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.
Back to School Family Resource Fair Volunteer / Wellspring Family Services
Date/Time: Saturday, August 15, noon–3 p.m. There are morning, mid-day, and afternoon shifts available.
Location: Wellspring Family Services,1900 Rainier Ave S., Seattle.
Ages: Families with children seven years old and older are welcome to volunteer.
Time Commitment: Typically, three to four-hour shifts, depending on the event schedule.
Wellspring Family Services is hosting our annual Back-to-School Family Resource Fair, and we would love your help making it a success. This special event supports local families by providing school supplies, essential resources, and a joyful experience as they prepare for the new school year.
Volunteer roles include:
- Distributing backpacks and school supplies.
- Assisting families as they navigate the event.
- Helping with setup, cleanup, or resource tables.
- Providing a welcoming and supportive presence.
This is a great way to make a meaningful impact in just a few hours—and have some fun while doing it!
Contact: Tiffaney Jones, [email protected]. Please click the link to view volunteer opportunities and to sign up! Go to wellspringfs.org.
2026 Back to School Drive / FamilyWorks
Date/Time: Please donate supplies by Wednesday, August 12. Donation drop off hours are:
- Tuesdays: 10 am–2 pm
- Wednesdays: 12–5 pm
- Thursdays: 10 am–4 pm
- Fridays from 10 am–2 pm.
Location: Family Resource Center, 1005 NE 67th St., Seattle.
Ages: Everyone can help.
Time Commitment: Varies.
Summer might not be over, but we’re already preparing for the 2026-27 school year. FamilyWorks is collecting school supplies for local students for distribution in August! Our goal is to provide each student with the necessary tools to thrive on their academic journey. We ask that all items are donated in new, unused condition.
Here is a list of high-priority items that we need:
- Backpacks
- Binders
- Lined paper (college ruled)
- Scientific calculators
- USB flash drives
No time to shop? You can also make donations directly from our Amazon Wishlist or other retailer. Please ship all donations by August 12 to ensure we have enough time to process the items and email Gladys Martinez at [email protected] with a list of the items so we can correctly track your donations and acknowledge you for your support.
Contact: Gladys Martinez at [email protected] or Dee Thomas-Butler, at [email protected]. familyworksseattle.org/
Back to School Donation Drive / Wellspring
Date/Time: Now through September 21. Drop-off hours are 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Location: 1900 Rainier Ave. S. or ship directly using our Amazon Wishlist.
Ages: Everyone can participate.
Time Commitment: Varies.
Wellspring relies on the support of thousands of donors to ensure that children and families in crisis have access to the essentials they need. Your family can make a difference by donating back to school items or by hosting your own Back to School donation drive.
Every child deserves to start the school year with confidence. The donation list includes:
- Backpacks
- Wide and college ruled notebooks, composition books,and loose-leaf paper
- Folders, binders, and dividers
- Pencils (regular & jumbo), pens (black & red), erasers, and pencil sharpeners
- Crayons, colored pencils, markers, and highlighters
- Glue sticks and scissors
- Pencil boxes and pencil pouches
- Rulers and calculators
- Notecards
Click here for our Back to School donation drive toolkit.
Contact: Tiffaney Jones, [email protected] or 206.902.4250. Go to wellspringfs.org.
Celebrate Book Lovers Day by sharing a book in a Little Free Library
Date/Time: Volunteer any time that fits in your schedule on Sunday, August 9
Location: You can share a book anywhere where you find a Little Free Library! Go to littlefreelibrary.org/map to find a location near you.
Ages: Everyone can participate. This is a great activity for families, friends, or book clubs to do together.
Time Commitment: Flexible. Share one book, or share many! Please share your book(s) anytime on Sunday, August 9. Volunteers typically spend about one hour doing this activity.
Celebrate Book Lovers Day by sharing a book you love in a Little Free Library near you. You’ll be expanding book access by sharing your favorite reads. It’s easy to participate:
- Choose a book that you love to donate to a Little Free Library.
- Write a note about why you loved the book and place it inside the book.
- Find a Little Free Library book-sharing box near you using our map.
