fruit cup, apple sauce, or hummus.
  • One savory item such as chips, crackers, or pretzels.
  • One sweet item such as fruit snacks or pudding.

Please do not include any common allergens such as nuts (peanut butter) or seafood.

Contact: Kirsten Mintun at kmintun@plymouthhousing.org if you are interested or have any questions.

Food Bank Distribution / North Helpline Food Bank

Date/Time(s):

  • Wednesdays, 8:30–11:15 a.m. and 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
  • Thursdays, 3:30–7:30 p.m.
  • Saturdays, 8:30–11:15 a.m. and 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m.

Location(s): 

  • Lake City location, 12736 33rd Ave NE, Seattle.
  • Bitter Lake location at 13000 Linden Ave N. (Saturday volunteering only).

Ages: Children 8 years old and older are welcome to volunteer with an adult; youth 14 years old and older can volunteer on their own.

Time Commitment: Three to four hours.

Sharing food and resources with our neighbors is at the heart of our purpose! Volunteers in this position will work directly with our neighbors to distribute food according to their needs. You can expect to serve with 8–12 other volunteers in various roles to support our food distribution, including:

  • Handing out food from specific categories depending on each client’s household size and preferences.
  • Restocking food at the distribution tables.
  • Running grocery carts to our neighbors’ cars and back (must be 17 years or older).
  • Handing out hygiene items to clients.
  • Our warehouse is not climate-controlled, so please dress appropriately, and wear closed-toe shoes for safety.
  • Please complete our volunteer application before your first shift. If you haven’t volunteered with North Helpline before, please take a few minutes to fill out our Volunteer Application by clicking “Sign Up” in the Volunteer Portal. Applications are typically processed in a day or two.

Contact: Volunteer Coordinator, volunteers@northhelpline.org, 206. 413.8271. Please click here to volunteer for a shift. If you haven’t volunteered with North Helpline before, please take a few minutes to fill out our Volunteer Application by clicking “Sign Up” in the Volunteer Portal. We will usually process your application in a day or two. If you have volunteered with us in the last five years, please click “login” in the Volunteer Portal. If this is your first time on the new portal, click “Forgot your password?” to reset your password.

Foster a Future Service Dog (Shuttle Available) / Canine Companions

  • Date/Time: Ongoing opportunity.
  • Location: SODO Seattle.
  • Ages: Please note: If you are younger than 18 years old, you will need parental support and they must sign a minor waiver.
  • Time Commitment: Flexible, long-term, and short-term fosters are needed. We ask that you commit 3-6 months.

Our dogs have a very special destiny – to enhance the life of a person living with a disability. Volunteer fosters provide the housing, love and care for Canine Companions dogs in order to continue their Professional Training in the Puget Sound region and be matched as service dogs locally. Providing transportation to and from our field office in Seattle, volunteer fosters allow the dogs to be expertly trained by our instructors during the weekday. You’ll play an important role in their journey without the full-time commitment of looking after a dog. All food, medical care, and resources are provided, and most fosters commit for 3-6 months. Dogs are either Labradors, Golden Retrievers, or a mix of both, and all are over 1.5 years old.

Flexible options for drop-off/pick-up:

Our training location in SODO, Seattle. Service dog shuttle at the West Seattle YMCA (Mon-Thurs, 8:20-8:45 AM/3:20-3:45 PM). Contact us about ridesharing to a central location.

FAQs:

  • Can I foster if I have pets at home? Yes, as long as your pets are fully vaccinated, friendly, and get along with other animals.
  • Can I foster with small children in my home? Yes, the dogs are well-socialized with children of all ages.
  • Do I need experience in dog training? No, professional trainers handle all training while the dog is at the Puget Sound Field Office.

If you’re interested but don’t meet every requirement, we’d still love to hear from you! Feel free to reach out at seattleprogram@canine.org, and we’re happy to discuss possible options, including pickup from work locations around King County.

Contact: seattleprogram@canine.org.

Got love to share? Foster a Pet / Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC)

  • Date/Time: Flexible.
  • Location: Foster an animal in your home and check in with RASKC, 21615 64th Ave S, Kent.
  • Ages: Children may participate in caring for animals, though an adult in the household must be the official volunteer.
  • Time Commitment: Very flexible. You can wait until the time is right for you to foster.

Got love to share? Consider becoming a foster volunteer! As a foster volunteer, you make a short-term commitment to nurture one or more animals from the shelter in your home on a temporary basis. For example, some dogs have lingered in the shelter too long and need some respite; and some cats need a break from living in a kennel. Providing time in your home helps them sleep deeply and feel their best selves again. RASKC also offers puppies, kittens, and rabbits for foster care too.

Foster volunteers are given online training, great support, and everything necessary– free pet food, free medical care for the animal, and a free kennel. When the pet is ready to be adopted, you may choose to: a) Select who the animal will be adopted to within our Adopters Welcome guidelines, b) Bring the animal back to the shelter, or c) Adopt the animal yourself. You can decide when the time is right for you to foster– on an ongoing basis or just every once in a while. Community service might be available for school (if it is okay with the school). Usually, 1.5 hours is credited for each day an animal is cared for in your home.

  1. Complete a RASKC volunteer application if you are an adult. One application per household.
  2. Go to RASKC’s website. View the Training Module 4 – then answer the questions. The other training modules are optional.
  3. Submit your completed liability release form if you are an adult.

Contact: Sarah Luthens, RASKC.Volunteers@kingcounty.gov, 206.225.4899

Evan’s Creek Trail Decommissioning Project / City of Sammamish

  • Date/Time: Saturday, March 7, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
  • Location: Stormwater Facility, 2679 233rd Pl NE, Sammamish. This facility is located in the Summer Ridge housing community; please double check address when navigating. Street parking only is available. Please carpool or plan to be dropped off. If you do park nearby, please do not block driveways, mailboxes, roads, etc. when parking.
  • Ages: Families with children 8 years old and older or welcome to participate. Volunteers 13 years old and younger should be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
  • Time Commitment: Three-hour shift.

Join the City on a special restoration project as part of the Evan’s Creek Preserve Expansion Project. Volunteers will be helping prep a section of trail that is slated to be decommissioned by stabilizing steep areas and planting vegetation to discourage use of unsafe social trails that were created by people going off-trail. We will provide water, snacks, gloves and tools.

What to wear: Please dress appropriately for weather, and wear sturdy, closed-toed shoes suitable for hiking (e.g. hiking boots with good tread & ankle support) and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty.

