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.
Seattle Forest Week / Green Seattle Partnership and Trees for Seattle
- Date/Time(s): Seattle Forest Week runs from November 7-15.
- Location(s): Click here for Forest Week events.
- Ages: The events are family friendly and open to all ages.
- Time Commitment: Depends on event.
Plant a forest and grow community! Help us create a healthier, happier, and greener Seattle by coming out to kick off planting season during Seattle Forest Week! From creating wildlife habitat to combating climate change and providing a place for residents to recreate, having a hand in Seattle Forest Week is one of the best ways to give back to your neighbors, parks, and your local forest. We will be planting and removing invasive plants.
Join the fun and be one of hundreds of volunteers across the city planting native trees, shrubs, and groundcovers that will become the future forest of Seattle. All community members are welcome, and no experience is necessary!
Contact: Registration for Seattle Forest Week is available online. greenseattle.org,www.seattle.
Giving Together Holiday Drive 2026 / Wellspring
- Date/Time: The drive runs from October 1 through December 9. Drop-off hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Please drop off gifts by December 9.
- Location: 1900 Rainier Ave. S., Seattle
- Gifts can also be shipped to: Attn: Gift Drive, Wellspring Family Services, 1900 Rainier Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98104
- Ages: Everyone can help.
- Time Commitment: Varies.
Wellspring Family Services exists to end family homelessness by preventing it before it happens and intervening early when it does. Giving Together 2026 is a very special fundraising and gift drive to support families facing homelessness across our communities. Your family can help create change for children facing homelessness in our community this holiday season. With your support we can reach our goal of 4,000 gifts to meet the need in our community and bring joy to over 1,200 children. Your family is invited to join our annual holiday tradition by purchasing new gifts or winter essentials for boys and girls, ages newborn to 17 years old. While gifts are needed for all ages, each year, we struggle to fill requests for kids ages 13-17 years old. Gifts must be new and unwrapped. Click here for our Gift Drive wish list. Choose gifts as a family or host your own gift drive. Learn more here.
Contact: Wellspring Family Services, [email protected], 206.902.4250. Wellspringfs.org
Help our Food Insecure Neighbors / Food Pantry Support
Date/Time: Ongoing.
Location: Please use the Food Lifeline food finder link to find a food pantry near you.
Ages: Everyone can help fight hunger in their community
Time Commitment: Varies
Millions of children and families living in America face hunger and food insecurity every day.
- According to the USDA, more than 48 million people, including 14 million children, in the United States are food insecure.
- Every community in the country is home to families who face hunger, including rural and suburban communities. We encourage you to research hunger statistics for your own city or county. You may be surprised by how many people in your community suffer from serious hunger issues.
- Many households that experience food insecurity do not qualify for federal nutrition programs and visit their local food banks and other food programs for extra support.
Thanksgiving means a time to give thanks and many families incorporate helping with holiday meals for their neighbors in need and those living with food insecurity. Your family can help our food-insecure neighbors with your time, food donations, or financial donations. Here are a few ways you and your family can help:
- Check the Northwest Harvest Food Access Page Network link to see what support or donations are needed by the food banks and pantries in your community
- Host a food drive for Northwest Harvest or Food Lifeline.
- Explore volunteer opportunities with Northwest Harvest or Food Lifeline.
Contact: Check the Food Lifeline food finder link to find a food bank or food pantry near you. feedingamerica.org/
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: Josh, at [email protected] or 206.432.8437 to make arrangements. www.ugm.org/
Seattle Forest Week Planting Party at Westcrest Park / DIRT Corps
- Date/Time: Saturday, November 14, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Location: Westcrest Park, 9000 8th Ave SW, Seattle.
- Ages: This event is family friendly and open to all ages and skill levels.
- Time Commitment: Three hours
Help us create a healthier, happier, and greener Seattle! Seattle Forest Week is the time of year that we get together with our neighbors to kick off planting season. From creating wildlife habitat, to combating climate change and providing a place for residents to recreate, having a hand in Seattle Forest Week is one of the best ways to give back to your neighbors, parks, and local forest. Join the fun and be one of hundreds of volunteers across the city planting native trees, shrubs, and groundcovers that will become the future forest of Seattle.
All community members are welcome, and no experience is necessary! We’ll provide the tools, gloves, snacks, hot drinks, and water.
Contact: Anna Steltenkamp, [email protected]. Registration is available online. DIRT Corps has more family-friendly events happening in November and December. All of the descriptions and registration pages can be found online at: Community Engagement Opportunities – Dirt Corps. thedirtcorps.com
Meadowbrook Pond Tree Planting and Volunteer Appreciation Event / DIRT Corps
- Date/Time: Saturday, November 14, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Location: 10700 36th Ave NE, Seattle
- Ages: This event is family friendly and open to all ages and skill levels.