- Leave the book in the Little Free Library on August 9 and take a photo.
- After you’re done, tell us how it went and share your pictures.
Contact: Brianna Stapleton Welch, Community Engagement Manager, at volunteer@littlefreelibrary. org. Sign up on the Little Free Library volunteer website.
Day of Service 2026 / Solid Ground
Date/Time: Friday, August 21, 9 a.m.–noon.
Location(s):
- Solid Ground Transportation, 8100 8th Ave S, Seattle.
- Sand Point Housing campus, 6801 62nd Ave NE, Seattle.
- Marra Farm Giving Garden, 9026 4th Ave S, Seattle.
Ages: Youth volunteers under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. Youth under 18 must have a parent/guardian sign an additional Youth Volunteer Waiver.
Time Commitment: Three hours.
We hope you’ll roll up your sleeves with us on this year’s Day of Service as we gather across several Solid Ground volunteer sites to plant and tend to garden beds, beautify parks, and clean up our Solid Ground Transportation’s ACCESS bus fleet! We’ll welcome you with coffee and pastries to fuel our collective work, and provide water and snacks to sustain us through the morning. Whether you’re a solo volunteer, a family, or a group of coworkers or friends, there’s a spot for you to make a hands-on impact during our Day of Service.
Contact: [email protected]. Registration is available online. Go to solid-ground.org/day-of-
Habitat Restoration at Discovery Park / Mountains To Sound Greenway Trust
Date/Time: Saturday, August 22, 10 a.m.–1 p.m., or Friday, August 28, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
Location: Lake Sammamish State Park
Ages: Open to all ages. Participants under 13 years old must be accompanied by an adult.
Time Commitment: Three hours.
The Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust leads and inspires action to conserve and enhance the landscape from Seattle across the Cascade Mountains to Central Washington, ensuring a long-term balance between people and nature. Join us at Lake Sammamish State Park to remove Himalayan blackberry along Issaquah Creek. These efforts help in the long-term efforts to restore riparian habitat that make it easier for salmon to have a cool, clean, clear, and connected water system.
For safety, volunteers are required to wear:
- Long pants made of sturdy material.
- Sturdy, closed-toe shoes.
- Gloves (provided).
In addition, we recommend that participants bring:
- Warm layers, especially during the fall, winter, and spring.
- Rain gear.
- Snacks for breaks.
- Long-sleeved shirt.
- At least one full water bottle.
- Small daypack for food, extra layers, etc.
Contact: [email protected]. Registration is required and is available online. Click the appropriate link below to register for your preferred date:
Saturday, August 22,Friday, August 28. Go to mtsgreenway.org.
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. plymouthhousing.org
Collect Back-To-School Essentials! Treehouse
Date/Time: Use the following link to schedule a time to drop off donation items.
Location: Treehouse Store, 2100 24th Ave S, Suite 100, Seattle.
Ages: Everyone can help.
Time Commitment: Varies.
Treehouse provides youth in foster care with tailored academic assistance, crucial material resources, and funding for identity-developing experiences. It’s nearly time for students to head back to school, and every student deserves a great first day! Your family can help support youth this year by signing up to host a drive or setting up a peer-to-peer fundraiser. Rally your friends, family, and community to collect quality school supplies, hygiene items, clothes, or funds! Material drives help keep Treehouse’s free store filled with essential goods while fundraisers help Treehouse ship goods to youth statewide and continue providing their vital education programs. Check out the Back-to-School Toolkit for more information on how to get involved, a list of items the store needs most, printable engagement materials, and more. Be sure to complete the Drive Sign-up Form to make your drive official.
Contact: [email protected] or 206.498.3910. Go to treehouseforkids.org.
Volunteer Work Parties / Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association (DNDA)
Date/Time: Check the volunteer page for upcoming event dates and times.
Location: Varies depending on dates.
Ages: Families with children five years old and older are welcome to volunteer. The youth waiver form must be signed by a parent/guardian for volunteers younger than 18 years old.
Time Commitment: Three hours.