If you have any dietary restrictions or food allergies, please bring your own snacks. All volunteers should also bring a full, refillable water bottle. Compostable cups will be provided for those that don’t have them or forget them.

Contact: Sebastian Ritacco, sritacco@sammamish.us, 425.414.0829. Registration is available online.

Check Out Our Featured Project Of The Month!

Create Greeting Cards

EXPLORE our growing list of at-home projects you can do whenever you’re ready. Each project includes conversation starters, book ideas, and more! Follow along on social media as other families tackle this month’s project and share their stories! Simply join our Facebook group or find us on Instagram (@doinggoodtogether and #sharekindness).

 

Let’s Show Kids that Love Rules!

Though it may seem cliché this time of year, the need for love is real. As many face isolation, angst, and uncertainty, we can lead by example to show our kids that love rules. And we can do that with more than just words. Let’s focus on love in the books we read, the gifts we give, and the activities we pursue. To do that, remember DGT’s offerings, including love-themed books, our Shop Kind Gift Guide, and our Valentine’s-themed Kindness Challenge.

This list was compiled by Doing Good Together™ and reposted with permission. When calling or emailing to volunteer for any of the opportunities listed above, please let the coordinator know you found it through this listing. You are encouraged to ask any questions you may have of the sponsoring organization before committing to a project.

Disclaimer: This list is provided as a service to families. Inclusion of organizations in this listing does not imply affiliation, endorsement, or quality assurance on the part of Doing Good Together™. Doing Good Together™ bears no responsibility whatsoever for the activities and actions of the listed organizations. © 2025 Doing Good Together™

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]]> Do some good together in January https://www.seattleschild.com/family-volunteer-opportunities/ Wed, 07 Jan 2026 15:59:01 +0000 https://www.seattleschild.com/?p=105719 Volunteer opportunities for big-hearted families

The post Do some good together in January appeared first on Seattle's Child.

]]> At Seattle’s Child, we believe in community and in the importance of all of us working together to improves the lives of the kids and families in our neighborhoods and cities. That’s why we’ve partnered with national nonprofit Doing Good Together, an organization committed to making volunteering and service, along with daily kindness, easy and accessible for every family. Check out the volunteer opportunities compiled by the organization below and make “giving back” a natural part of life’s early lessons. 

Winter Warmth Drive / Angeline’s Day Center

Date/Time: Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Location(s): 

  • Women’s items only can be dropped off at Angeline’s Day Center at 2030 3rd Avenue, in downtown Seattle,
  • Women’s, children’s, and men’s items can be dropped off at our Phillis Wheatley office at 2820 E Cherry St, near MLK in Seattle’s Central District

As the weather gets colder, women and families in our programs need help staying warm. We are especially in need of women’s items for our Angeline’s Day Center shelter, but we are also looking for men’s and children’s items as well. New or gently used items with no rips or stains are welcome. Shop our Winter Warmth wish list here!

Clothing items needed include:

  • Women’s, men’s and kid’s winter coats
  • Adult and kid’s gloves
  • Women’s, men’s and kid’s warm socks (new only, please)
  • Adult and kid’s winter hats
  • Scarves
  • Boots and winter weather shoes
  • Warm polar fleece or emergency blankets

Warmth Kit items needed:

  • Hand and toe warmers
  • Lotion, lip balms and tissue packs
  • Knit caps
  • Weather resistant tote and cinch bags

Contact: Lori Bugaj, lbugaj@ywcaworks.org.

Juanita Bay Park (East) Habitat Stewardship Day / Green Kirkland Partnership

Date/Time: Friday, January 2, 10 a.m.–noon and Friday, January 16, 10 a.m.–noon.

Location: Please note this event does not meet at the main Juanita Bay Park parking lot. Navigate to 10442 Forbes Creek Drive, Kirkland, WA, 98033 to find the site.

Ages: Families are welcome to participate. Most event activities are best suited for volunteers who are 12 years old and older, though many activities are adaptable for all ages. Volunteers younger than 14 years old must be accompanied by a responsible adult who will remain onsite and supervise them for the duration of the event.

Time Commitment: Two hours.

Volunteers will help restore critical habitat by removing invasive plants such as blackberry or ivy, planting native plants, and pitching-in with stewardship tasks like mulching and weeding. In fall/winter we may also be planting native plants. With your help, this park with have healthy and thriving natural areas for years to come! Learn more here.

Visit our ‘About Volunteering’ page for youth volunteer guidelines or if you have questions about what to bring and expect at our stewardship events.

Contact: Registration is available online on Eventbrite.

Hygiene Kits and/or Sweet Treats for Recovery Café / Recovery Café

Date/Time: Ongoing need.

Location: You can drop off items at either Cafe location (4202 6th Ave S or 2022 Boren Ave) or mail items to 2022 Boren Avenue.

Ages: Everyone can help assemble hygiene kits and create cards.

Time Commitment: Varies.

Families are welcome to help with one or both of the following projects:

Hygiene Kits: Recovery Café seeks to provide basic hygiene resources for our community members. Your family can help by making hygiene kits! Quart or gallon-sized Ziploc bags tend to work best. Please include the following hygiene items in every kit. Travel-size items are preferred.

  • Toothbrush.
  • Toothpaste.
  • Package of tissues.
  • Cleaning agent (bar soap, liquid body wash, disposable washcloth).
  • And at least one other item.

The last item (or two) can be something like hand sanitizer, dental floss, ear plugs, shampoo, lotion, deodorant, chapstick, a disposable razor, or sunscreen (which is especially useful in the summer months). We ask that hygiene supplies that would only be useful for certain community members, like hair ties or menstrual products, be kept separate from the kits, but folks are welcome to donate those if desired!

Sweet Treats: Everyone loves homemade treats! Volunteers are invited to bake and donate their favorite cookies, cupcakes, brownies, or other goodies to share with the Cafe community.

We ask that any sweet treat containing nuts be clearly marked. Cookies are always a win in our community, but other baked goods like cupcakes, muffins, brownies, etc. are also greatly appreciated! Items that are pre-portioned and do not need to be cut are easiest for us to serve, but donations like cakes and pies would also be warmly embraced. Batches of at least 30-45 treats are most desirable, so that we can offer at least one to any Member present at the time. They can either be dropped off to us in individual bags/wrapping or in a container–if you would like the container to be returned to you, please be in contact with Anderson (anderson@recoverycafe.org)

Contact: Anderson Witiak, anderson@recoverycafe.org.

