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.
Nursery Potting at Lake Sammamish State Park / Mountains To Sound Greenway Trust
Date/Time: Saturday, March 7, 14, 21, and 28, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
Location: Greenway Nursery. Please park at Tibbets Beach parking lot in Lake Sammamish State Park. Please be sure to display a Discover Pass that is visible on the dashboard of your vehicle. Find a volunteer lead before the event if you do not have one.
Ages: Open to all ages. Participants under 13 years old must be accompanied by an adult.
Time Commitment: Three hours.
The Greenway Native Plant Nursery is home to nearly 20,000 native trees and shrubs. From the very start of their journey with the Greenway Trust, these trees are cared for by volunteers. At the nursery, volunteers pot these trees and shrubs, and after they have grown in our nursery for about two years, volunteers will plant these plants again, this time in their final homes in urban forests, parks, and open spaces throughout the Greenway landscape.
For safety, volunteers are required to wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes and gloves (provided). We recommend that volunteers wear long pants. In addition, we recommend that participants bring warm layers, rain gear, snacks for breaks, at least one full water bottle, and a small daypack for food, extra layers, etc.
Contact: swan.phongwarinr@mtsgreenway.
Bedding, Blankets & Towels /YWCA Seattle
Date/Time: Donations can be dropped off Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. at our Phillis Wheatley Office.
Location: Phillis Wheatley Office, 2820 E Cherry St., Seattle.
Ages: Everyone can help.
Time Commitment: Varies.
Families in our housing programs often arrive with very few items to help make their new apartment a home. We currently have a large number of families moving into our housing locations. Please help these families get comfortable in their new homes by filling a laundry basket or storage bin with these much-needed items:
- Towel sets
- Twin sheet sets
- Twin or full blankets and comforters
Don’t have an opportunity to go shopping? You can also purchase needed household items from our Amazon wishlist.
Contact: Lori Bugaj at lbugaj@ywcaworks.org if you have any questions. ywcaworks.org
Restore Duwamish Hill Preserve / Green Tukwila Partnership
Date/Time: Saturday, March 21, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
Location: 3800 S 115th St, Tukwila. We will meet in the field by the road.
Ages: Families with children are welcome to participate.
Time Commitment: Three hours.
Help Green Tukwila restore Duwamish Hill Preserve this March! We’ll be digging, cutting, and clearing invasive blackberry to give native plants a chance to reclaim the land. This is a fun, hands-on way to care for local nature, meet your neighbors, and make a visible difference in just a few hours. All ages are welcome to participate. Tools and gloves will be provided. Please bring a full water bottle, wear clothes that can get dirty, and wear closed-toe shoes.
Contact: Olena Perry, Olena.Perry@tukwilawa.gov, 206.806.1596. Registration is available online. tukwilawa.gov
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 kitchenis 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/
Volunteer in Kirkland Parks /Green Kirkland Partnership
Date/Time(s): There are several family-friendly events during the month. Check the calendar for opportunities.
Location(s): Kirkland Parks.
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: Most events are two to three hours.
The Green Kirkland Partnership is a Kirkland Parks and Community Services program that engages our community to restore and care for natural areas in Kirkland’s parks. Join us to plant native trees, remove invasive plants, and help restore forests, wetlands, and meadows for the benefit of wildlife and our community! Explore the Green Kirkland Event Calendar for upcoming environmental stewardship opportunities. We provide tools, gloves, guidance, and plenty of fresh air. No experience is needed—just bring your enthusiasm!
Visit our What to Expect for Volunteers 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 through Eventbrite. Pre-registration is requested for all Green Kirkland events. greenkirkland.org
Recycle Used and Unwanted Crayons / The Crayon Initiative
Date/Time: Ongoing.
Location: Ship crayons to: 155 Railroad Avenue, Suite E, Danville, CA 94526. Click here for detailed shipping instructions.
Ages: Everyone is welcome to participate.
Time Commitment: Varies.
The Crayon Initiative is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the environment and enriching the lives of hospitalized children through art and imagination. You can help by recycling your used and unwanted crayons. Do you have stray crayons lying around your house? We bet you do. And whether they’re still unopened, used, or broken, we’re happy to take them off your hands. Crayons can turn up just about anywhere, especially after a good house cleaning. Take a peek in your junk drawers, storage bins, closets, couch cushions, your child’s old backpack… you get the idea! Take heart, knowing that your crayon donation will soon brighten the day of a child in need of a pick-me-up. Start a collection box in your own home, box them up, and ship them to the Crayon Initiative. You can also drop the crayons off at any Staples location in the U.S., and Staples will handle the shipping.
Contact: thecrayoninitiative.
Make Birthday Cards / The Confetti Foundation
Date/Time: Ongoing.
Mail cards to: The Confetti Foundation, 212 Old Airport Road, Middletown, RI 02842
Ages: Everyone can participate.
Time Commitment: Varies.
The Confetti Foundation supplies boxes of themed party materials to children who are hospitalized on their birthdays. Your family can help by making birthday cards for these birthday boxes! Here are some helpful instructions for making your cards:
- Make sure they say Happy Birthday! You can sign them with your name and send any positive messages or jokes, just make sure Happy Birthday is included.