Volunteering with DNDA’s Nature Programs can be a fun, rewarding experience allowing you to get outside, improve the health of a local natural area, and give back to your community. Volunteers will participate in fun, hands-on conservation work led by staff from DNDA’s Nature Team. Restoration work includes removing invasive plants, planting native species, and mulching new plantings, depending on the restoration progress at each site. Working out in the elements requires the right apparel. Long pants and closed-toe shoes are required.
- Bring any water or snacks you might want during the volunteer event. If you have your own pair of work gloves, you are welcome to bring them. If you don’t, that’s okay; we will have some for you.
- All volunteers under 18 years old participating without a parent are required to bring a completed Youth Waiver Form.
- Please note that most sites do not have a bathroom present.
Contact: Caroline Borsenik, DNDA’s Environmental Programs Director, [email protected]. Registration is available online. After you submit a volunteer inquiry, our staff will contact you directly to confirm your spot. Go to dnda.org.
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.
Stuff the Bus / WestSide Baby
Date/Time(s): The Stuff the Bus campaign runs through August 31. Drop off are accepted Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Location: Please drop off items at our front office, through the double glass doors on 14th Ave SW.
Ages: Everyone can participate.
Time Commitment: Varies.
WestSide Baby provides basic items to babies and children (ages 0-12 years) throughout Western King County in need by partnering with social service agencies working with families in need. When school is out, many of the supports that families rely on, from free meals to school-based resources and community connections, become harder to access. But babies still need diapers. Kids still need clothes. And families still need the basics to keep their children safe, warm, and dry. Your family can help by hosting your own drive. Click here for the 2026 Stuff the Bus toolkit. We are focused on collecting critical items like:
- Diapers (all sizes) –
- Pull-ups (all sizes)*
- Wipes
- Diaper Cream
- Open packages of diapers and pull-ups are welcome!
- Jackets (rain and puffer, size toddler – 16)
- Boots (rain and snow) + shoes
- Fall/winter clothing (size toddler – 16)
- Backpacks and lunchboxes
- Hats, gloves, socks, and new underwear
No time to host a drive? You can order and send diapers and back-to-school items straight to our White Center warehouse from our Amazon Wishlist Learn more about Stuff the Bus here.
Contact: [email protected]. To host a drive, please submit the Host A Drive form to let us know your plans and to ask any questions. Go to westsidebaby.org.
Operation: Warm Winter / Soldiers’ Angels
Date/Time: Operation: Warm Winter runs from July 1–September 30.
Location: Ship your collected items to: Soldiers’ Angels, 1355 Central Parkway S, Ste 700, San Antonio, TX 78232
Ages: All ages can participate.
Time Commitment: Varies.
Operation: Warm Winter helps Soldiers’ Angels collect warm items that will be shared directly with homeless veterans in need across the country through the VA Hospitals we support. Join us for Operation: Warm Winter and provide warmth to Homeless Veterans! The items we’re collecting are:
Blankets /Sleeping Bags
- New, unused blankets only.
- Store-bought or handmade blankets are accepted.
- Twin-sized blankets are preferred.
- Waterproof sleeping bags.
- Sleeping pads.
Coats
- New, unused adult-sized winter coats.
- All adult sizes and all colors are accepted.
- Waterproof coats are a plus.
Gloves/ Winter Hats
- New, unused adult-sized winter gloves.
- All adult sizes and all colors are accepted.
- Waterproof gloves are a plus.
- Winter hats, both store-bought and handmade.
Volunteers are also welcome to make blankets. You can sew, knit, or crochet blankets, or click here for directions on how to make no-sew blankets. Click here to learn more about Operation: Warm Winter. Please include your full name and contact information on the box, or inside the box, so we can properly credit your generous donations.
Contact: 210.629.0020, [email protected]. Go to soldiersangels.org.
Check Out Our Featured Project Of The Month!
Create Back-to-School 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).
Explore Kindness into the Classroom – Now 30% Off!
Enjoying these service ideas? Take them further by layering some social-emotional learning into your classroom routine! DGT’s Classroom Kindness Curriculum features 12 ready-to-use lessons that help students build compassion, grow a mind for service, and develop as leaders with empathy. Use it weekly, monthly, or on demand! Get 30% off with code BACK2 through August 31.
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™