Make Cards for Meals on Wheels Recipients / Sound Generations

Date/Time: Ongoing.

Location: Please mail cards to our main downtown office: Sound Generations Meals On Wheels, 2208 2nd Ave., Ste 100, Seattle, WA 98121

Ages: Everyone can participate.

Time Commitment: Varies.

A handmade card from a caring person can really brighten an older adult’s day. Whether you’re looking for something to do on a rainy day or planning a family activity, all you need is your creativity, some paper, and any other art supplies you have. Remember to make your cards general enough, so they will suit any recipient. You can write messages like, “Have a good day,” or “Happy spring or fall,” and/or include an inspirational quote or silly joke. You could also share something about yourself, like where you are from. Please, no glitter or “get well” messages. Do not include any personal information on your cards. Envelopes are not necessary. If you include envelopes, please do not seal them. Learn more here.

Contact: mealsonwheels@soundgenerations.org or call 206.448.5767.

Forest Stewardship at Juanita Heights Park / Green Kirkland Partnership

Date/Time: Saturday, January 17, 10 a.m.–noon.

Location: Juanita Heights Main Entrance: 12406 89th Pl NE, Kirkland.

Ages: Families are welcome to participate. Most event activities are best suited for volunteers who are 12 years old and older, though many activities are adaptable for all ages. Volunteers younger than 14 years old must be accompanied by a responsible adult who will remain onsite and supervise them for the duration of the event.

Time Commitment: Two hours.

Join the Green Kirkland Partnership for a fun day of forest stewardship at Juanita Heights Park! Juanita Heights Park is a serene, forested park nestled in the Finn Hill Neighborhood featuring a nature trail loop, beautiful conifer trees, and wildlife habitat. Volunteers will help restore critical habitat by removing invasive plants such as blackberry or ivy, planting native plants (Oct-Feb), and pitching-in with stewardship tasks like mulching and weeding. With your help, this park with have healthy and thriving natural areas for years to come! Learn more here.

Visit our ‘About Volunteering’ page for youth volunteer guidelines or if you have questions about what to bring and expect at our stewardship events.

Contact: Registration is available online on Eventbrite.

Sort and Repack Volunteers / Food Lifeline

Date/Time(s): Check the volunteer calendar for available shifts starting in January.

Location: Food Lifeline Hunger Solution Center, 815 S 96th St, Seattle.

Ages: We welcome volunteers 10 years and older! Youth 10-13 years old must be accompanied by an adult.

Time Commitment: Two-hour shifts.

Is one of your family New Year’s Resolutions to volunteer more? Food Lifeline’s mission is to feed people experiencing hunger today while working to end hunger for tomorrow. Change lives and feel great – join us in our warehouse for a volunteer session at the Hunger Solution Center! Volunteers are needed to sort and repack nutritious food to feed our neighbors who are experiencing food insecurity. It is easy, fun, and you can make a huge difference in just a few hours. Click here for our volunteer guidelines.

Contact: volunteer@foodlifeline.org. Each individual must register in advance to volunteer. Kids too! Volunteers who arrive without signing up may be turned away.

Valentines for Veterans / Soldiers’ Angels

Date/Time: Cards should be delivered by February 14.

Location: Mail your cards and $1 per card to: Soldiers’ Angels Valentines for Veterans, 2895 NE Loop 410, Suite 107, San Antonio, Texas 78218

Ages: Everyone is welcome to participate

Time Commitment: Varies

Holidays like Valentine’s Day are fun to celebrate when you can share the day with your friends or loved ones. Unfortunately, our military heroes often find themselves alone or feeling homesick during holidays. The mission of Soldiers’ Angels is to make sure no one who serves this country feels unloved – and that’s especially true on Valentine’s Day! You and your family can help by making or purchasing Valentines cards for our military and veteran heroes. Why do we ask for the $1 per card? The $1 helps cover the cost to distribute the thousands of cards we receive. Have questions? Check out our FAQs here.

  • Feel free to purchase or make your Valentines.
  • Our heroes love hearing from children. Making Valentines is a good activity to do with the kids one afternoon.
  • Be sure to write a note of encouragement or thanks on your cards.
  • Individually wrapped candy can be included if it is attached to the card.
  • You can include the envelope if you want, but it is not necessary. If you include an envelope, do not seal it.
  • Include $1 per card, cash or check.
  • Don’t be afraid to sign your name! You are welcome to include your return address in the event the recipient may write back to you. However, it is also okay if you do not include any personal information.
  • If you would like a donation receipt mailed to you, make sure to include your name and mailing address somewhere on or in the box, otherwise we will not know where it came from!

Contact: info@soldiersangels.org. Learn more here.

Make Cards ? Cards for Hospitalized Kids (CFHK) 

Date/Time: At your convenience.

Location: Mail cards to: Cards for Hospitalized Kids: 7290 W. Devon, Chicago, IL 60631

Ages: Everyone can participate.

Time Commitment: Varies.

Cards for Hospitalized Kids is an internationally recognized charitable organization that spreads hope, joy, and magic to hospitalized kids across America through uplifting, handmade cards. Your family can help by making cards. Here are some guidelines for creating your cards:

  • The only supplies you need are paper and a writing utensil, such as crayons, markers, etc. You may use other supplies such as stickers and glue-on craft decals, but please do not use any supplies, like glitter, that might fall off of your cards.
  • Do not address the card to a specific child, as we don’t know the name of the child yet. At the request of hospitals, we ask that you do not write “get well”, “feel better” or other illness-related comments. Include uplifting messages in your cards. Click here for suggestions.
  • Do not write any religious comments such as “God bless” or “I’m praying for you.”
  • Sign your cards with your first name only. Do not include any personal information, such as phone number, address, email address, etc.

Contact: info@cardsforhospitalizedkids.com

Coat Drive / One Warm Coat

Date/Time: Flexible.

Location(s): Click here for a list of where you can drop off coat donations in your local area.

Ages: All ages can participate.

Time Commitment: Varies.

One Warm Coat’s mission is to provide free coats to children and adults in need while promoting volunteerism and environmental sustainability. Founded in 1992 by one woman with one coat to give, One Warm Coat is a national movement born from one simple act of kindness and strives to make a tangible difference in people’s lives by providing comfort and hope to those who need it most. One Warm Coat supports individuals, groups, companies, and organizations across the country by providing the tools and resources needed to hold a successful coat drive. Coats are distributed in the communities where they are collected, to children and adults in need, without charge, discrimination, or obligation. Your family can help by holding a Warm Coat Drive or by donating coats.

