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.
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 [email protected] or 253.250.8562 to make arrangements.ugm.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/
Bedding & Household Items / YWCA Seattle
Date/Time: Donations can be dropped off Monday through Friday between 9:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. at our Phillis Wheatley Office. Please note that our office will be closed on July 3.
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
This is an ongoing need for our programs. Don’t have an opportunity to go shopping? Household items needed can also be found on our Amazon wishlist.
Contact: Lori Bugaj at [email protected] if you have any questions. ywcaworks.org
2026 Glean and Harvest Volunteer Opportunities / FareStart
Date/Time(s): Variety of dates and times through October.
Location(s):
- Oxbow Farm & Conservation Center, 10819 Carnation-Duvall Rd NE, Carnation.
- Carnation Farms 28901 NE Carnation Farm Road, Redmond.
- Bellevue Urban Garden (tBUG), 156th Pl NE, Bellevue.
Ages: Families with children five years old and older are welcome to participate.
Time Commitment: Two and a quarter hour shifts.
FareStart transforms lives, disrupts poverty, and nourishes communities through food, life skills, and job training. Your family can help FareStart glean and harvest produce from local farms! FareStart’s Food Recovery Team has generously been invited to glean and harvest crops from a variety of local farm partners. At some farms, FareStart will glean excess produce that didn’t go to market, while others have planted crops specifically for FareStart. The practice of gleaning helps the farmer manage excess crops, control weeds and pests, and maintain nutrients in the soil. These crops will be used in our hunger relief meals, and help FareStart incorporate fresh, local, and nutritious products into those meals, diversify ingredients, and minimize costs. Volunteers are needed to harvest a variety of fruits and veggies alongside FareStart staff, volunteers, and farm partners. This is a family-friendly, outdoor activity, and volunteers will need to be able to stand and kneel for a long period of time. Please wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes, and dress for the weather. We also advise volunteers to wear clothes and shoes which can get dirty. Gleaning events will happen rain or shine! Specific weather conditions such as air quality and storms may lead to cancellation or rescheduling.
Contact: [email protected]. Registration is available online. Select the site you are interested in to register:
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: [email protected] 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 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@
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
Food Bank Distribution / North Helpline Food Bank and Foodlifeline
Date/Time(s):
- Wednesdays, 8:30–11:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
- Thursdays, 3:30–7:30 p.m.
- Saturdays, 8:30–11:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.–2:30 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:
- 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:
Please 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 Lyonne, Volunteer Coordinator, [email protected], 206. 413.8271. www.northhelpline.org
SUMMER NEED NOTE
Summer can be a difficult time for children and families who rely on free and reduced-price school meals during the school year. Your family can help close the summer hunger gap in your community. Here are some ideas of ways you can help:
- Volunteer at a food bank, food pantry, or food shelf.
- Donate food to your local food bank, food pantry, or food shelf.
- Host a traditional or virtual food drive.
Contact: Check the Food Lifeline food finder link to find a food bank or food pantry near you.
foodlifeline.org/, www.feedingamerica.org/
Make a Lasagna for a Neighbor in Need / Lasagna Love
Date/Time: Ongoing opportunity.
Location: Varies.
Ages: Families with children of all ages are encouraged to participate.
Time Commitment: Varies.
Lasagna Love is a global grassroots movement powered by thousands of volunteers cooking and delivering lasagna to neighbors in need. Our purpose is simple yet profound: feed families, spread kindness, and strengthen communities. We are united by our commitment to confront the rising tide of food insecurity and to offer a tangible act of love, compassion, and hope in a world often marked by uncertainty and stress. Together, we are proving that kindness has the power to nourish not only bodies, but also hearts and communities everywhere.
How does the process work? After answering a few simple questions on the portal (including how far you are able to drive), you are ready to be matched with a family in need. Once matched, volunteers communicate directly with their matched family to set up a drop-off date/time. When these details are set, volunteers purchase ingredients and make the meal. When the time comes for delivery, meals are dropped off on the porch/doorstep to ensure a safe and contactless delivery. If you prefer not to cook, you may also donate lasagna ingredients to local Lasagna Love volunteers. You can also help Lasagna Love spread the love by nominating a friend or family who may need a home-cooked meal.
Contact: [email protected] with any additional questions. Check here to see if Lasagna Love is currently in your neighborhood. lasagnalove.org
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 and 4th Tuesdays from 5-7pm.
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: [email protected] or call 206.686.5156. Registration is available online. www.westsidebaby.org
Hygiene Kits and/or Sweet Treats for 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 ([email protected])
Contact: Anderson Witiak, [email protected].
Mission: Cards of Support / Soldiers’ Angels
Date/Time: Cards can be sent year-round.
Location: Mail your cards and $1 per card to: Soldiers’ Angels Cards of Support, 1355 Central Pkwy S #700, San Antonio, Texas 78232
Ages: Everyone can participate.
Time Commitment: Varies.
If we learned anything from the pandemic, it’s that we could all use a little extra support. The Mission: Cards of Support project was started during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic when veterans first began feeling the pressure of isolation and deployed service members were encountering additional stress from pandemic rules and regulations. The response to this campaign was so incredible, we decided to continue the mission of writing cards year-round to help service members and veterans feel the support no matter what is happening. Using store-bought or homemade greeting cards, your family can write notes of support to a deployed service member or veteran.
Tips and Tricks for Writing Cards:
- Tip 1: Keep your message general so your card can be used for anyone— active duty or veteran, male or female. A great way to start is “Dear Hero” and include a message of gratitude, such as “Thank you for your service!”
- Tip 2: Be yourself! Although you will likely never know who received your card, your personal message will inspire hope and a sense of well-being to the recipient. Don’t be afraid to share something personal like why you support the military or why you are taking the time to write the card.
- Tip 3: On the flip-side, please don’t overshare! Sharing personal contact details such as emails, phone numbers, etc. is not advised.
- Tip 4: Please keep religion, politics, or other sensitive topics out of the conversation. The purpose of these cards is to inspire hope, not to share your opinion.
The cards will be included in care packages that are shipped to deployed service members around the world and will also be handed out in-person to veterans at VA Hospitals across the country. The $1 will help offset the ever-increasing cost of shipping care packages and supplies.
Contact: Click here with any questions. soldiersangels.org/
Check Out Our Featured Project Of The Month!
How to Teach Kids Thoughtful Citizenship
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).
Celebrate National Night Out by Hosting a Mini Family Service Fair
National Night Out is Tuesday, August 4! This national event is an ideal opportunity to host a community-centered service project, such as helping those experiencing hunger or homelessness or providing toys or treats for an animal shelter. Want help to make your event one that’s fun, memorable, and makes a big impact? Download our National Night Out Toolkit, which includes the materials you need to customize a community gathering that’s unique to your neighborhood. This one-of-a-kind e-book is just $6.99 in our online store. Or, become a member (for just $48) and receive access to this toolkit and many more big-hearted ebooks! As always, your purchase supports DGT and helps us offer free and budget-friendly resources to families nationwide.
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™