- Time Commitment: Three hours
Join Trees for Neighborhoods and Dirt Corps for our next tree care skill share and volunteer work party at Meadowbrook Pond. This work party will include a skill share about how to plant trees and native shrub species, with opportunities to do so in this special wetland ecosystem!
We will also have a volunteer appreciation celebration as a thank you to all of our community stewards who have contributed to the thriving of this green space all year long, with some hot food from a local restaurant at the end of the day!
Contact: Anna Steltenkamp, [email protected]. Registration is available online. DIRT Corps has more family-friendly events happening in November and December. All of the descriptions and registration pages can be found online at: Community Engagement Opportunities – Dirt Corps. thedirtcorps.com
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, [email protected], 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 [email protected] if you are interested or have any questions.
Food Bank Distribution / North Seattle Food Connection (North Helpline Food Bank)
- Date/Time(s): Wednesdays, 8:30–11:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.–2 p.m.; Thursdays, 3:30–7 p.m.; Saturdays, 8:30–11:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
- Location: Lake City location, 12736 33rd Ave NE, Seattle.
- 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 role help our neighbors shop with dignity and care for food that is meaningful to their families. On distribution days, you will be working with 8-12 other volunteers to perform duties such as:
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- Assisting neighbors in navigating the food options we have available for the day
- Replenishing food at the distribution tables as folks move through the line.
- Helping neighbors carry their groceries to their destination using our grocery carts.
- Distributing hygiene products to neighbors.
To Get Started:nPlease complete a volunteer application by going to volunteer.northhelpline.org and clicking “Sign up”. From there, you will be asked to consent to a routine background check, sign a Client Services Confidentiality Agreement, and complete a Mandatory Civil Rights Training Attestation. Applications are typically processed in a day or two, and you will receive an email once everything has been accepted. From there, you can sign up for shifts with ease online through the volunteer portal!
Lastly, our warehouse is not climate-controlled – please dress appropriately and wear closed-toe shoes for safety!
Contact: Bex, Volunteer Coordinator, [email protected], 206. 413.8271.
Foster a Future Service Dog! / Canine Companions
- Date/Time: Ongoing opportunity.
- Location: Your home and Seattle (SODO)
- 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.
Help change a life—starting in your home. Volunteer fosters provide a safe, loving place for Canine Companions dogs as they complete their professional training and prepare to be matched with a person with a disability. No training or prior experience required.
What you’ll do: Care for a dog in professional training during evenings and weekends while our trainers handle weekday training.
The details: Dogs are 1.5+ years old (Labs, Goldens, or mixes).nAll food, supplies, and medical care are provided.
Transportation: Fosters help with weekday drop-off and pick-up. There are flexible options available, including central meetups and a shuttle.
Good fit if you:
- Live within reasonable driving distance of our Seattle (SODO) training location.
- Fosters can be renters, homeowners, families, working professionals, and more.
- Have a pet-friendly home (other friendly, vaccinated pets are okay).
- Can provide a consistent, caring environment.
- Want to make a meaningful impact—without full-time training responsibilities.
Interested?
Reach out to learn more or get started. If you’re interested but don’t meet every requirement, we’d still love to hear from you! Feel free to reach out, and we’re happy to discuss possible options. Watch our video to learn more: A Day in the Life of a Service Dog: pt. 1 or join an upcoming virtual volunteer info session.
Contact: [email protected] or 425.458.0600.
Green Tukwila Day at Duwamish Hill Preserve / Green Tukwila Partnership
- Date/Time: Saturday, November 21, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Location: 3800 S 115th St, Tukwila. We’ll meet in the field by the road.
- Ages: All ages are welcome to participate.
- Time Commitment: Three hours.
Join Forest Stewards and your community for a hands-on day of restoration at Tukwila’s natural areas! We’ll be planting native understory plants to help restore habitat and support urban wildlife.
No experience is necessary—tools, gloves, and training will be provided on site. Bring your curiosity, energy, and love for the outdoors, and help us grow a healthier, greener Tukwila together! Bring a full water bottle, wear clothes that can get dirty, gloves if available, and wear closed-toe shoes.
Contact: Olena Perry, [email protected], 206.768.2822. Registration is available online. tukwilawa.gov/departments/
Help Restock our Pantry / Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of Western Washington & Alaska
- Date/Time: Drop off donations any day of the week from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Call or email us ahead of time with your delivery date so we can be ready for you.
- Location: 5130 40th Avenue NE, Seattle.
- Ages: Everyone can help.