Contact: drives@onewarmcoat.org or call 877.663.9276.

BAM! Bring a Meal / Seattle Union Gospel Mission

Date/Time: Meals are served seven days a week. Lunch is at noon and dinner is at 5 p.m.

Location(s): Click here and scroll down to see BAM locations.

Ages: There are opportunities for everyone to help. However, the age limit to serve in our women and children’s shelter is 10 years old in the dining room and 13 years old to serve in the kitchen. Men’s shelter volunteers must be at least 18 years old.

Time Commitment: This will vary depending on which type of BAM project you choose.

At the Seattle Union Gospel Mission, we work to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty. It all starts with dignity in the form of a blanket, a hot shower, a home-cooked meal, a warm place to sleep, and friendship. It continues with addiction recovery, one-on-one counseling, and long-term solutions. Our Bring-A-Meal (BAM) program provides meals for men, women, and children while providing a life-changing volunteer experience for community groups. Families can help out in the following ways:

Prepare a meal at a donor kitchen and deliver it to one of our shelters. A donor kitchen is a publicly available kitchen in a faith-based organization, community center, or another site. The donor kitchen does not need to have a health permit but must have basic facilities such as adequate handwashing, dishwashing, refrigeration, and cooking equipment. It must have a safe water supply, be protected from weather and animals, and be cleaned before food preparation starts.

  • Order food from a restaurant and deliver it to one of our shelters.
  • Make PB&J sandwiches for our outreach team. Our vans go to the homeless encampments twice a day Monday–Friday and give out roughly 4000 sandwiches a week. These sandwiches can be made in a donor kitchen and delivered to our offices in Rainier Valley.
  • Run a sock drive or a hygiene package drive. We always give out clothing and hygiene supplies at the encampments.

The BAM coordinator can help in arranging the best options for your group. Click here to learn more about BAM.

Contact: Cindy, at cpetersen@ugm.org or 253.250.8562 to make arrangements. ugm.org

Got love to share? Foster a Pet / Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC)

Date/Time: Flexible.

Location: Foster an animal in your home and check in with RASKC, 21615 64th Ave S, Kent.

Ages: Children may participate in caring for animals, though an adult in the household must be the official volunteer.

Time Commitment: Very flexible. You can wait until the time is right for you to foster.

Got love to share? Consider becoming a foster volunteer! As a foster volunteer, you make a short-term commitment to nurture one or more animals from the shelter in your home on a temporary basis. For example, some dogs have lingered in the shelter too long and need some respite; and some cats need a break from living in a kennel. Providing time in your home helps them sleep deeply and feel their best selves again. RASKC also offers puppies, kittens, and rabbits for foster care too.

Foster volunteers are given online training, great support, and everything necessary– free pet food, free medical care for the animal, and a free kennel. When the pet is ready to be adopted, you may choose to: a) Select who the animal will be adopted to within our Adopters Welcome guidelines, b) Bring the animal back to the shelter, or c) Adopt the animal yourself. You can decide when the time is right for you to foster– on an ongoing basis or just every once in a while. Community service might be available for school (if it is okay with the school). Usually, 1.5 hours is credited for each day an animal is cared for in your home.

  1. Complete a RASKC volunteer application if you are an adult. One application per household.
  2. Go to RASKC’s website. View the Training Module 4 – then answer the questions. The other training modules are optional.
  3. Submit your completed liability release form if you are an adult.

Contact: Sarah Luthens, RASKC.Volunteers@kingcounty.gov, 206.225.4899

Volunteer to Color / Color A Smile

Date/Time: Ongoing.

Location: Your own home.

Mail your drawings to: Color A Smile, PO Box 1516, Morristown, NJ 07962-1516

Ages: Everyone is welcome to participate.

Time Commitment: Varies.

Color A Smile is a nonprofit organization that distributes cheerful drawings to senior citizens, our troops overseas, and anyone in need of a smile. Every month, Color A Smile mails out thousands of cheerful drawings. Since 1990, Color A Smile has distributed millions of drawings nationwide. Their goal is to put smiles on people’s faces and remind them that someone is thinking of them. Download a page from their website, grab some crayons, and Color A Smile. Click here for coloring templates and instructions.

Contact: info@colorasmile.org, 973.540.9222.

Check Out Our Featured Project Of The Month!

Assemble Homeless Care Kits

EXPLORE our growing list of at-home projects you can do whenever you’re ready. Each project includes conversation starters, book ideas, and more! Follow along on social media as other families tackle this month’s project and share their stories! Simply join our Facebook group or find us on Instagram (@doinggoodtogether and #sharekindness).

Read with Empathy

A good book opens the door to a new perspective, creating a wonderful opportunity to strengthen empathy muscles.

Doing Good Together™ offers a growing collection of book suggestions for the child or tween in your family.

This list was compiled by Doing Good Together™ and reposted with permission. When calling or emailing to volunteer for any of the opportunities listed above, please let the coordinator know you found it through this listing. You are encouraged to ask any questions you may have of the sponsoring organization before committing to a project.

Disclaimer: This list is provided as a service to families. Inclusion of organizations in this listing does not imply affiliation, endorsement, or quality assurance on the part of Doing Good Together™. Doing Good Together™ bears no responsibility whatsoever for the activities and actions of the listed organizations. © 2025 Doing Good Together™

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]]> Holiday Blanket Drive: A family tradition for 14 years https://www.seattleschild.com/holiday-blanket-drive-a-family-tradition/ Mon, 15 Dec 2025 03:02:56 +0000 https://www.seattleschild.com/?p=46718 A simple act of kindness that keeps growing

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]]> Their annual holiday blanket drive has become a family tradition, but the idea was inspired by the childhood of their parents, Sayeh and Tony. Both grew up in families where caring for others was a strong value, one they knew they wanted to pass on to their children.

When their daughter Mya, now age 13, was born, they decided to start a tradition of collecting and distributing blankets as their family’s way of caring for those in need during the winter holiday season. 

14th Annual Blanket Drive

The annual project, which they started 14 years ago, rolls into action just before Thanksgiving, “has expanded more and more each year,” says Sayeh.