- Get festive! Use stickers, crayons, or markers! (no glitter, please).
- Sign the cards with your name (first is ok!) and your city/state, our kids love seeing the different places people are thinking of them.
- They do not have to be actual cards, they can be folded over paper or construction paper (no bigger than 5×7).
- No envelopes, please.
- Please do not include any religious messages in your cards.
- Please do not write GET WELL on the cards.
- Keep it positive and cheerful!
- Need help making cards? Download our Color Me Birthday cards!
- Download our “How to Make Birthday Cards” sign for your table!
Note: Volunteer hours are not given for this activity.
Contact: hello@
Host a Diaper Donation Drive / Babies of Homelessness
Date/Time: Click here to schedule your donation drop-off.
Location: Your home and community.
Ages: Everyone can help.
Time Commitment: Varies
Babies of Homelessness is a nonprofit dedicated to providing baby essentials to families facing homelessness in the Greater Seattle region. Babies of Homelessness provides diapers, wipes, and formula to local families in need by leveraging the power and generosity of the community, quickly and without red tape. Most of our efforts focus on delivering diapers, wipes and formula to the families that need them most. Ideally, this leads to more stability and improved long-term outcomes. Your family can help by hosting a diaper donation drive in your community. Learn more here.
Contact: admin@babiesofhomelessness.org
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.
Giving Garden Volunteers / Solid Ground
Date/Time: Wednesdays and Fridays 9 a.m.–2 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Location: Marra Farm Giving Garden (South Park): 9026 4th Ave S, Seattle.
Ages: Families with children of all ages are welcome! An adult must accompany volunteers younger than 14 years old.
Time Commitment: Up to four or five hours, depending on the day.
Work at our Giving Garden at Marra Farm by building soil, preparing vegetable beds, planting vegetable starts and seeds, weeding by hand, composting, watering, harvesting, washing produce, and distributing produce to the community food bank and other locations. Many of our volunteers start with limited or no gardening knowledge and learn as they go, so we welcome you with whatever level of gardening skills and knowledge you bring. Families are welcome! Please bring a water bottle, lunch/snacks, and clothes and shoes for working outside in all weather (a raincoat, warm socks, sturdy shoes, a hat, etc.).
Contact: marrafarm@solid-ground.org or 206.694.6828. Registration is available on our online volunteer calendar. Select the date(s) you would like to volunteer, and click through to complete your registration. All farm volunteers need to fill out an Adult Volunteer Waiver and Youth Volunteer Waiver if bringing family members under 18 years old. Please note that Farm waivers only need to be filled out once per year. solid-ground.org
Make a Jared Box / Jared Box
Date/Time: Ongoing project.
Location: Deliver your boxes to your local hospital. Use the Jared Box Hospital Directory to locate a hospital or deliver the boxes to your local hospital. If you would like to deliver your boxes to a new hospital not on the list, contact that hospital directly. The Child Life or Volunteer Services Departments usually handle donations.
Ages: Everyone is welcome to participate.
Time Commitment: Varies.
The mission of The Jared Box Project is to put smiles on the faces of children in the hospital. A Jared Box is a plastic shoebox filled with small gifts, toys, cards, and games. Jared Boxes are inexpensive and easy to make; a great service project idea for all ages! The boxes provide a fun, special distraction for young patients. The boxes symbolize the importance of play and are filled with well wishes, hope, and love. Over one million Jared Boxes have been delivered across the United States. A Jared Box is a plastic storage box filled with small gifts, toys, games, and fun activities. Each box contains items selected for a specific age and gender. The boxes are delivered to hospitals. Jared Boxes provide a special diversion for young patients in emergency rooms, patient rooms, surgical centers, and clinics as they receive chemotherapy and other medical treatments. Jared Boxes bring smiles and laughter and lift the spirits of children in the hospital. Click here for step-by-step instructions on how to make a Jared Box.
Contact: smiles@thejaredbox.org, 814.883.8615. thejaredbox.org
Create a Project / Good Deeds Day 2026
Date/Time: Sunday, April 12.
Location: Your home or community.
Ages: Everyone is welcome to participate.
Time Commitment: Varies, depending on your project.
Good Deeds Day is a global movement of doing good. Throughout the world, families, neighbors, schools, clubs, companies, and communities come together to do a good deed project. Does your family have an idea for a Good Deeds Day project for your community? You can visit the Doing Good Together Pick a Project Page for family-friendly service project ideas. Or, browse the Good Deeds Day project page for additional ideas. We encourage individuals to recruit colleagues, friends, and family, and plan a project as a group!
Contact: info@good-deeds-day.org or click here to contact the Good Deeds Day team. Click here to register your Good Deeds Day project. good-deeds-day.org
Check Out Our Featured Project Of The Month!
Make Birdseed Cookies
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).
Food drives are a great way to help our food-insecure neighbors. DGT has the tools to help ensure your food drive succeeds! With our DGT downloads, you can increase your donations and make a long-term impact on children while your family learns about the complex issue of food insecurity. Our digital Hunger Curriculum uses books and activities to more easily discuss this big-hearted topic.
Read about this issue: See our list of 24 picture books about poverty and hunger in America.
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™