- Time Commitment: Varies.
The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Western Washington & Alaska offers the comforts of home and support services to families of seriously ill children near the medical care they need. Keeping our House Pantry full of quick meals and nutritious snacks helps parents and caregivers every day. Day or night, they can get what they need to care for their patient and their whole family.
Food Drive Requirements:
- Small cans and packages only (16 oz or less).
- Individual servings when possible.
- Direct from a store–not your cupboard.
- Commercially produced–not home-canned.
- Fresh—at least three months from the expiration or “best by” date.
Here’s our current Food Drive shopping list:
- Pasta and pasta sauce.
- Canned ravioli and Spaghettios.
- Ready-to-eat soup such as Progresso.
- Cup Noodles and Top Ramen.
- Mac and Cheese cups.
- Spam, tuna, and canned chicken.
- Jello cups and pudding cups.
- Baby formula.
- Canned fruit and applesauce squeeze packs.
Learn more here. Prefer to shop online? Visit our Amazon Food Drive Wish List for easy delivery of your donations.
Contact: Marla, Meal Program & Activities Manager, [email protected], 206.838.0621. Call or email us ahead of time with your delivery date so we can be ready for you. Go to rmhcseattle.org.
Turkey Waddle / Backpack Brigade
- Date/Time: Saturday, November 28, 8:30–11 a.m.
- Location: Crossroads Park, 164th Ave NE, Bellevue.
- Ages: Everyone is welcome.
- Time Commitment: Up to two and a half hours
Enjoy a fun morning walk around the park, stopping at our festive tents and grabbing free treats along the way. Your ticket includes a free drink. Kids Dash and prizes for our youngest waddlers. Most importantly, your participation makes a direct impact. 100% of your $35 registration fee will help feed four children for an entire weekend. Bring your friends, family, coworkers, and pups for a morning filled with community, fun, and impact. Come waddle with us—and help make sure no child goes hungry on the weekends.
Contact: Registration is available online. backpackbrigade.org
Craft Winter Holiday Greeting Cards / Full Life Care
- Location: Drop off at Full Life Care offices in Ravenna, 98115 or Beacon Hill, 98108
- Ages: Everyone can participate.
- Time Commitment: Flexible.
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 someone’s day using your card making supplies and creativity. Use your own craft supplies to create greeting cards for caregivers, adults with disabilities, and seniors who may otherwise be alone this holiday season.
Contact: Email [email protected] to receive more details and full instructions to mail or drop off completed cards in Ravenna, 98115 or Beacon Hill, 98108. fulllifecare.org
Treats for Troops / Soldiers’ Angels
- Date/Time: You can start donating excess candy right after Halloween through the month of November!
- Location(s): Most Candy Collection sites host their collections starting on November 1 and run through the first weeks of November. Check back after Halloween to find a location near you! You may drop off a personal amount of candy (no more than 10 pounds). If there are no collection sites near you, please ship your candy (no more than 10 pounds) to our headquarters in San Antonio: Soldiers’ Angels Candy, 1355 Central Parkway S, Ste 700. San Antonio, TX 78232
- Ages: Everyone can share their candy!
- Time Commitment: Varies.
Families with too much candy after Halloween can donate excess candy to support a good cause. Kids may even earn buyback prizes for their generosity, and families will receive a tax-deductible receipt for their donations.
You can also help at any time by making candy bags to send to Soldiers’ Angels. Here’s how to participate:
- Get some fun-size candy (this is also a great use for excess candy after holidays like Halloween, Easter, etc.).
- Using a treat bag or clear plastic baggie, place an assortment of candy in the baggie and secure it with a twist tie or decorative ribbon.
- If you would like, you can also attach a small card to the bag of candy that has a simple message like, “Thank you for your service!”
Learn more about creating candy bags here.
Contact: [email protected] or 210.629.0020. soldiersangels.org
Check Out Our Featured Project Of The Month!
Teach the Power of Speaking Up
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).
DGT’s Annual Festival of Giving!
We’re hosting a Family Service Fair in Minneapolis on Saturday, November 7 in Minneapolis, Minnesota featuring service projects for all ages to benefit a variety of causes. It’s a chance for the whole family to celebrate kindness and spark big-hearted action. Learn more.
Get involved where you are: Not in Minnesota this November? Volunteer where you are with one of the options in this email or Pick a Project to complete at home! Learn more about hosting a Family Service Fair in your city.
Saturday, November 7, 10 am – 12 pm at Big Brothers Big Sisters Twin Cities (3110 N Washington Ave, Minneapolis, Minnesota)
Not in Minnesota this November? Stay tuned! We’re exploring meaningful ways for families everywhere to participate from home.
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™