Part of that growth comes from the family’s efforts to make giving simple. They are happy to pick up blankets from donors or collect money and shop for the blankets themselves. They have even created an Amazon wish list so donors can simply click and send, which has become a very popular option for the drive.

People want to help but need a way

“Our family’s blanket drive allows us to support people in our community who are in need,” says Sayeh. “Something as simple as a warm blanket can make someone feel seen, cared for, and safe. Being part of this effort reminds us that small acts of kindness add up and that we can all have a role in supporting each other.”

Make a blanket donation to Mya, Jordan, Sayeh and Tony’s Blanket Drive. 

What started in 2012 with a donation of  20 blankets reached nearly 100 blankets last year — along with winter socks, underwear, and other needed items. Friends and family have jumped enthusiastically onto the family’s kindness train: “So many people around us want to help but may not know where to donate or have the time to purchase and drop off a donation,’’ Sayeh says.  “We try to make it as easy as possible.”

A gift that grows with a family

And, just as the annual collection has grown, so have Maya’s and Jordan’s voices in important decisions about this family tradition. The kids get to help decide where the blankets are delivered. Mya was the one who initiated giving blankets to Seattle Children’s Hospital in the early years of the drive. 

“We were visiting Seattle Children’s for an appointment and learned the hospital needed new blankets to give to kids and their parents who had to stay at the hospital.

“The patients got to take the blankets home with them as comfort items after their stays, which Mya thought was super cool,” says Sayeh. “We ended up donating to Seattle Children’s for several years after that.” She adds that the family has also led drives specific to a child’s interests; for example, they collected new basketballs for kids and families in need. 

This year, donated blankets will go to Mary’s Place, a Seattle nonprofit organization that provides emergency shelter, housing services, and support for families experiencing homelessness. Founded in 1999 as a day center for women, it has grown into a network of 24/7 family shelters and outreach programs that offer beds, meals, healthcare connections, employment and housing assistance, and specialized support for medically fragile children.

A fall tradition

As each November approaches, excitement about the drive build for Mya and Jordan, their mom says, “They tell all their friends, teachers and coaches to help spread the word.”

Mya and Jordan write a traditional, personal, handwritten thank-you note to every donor. Says Sayeh, “Having the kids acknowledge each donor is a super important part of our drive each year, teaching them to show gratitude for what others have done.”

During a recent dinner conversation about their annual giving campaign, the family agreed they have learned a critical lesson from their effort: Small acts of kindness can go a long way.
“We hope that this inspires others to give back,” says Sayeh

Want to share a blanket with a person or organization in need? Consider making one using the Doing Good Together No-Sew Fleece Blanket guide.

Read more at Seattle’s Child:

“Doing good together: December volunteering as a family”

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]]> Solid Ground: Change begins with community https://www.seattleschild.com/solid-ground-holiday-giving-seattle/ Fri, 12 Dec 2025 16:02:36 +0000 https://www.seattleschild.com/?p=105774 Donations to support neighbors in need will be matched through Dec. 31, doubling your impact

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]]> As the holiday giving season arrives, the nonprofit Solid Ground is urging Seattle families to take action to help neighbors struggling to put food on the table and stay housed.

The organization has helped Seattle families meet immediate needs for food, employment, clothing bank, housing, transportation, youth development and more for more than 50 years. It’s new campaign, “Change Begins with Community,” highlights the power of community to stand up for local families and neighbors faced with rising housing and food costs amid increased tariffs, cuts to social services, and other actions by the federal government. Contributions to the campaign go toward the organization’s  mission to dismantle poverty by making sure families have healthy food, secure housing, accessible transportation,
and other basic needs to thrive.

Contributions to the campaign will be matched through Dec. 31, doubling the weight of every donation (a $10 donation becomes $20 with a matching gift from another donor).

“In times like these, sharing your time and resources with your neighbors is not an act of charity, but of resistance,” Shalimar Gonzales, Solid Ground CEO, said in a release. “It is up to every one of us to safeguard the future and wellbeing of our communities.”

What You Can Do

Along with contributing during the gift matching time frame, Solid Ground staff encourages Seattle families to also make a difference in the following ways during the holiday giving season:

  • Purchase everyday essentials and staples on Solid Ground Amazon wishlists. Items are shipped directly to the organization and quickly distributed to housing residents and program participants who need them most.
  • Volunteer your knitting and crocheting skills. Our Knit-It-Alls volunteers create warm winter hats, clothing, and blankets that we distribute to low-income families and people experiencing homelessness.
  • Consider making a tribute gift, recognizing a grandparent, parent, teacher or child or other special person with a one time donation of $35 or more

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]]> Holiday Giving: Ensure ‘No Child Sleeps Outside’ https://www.seattleschild.com/marys-place-holiday-giving-seattle/ Tue, 02 Dec 2025 16:00:11 +0000 https://www.seattleschild.com/?p=105591 A call to action in support of Mary's Place

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]]> My husband, Tim, and I are honored to serve as Co-Chairs for the Mary’s Place No Child Sleeps Outside campaign this year because we truly believe that every child deserves the safety, comfort, and dignity of a warm bed—and that together we can make that a reality.

Tonight, hundreds of families in our community will go to sleep in cars, tents, or outside. Thousands more are at risk of losing their homes. These are not strangers—they are our neighbors and co-workers.

Mary’s Place is a lifeline. Last year, they provided emergency shelter, mobile outreach, and prevention services to more than 1,700 families, including nearly 3,200 children. They helped 1,128 families move into or stay in stable housing. But the need is growing, and they cannot do it alone. Each day, 50-60 families call the intake line asking for help Mary’s Place is only able to provide safe shelter and a warm bed to just one or two.

This is where Seattle’s Child readers come in. Any gift—no matter the size—directly provides safe shelter, hot meals, and critical services families need to move from crisis to stability.

Here’s what your donations can do:

  • $25 covers getting a copy of child’s birth certificate, required for rental applications.
  • $68 provides a night of safety and warmth for a child
  • $100 enables the shelter intake and healthcare coordination for a family with a medically fragile child
  • $500 supports ten families sleeping outside with resources to purchase groceries, gas, and necessities
  • $1,000 provides the resources to make a cozy home for six newly housed families each week

Even small donations add up: A $5 donation to Mary’s Place may not pay for a whole night of shelter or a big service by itself — but it adds to the vital fund that keeps their shelters open, meals running, and staff available.

