There are many ways that you can volunteer in Seattle. Here are a few that I have done over the last two years.

Mountains to Sound Greenway: Volunteers help plant trees, improve trails, and clear invasive species. This public trust works to restore the natural greenway along the I-90 corridor through grants and volunteer efforts. I really enjoyed the hours that I put in with this group. The progress made in one day was amazing when we had large groups. This organization is youth-friendly and outings run to about 6 hours on weekends.

CAMP: Central Area Motivation Program helps low-income households with energy assistance, re-licensing, food bank services, and helping the formerly incarcerated re-enter the public through housing and job placement. At CAMP, volunteers are needed for general office duties and to lend a hand in the food bank.

Big Brothers Big Sisters: There are two types of volunteering: community-based and school-based. With the community-based program, volunteers meet with their “Little” outside of school. You can get tickets to see the Mariners, play basketball, or go on hikes. There are a lot of group activities too. The school-based program requires volunteers to meet with their “Little” at school, usually on the child’s lunch break. This is the program that I have been involved with for the past 6 months. We usually played Monopoly or computer games. It’s an easy way to have a positive impact on a child’s life.

I’m in the process of potentially becoming a volunteer for Jubilee Women’s Center, a transitional housing program for homeless or at risk to become homeless women in the Seattle area. They need help with general office work and sorting donated clothes.

Craigslist is a great resource for volunteer opportunities. Here’s a quick list of what was posted recently:
Seattle Cancer Care Alliance
Habitat For Humanity
YWCA Food Bank
Meals on Wheels

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2. The Homeless Count
3. City of Seattle to ease rules for the homeless
4. Mentoring for the children
5. The mortgage crisis finally arrives in Seattle