Sometimes it’s helpful to here the story of a neighbor in need to understand how much even a small donation helps.

Readers’ gifts will help our neighbors, co-workers, and even our children’s classmates.

Take action: Join Tim and I in supporting Mary’s Place by making a donation to the No Child Sleeps Outside campaign before December 31. Together, we can ensure that no child sleeps outside.

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]]> Where Seattle families can volunteer during the holidays https://www.seattleschild.com/volunteer-as-a-family/ Tue, 02 Dec 2025 15:58:19 +0000 https://www.seattleschild.com/?p=46344 Organizations are eager for help from all the hands in your clan

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]]> Looking for meaningful ways to give back as a family this holiday season? Whether your crew loves packing food bags, baking cookies, wrapping gifts, or choosing presents for another child, there are countless opportunities around the Seattle area to make a real difference together. Volunteering doesn’t just help local families — it gives kids a hands-on way to practice generosity, empathy, and community care.

Below, you’ll find a wide range of holiday volunteer opportunities for families, from toy drives and giving trees to food bank shifts, cookie donations, and simple acts of kindness that even the youngest helpers can do. Many of these activities are kid-friendly, one-time commitments, and perfect for building a new family tradition of giving.

Toy Drives & Giving Trees

Many Seattle-area families are in need of many things. Toys and gifts for kids are one area that can really tug at the heartstrings, but lots of good people are working hard to make sure that kids will get gifts during the holiday season. You can help by donating toys and cash. In most cases, this is not a time when you go through your closet and get rid of hand-me-downs (here are ideas for that). Instead, it’s an opportunity to think about a child or perhaps a few kids and purchase a specific present with them in mind. Check out where to turn to help in our article, “How to donate to holiday toy drives around Seattle.”

Below is a list of businesses and organizations hosting holiday giving trees, where you pick up a tag with a child or family’s gift request, purchase the gift and return it wrapped with the giving tag attached. Some programs, like those run by the Pike Place Market Foundation and Wellspring Family Services, provide Amazon Wish Lists or a Spark Good Registry where you can purchase gifts online and have them shipped directly to the organization.

Host a Toy Drive as a Family

Donating toys can be a fun holiday activity for the whole family. Send out an email blast to friends and family and invite folks to drop toys off at your house or offer to pick them up at theirs. Organizations like Seattle Children’s Hospital, Toys for Tots, and other organizations will gladly accept the fruits of your family’s toy-collection labor and get them to kids.

Adopt-a-Family & Gift Card Giving

Adopt One Child or a Whole Family for the Holidays

“Adopting” a child or a whole family in need during the holidays by purchasing gifts and providing other forms of support is one effective way to teach your kids about looking out for others in the community. When everyone in the family participates in choosing gift cards or specific gifts, kids learn lessons about showing empathy and generosity beyond their family and friends. Learn about local programs and organizations around Seattle that will set you up with a family or child to “adopt” in our article. “Adopt-a-Family: How to give gifts and support families at the holidays.“

Volunteer to Collect Gift Cards for Families in Need 

Proceeds go to help support senior services. Your family can help a foster family or a family experiencing homelessness or other crises by collecting and donating gift cards. The cards you collect allow families to choose their own gifts for their children and purchase other essential items. Reach out to organizations such as YWCA, Lake City Holiday Project, Federal Way Cares for Kids,  Bellevue LifeSpring, Wellspring Family Services, Hopelink, Compass Housing Alliance, Treehouse, The Forgotten Children’s Fund, Mary’s Place, and Make a Wish Washington and Alaska to learn more about gift cards needed and how to deliver them. 

Volunteer Gift Wrapping

Sometimes the best part of a gift is the wrapping. Sign your family up as volunteer wrappers during Compass Housing Alliance’s 2025 holiday giving campaign. Your family may also want to lend its support to The Forgotten Children’s Fund — they need volunteers to raise funds to purchase, wrap and deliver gifts to kids and their families who might otherwise go without. 

Food Bank and Meal Support

Every year, the Emergency Feeding Program of Seattle and King County (EFP) provides more than 420,000 meals throughout King County. Located in Renton, the EFP is always looking for volunteers of all ages to help pack food bags, provide help at distribution sites, and host food drives. Additionally, food or money donations are greatly appreciated.  St. Francis House is also eager for volunteers to help meet the basic and immediate needs of its 13,000 clients struggling to make ends meet. Your family can volunteer to make sandwiches for St. Francis clients. 

Provide or Sponsor a Holiday Meal

Nothing says Happy Holidays like sharing a meal! Partner with Compass Housing Alliance by helping sponsor a holiday party or by providing a meal at one of its 20 programs. Contact Sam at: volunteer@compasshousingalliance.org.

Cookie Baking & Treat Donation

Holiday Cookie Drop-Offs & Sorting

The Ballard Northwest Senior Center is always looking for tasty home-made treats to sell at it’s annual Bazaar & Bake Sale, with proceeds going to support senior services.

And while you’re on that baking roll, why not stick some sheets in the oven for Compass Housing Alliance’s holiday cookie extravaganza. Cookies can be homemade or store-bought and should be bundled in sets of 24. All homemade goodies must have a recipe card with a full list of ingredients. If your recipe contains nuts of any kind, please make a clear note. They can’t take baked goods that need refrigeration. Deliver cookies to the Compass location on Dexter (756 John Street, Seattle) between Dec 15 – Dec 17. Call 206-719-9137 to be let into the building. Early drop-offs are always welcome, so please contact Sam at 206-719-9137 or email  to coordinate.

And each year The Christmas People Foundation has put out a call for more than 7,000 home-baked cookies as the organization brings a small experience of “home” to unhoused Seattleites during the winter holidays. Dates for the 2025 cookie drop-off have not been announced, but The Christmas People is looking for volunteers to receive and sort the goodies Dec. 23-25 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 pm. Kids are welcome to help with the sorting. To learn about cookie drop off or volunteer, emil  Pialley@jps.net.

Bake for Teens

Want to help teens in need have a better holiday season? Volunteer to CupcakeUP & MuffinUP for Teen Feed. Bake off-site with your family and drop off goodies to Teen Feed’s dinner location. Traumatized young digestive systems sometimes require gluten-free, high-protein, vegan or diabetic-friendly foods. This event partners with the ROOTS young adult shelter for breakfast support. 

Support for Foster Youth

Treehouse, a Seattle-based nonproft supporting kids in the state foster care system, has many needs. They are looking for families interested in hosting a donation drive and collecting winter clothing, toys, books, and other items needed by kids in care. Visit the Treehouse to get started. Your family may also purchase items from Treehouse’s Dream List. This list is kept up to date with the items most requested by youth and their caregivers.

Host a Family Food Drive

A food drive is something in which your whole family can be involved. Many organizations even provide resources such as printable flyers and food-collection containers to help your drive succeed. Here are just a few of the organizations that you can partner with for a family food drive: Food Lifeline distributes donations to 275 member agencies across Western Washington; Northwest Harvest uses donations to provide more than 2 million meals to Washingtonians every month; Emergency Feeding Program of Seattle and King County works with 200 partner agencies across King County to provide food bags to anyone in need; Hopelink provides food bank, food delivery, and emergency feeding services to families in crisis in Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, Shoreline and Sno-Valley.

Volunteer with Babies / Kids Giving Back

Even Your Baby Can Give Back!

Were you inundated with gifts at your baby shower? Do you have extra unopened boxes of diapers that your baby outgrew? Westside Baby is happy to accept your baby’s donations of new (unopened) baby hygiene products, as well as gently used clothing, equipment (no furniture) and other essentials. Or, make a donation or shop the gift list at Babies of Homelessness.

Give Back to Santa

Vancouver mother of two Lindsay Backous Rayomond says her children have been giving back to the jolly old gent since day one. “They put toys and books they no longer use out for Santa on Christmas Eve, and then Santa takes them away for other children who would love them.” Santa has partnered with numerous organizations to receive your gifts, since he is quite busy. Among them are KidVantage on the Eastside, Goodwill Seattle, Salvation Army Thrift Store & Donation Center, Seattle Children’s Hospital Bargain Boutiques, and Wellspring’s Family Essentials Store.

Decorating, Flowers, and Neighbor Help

Help Hang Holiday Decorations

Do you have an elderly person or an assisted living home in your neighborhood? Ask if your family can help others deck their halls this year by hanging lights or volunteering for other decoration duties. 

Drop Off Holiday Flowers or Poinsettias

Many local nursing homes and senior centers try to keep the spirit light and holidays bright for the elderly. Consider bringing holiday flowers or poinsettias to a cancer or an eldercare facility near you and dropping them at the front desk. Include a note inviting the staff to give them to a resident who may need extra cheer during the holidays. Or leave a bouquet or plant anonymously on a senior neighbor’s stoop.

Offer Some Soap for Hope

Collect unused soaps or other toiletries from neighbors and friends and deliver them to the annual AAA Washington Soap for Hope drive. The drive takes place November through December, but donations are accepted year round. Items are distributed to local charities throughout Washington.

Smile: The Simplest Way to Give

It’s hard to see someone in pain or need. But looking away can make those who are struggling feel invisible. Teach your children to offer a simple smile when they encounter homeless people or others struggling in our midst. Or invite them to draw a smile as a way to cheer up people who are far from home or without extended family, for example, military personnel or forgotten seniors. Go to Color a Smile to learn how you and your children can make cheerful drawings that the non-profit will then distribute to folks who need a boost.

How to Find More Opportunities

Need help finding a good volunteer opportunity for your family? 

United Way of King County and Volunteer Match offer searchable databases to help you find a great giving fit for your clan. 

Make sure to check ‘Doing Good Together’ family volunteer opportunities

Each month, Seattle’s Child partners with the national nonprofit Doing Good Together, to give readers a list of family-friendly volunteer options (with age specifics). Just go put the words DO SOME GOOD TOGETHER in the search box at Seattleschild.com

Check out the Doing Good’s “12 Tips for Family Volunteering During the Holidays.”

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]]> Thoughtful Citizens is all about family volunteering https://www.seattleschild.com/family-volunteering-seattle/ Thu, 06 Nov 2025 21:25:03 +0000 https://www.seattleschild.com/?p=104745 Kenmore mom is removing barriers to full family community service

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]]> On a quiet Saturday morning when most children are still cozy in bed, a group of about 70 children is already bustling around setting up their vendor booths for the annual Kenmore Children’s Business Fair.

Walking among the stalls, you can feel the excitement as the kid-trepreneurs set out the products they have developed over the past several months — everything from hand-crocheted stuffed animals to tabletop succulent gardens.

Throughout the day, hundreds will visit the business fair to shop in the festive atmosphere and support the kids’ efforts.

The fair is much more than an opportunity to sell products. It’s the mission of the grassroots Thoughtful Citizens in action. The organization is all about building community.

The seed for Thoughtful Citizens was planted in 2017, when founder Maura Query was looking for community service opportunities that she and her young daughter could participate in together. Most organizations had age restrictions or required continued commitment, making it difficult for parents to volunteer with their children.

After an unsuccessful search for things that she and her daughter could step up to help with on a whim, Query decided to begin her own all-ages and all-abilities community service event.

“Everybody’s individual contributions can make a difference,” says Query, “And I wanted to remove barriers so more people can serve in their community.”

Thoughtful Citizens has evolved into an organization with a far-reaching community impact. All events are designed to allow people of all ages and abilities to work together toward a common goal in support of the community.

To date, volunteers with Thoughtful Citizens have collected over 700 pounds of trash, created and distributed over 2,400 cards to seniors, and produced and delivered over 2,200 scarves to unhoused individuals. The impact of volunteering goes far beyond the event itself.

“I want volunteers to leave feeling more empowered to do good in their daily lives,” says Query.

Learn how to help: Visit thoughtful-citizens.org.

 

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]]> Seattle Community Fridge: Give or take what you need https://www.seattleschild.com/seattle-community-fridge/ Thu, 06 Nov 2025 21:11:07 +0000 https://www.seattleschild.com/?p=104738 'It's just people who have a lot giving to people who don’t'

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]]> When COVID lockdowns forced layoffs and closures all over Seattle nearly six years ago, thousands of people struggled to feed their families.

“COVID stripped bare the failures of our current system to keep people well and supported,” said Seattle resident and community volunteer Reid Branson. “A lot of people were going hungry.”

In response to that need, a group of “energetic” young people founded the first community fridge in Seattle. The worldwide community refrigerators movement offers a free, anonymous, and localized way for people to access fresh food, such as produce and dairy. Branson is a member of the nonprofit Seattle Community Fridge (SCF), which now helps keep seven community refrigerators stocked.

Seattle Community Fridge is not your typical charity. As a mutual aid group, SCF is a voluntary, non-hierarchical organization where resources are shared unreservedly to address a community need. There are no conditions or criteria for receiving resources, no paid staff, and a minimal budget.

“There’s no concept of ‘deservingness’ and no inherent political agenda,” Branson explained. “It’s just people who have a lot giving to people who don’t.”

Seattle Community Fridge currently has six locations, with one on the way. They include:

  • Phinney Ridge: Woodland Park Presbyterian, 225 N 70th St.
  • Dunlap/Rainier Beach: In alley at 48th Ave. S & S Thistle St.
  • North Beacon Hill: 1307 13th Ave. S
  • Capitol Hill: St. Joseph Parish, 745 19th Ave. E
  • Inside LGBTQ+ Center: 400 E Pine St.
  • Burien: 12027 10th Ave. S
  • Coming soon: Estelita’s Library, 241 Martin Luther King Jr Way S
  • Though SCF doesn’t collect data on people who visit the fridge, relationships form organically.

For example, SCF member Reily Ingram-Sowell would pick up food from the Delridge Farmers Market to stock the Rainier fridge.

“I keep a pretty regular volunteer schedule,” Ingram-Sowell said. She began to notice a small crew of familiar faces every time she dropped off food. “We didn’t speak the same language, but we were able to communicate what they needed, and now I see them pretty much every time.”

Likewise, when Burien SCF volunteers noticed a small community of Afghan people visiting the fridge, they started stocking items traditionally used in Afghan cuisine.

Learn more about taking or giving fresh food: seattlecommunityfridge.org

 

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]]> Seattle Angels: Wrapping foster families in love https://www.seattleschild.com/seattle-angels-foster-care-support/ Thu, 06 Nov 2025 20:50:10 +0000 https://www.seattleschild.com/?p=104733 Seattle mom Deb Christian saw the need and stepped up

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]]> Deb Christian, a Seattle mother of four, never expected that an email would transform her life. But when she received the message asking her to take in two boys, Christian and her family responded to the call. The family opened their hearts and their home to the children — two years that were both “beautiful and heartbreaking,” Christian said.

The experience gave her insight into the complexities and gaps within the state’s child welfare system. She also recognized an immense need for consistent support for everyone involved.

Turnover rates among U.S foster parents range from 30% to 50% each year, often within the first year. As a result, many children and youth are left in limbo and feeling unwanted — a dismal reality that Christian couldn’t shake.

“When our fostering journey came to an end, I began searching for a better way to walk alongside those who step into this space, and to support families who say yes to fostering,” Christian said.

Angels arrive in Seattle

During Christian’s research, she discovered National Angels, a nationwide parent organization that builds communities of support for foster families and children in the hope of improving the experience for everyone. In 2018, Christian launched Seattle Angels, one of 19 chapters under National Angels. The local group began matching volunteers with foster families in February 2019.

The organization has two arms: the Love Box program, which matches volunteers with foster families to ensure family needs are met, and Dare to Dream, a one-to-one mentorship program for foster youth ages 11 to 22. So far in 2025, the organization has supported 150 children and 56 families.

Love Box volunteers range from community individuals to church groups who commit to showing up each month, whether by meeting tangible needs or simply spending time with the family. Showing up can be as simple as delivering board games, clothing, or household supplies, and as involved as planning an outing with the family, babysitting, tutoring, or mowing their lawn.

Dare to Dream mentors commit to one year of meeting with their mentee every other week to set goals and make plans to achieve them. Youth work on earning their driver’s license, practicing their interviewing skills, or learning life skills like budgeting.

Wrapping around families

“Our ultimate goal is to wrap families in the foster care community with as much love, support, and community as we can,” said Ellsworth. “Each act of care adds up to a powerful network of belonging that reminds families they are not alone.”

Learn how to help: seattleangels.org

 

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]]> ‘There is enough to go around’ https://www.seattleschild.com/rainier-valley-food-bank-seattle/ Thu, 06 Nov 2025 20:37:30 +0000 https://www.seattleschild.com/?p=104724 Rainier Valley Food Bank now looks like the full community resource center it is

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]]> There’s nothing quite like the Rainier Valley Food Bank, where families can discuss recipes as they shop for produce, parents can take home needed baby care products free of charge, and volunteers can become employees on a career path.

After a $17 million renovation completed this fall, the food bank now embodies the full community resource center that it is, according to Executive Director Gloria Hatcher-Mays.

Rainier Valley families and their neighbors can access a community resource library, home delivery for food, and assistance connecting to needed services, be it housing support or employment opportunities.

The food bank provides free weekend meals for kids in South Seattle who might otherwise go without.

Soon, the food bank will allow folks to reserve a shopping time. That means parents don’t have to stand in long lines with kids. Once inside the building, the shopping experience is like that of a real grocery store, rather than the traditional food bank approach where visitors receive bags of food items they didn’t pick.

Hatcher-Mays says families come into Rainier Valley Food Bank with dinner recipes in mind, not just hoping to receive something their kids will eat.

“We have real displays, stand-up coolers, it looks like a Safeway,” said Hatcher-Mays.

She points out that many food bank staff live in the Rainier Valley and started as volunteers.

“We don’t just hire our volunteers, we put them on a career path,” said Hatcher-Mays. Inspired by a UW study that showed human service workers are paid significantly less than other industries, the food bank pays nearly double the city’s minimum wage.

Food Services Manager Otis Pimpleton explained: “We are really focused on having plans for people. If there isn’t a place to move up here, we work to improve their resume.”

Pimpleton started working in the food bank’s warehouse and now heads up a team of four people. Together, they provide more than 800 home deliveries a week and 120 to-go lunches a day, in addition to working with the food bank’s outdoor pop-up in the parking lot of the Paradise Baptist Church and food services in the new building.

“We are close to two schools,” said Pimpleton, “so we’re trying to attract more students for our to-go lunches.”

What sets Rainier Valley apart isn’t their lovely new setting, it’s the way they operate. The food bank works in concert with other food banks — not in competition.

“When we speak in one voice, with connected efforts, it becomes food system support,” said Hatcher-Mays.

Despite massive cuts in federal funding and the dramatic increase in food bank usage across Washington as funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funds are withheld from families, Hatcher-Mays knows there’s enough food to go around — if it can just get where it’s needed.

“We operate from a place of ubiquity,” she said.

Learn how to help: rvfb.org

 

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