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.
Birthday Dreams Volunteer Opportunities
- Date/Time: Check the Birthday Dreams online schedule for party dates, times, and items needed.
- Location: Check the Birthday Dreams online schedule for location information.
- Ages: Varies, depending on party location. Please check the age requirements for a party location before you register to volunteer. Please note that volunteers must be 18 years or older to volunteer for a party at Mary’s Place.
- Time Commitment: Varies.
Birthday Dreams is dedicated to bringing joy to homeless children with the gift of a birthday party. Birthday Dreams provides onsite birthday parties at homeless shelters and transitional housing facilities with all the trimmings. Kids are treated to cupcakes, ice cream, and a great time. Volunteers can help in a number of ways: by volunteering at parties, baking cakes, or donating the ingredients to provide a child with a special birthday party! We also have volunteer opportunities to bake/donate a cake or to deliver the birthday party to the kids.
Contact: [email protected]. Register for a volunteer opportunity online. www.birthdaydreams.org
Fundraising for Fred Hutch Cancer Center
- Date/Time: Anytime that works for you.
- Location: Anywhere, your home or community.
- Ages: Everyone can participate.
- Time Commitment: Varies.
Are you looking for a meaningful way to get your family involved in giving back? Families can support lifesaving cancer and infectious disease research at Fred Hutch Cancer Center through fun, flexible fundraising activities that can be done at home or in the community. Kids can get creative with lemonade stands, bake sales, art sales, flower sales, chore challenges, neighborhood fundraisers, and more.
Every dollar raised helps support groundbreaking research at Fred Hutch. No special skills, fundraising experience, or supplies are needed, just a desire to make a difference. Youth fundraising is a great way for children to learn about generosity, compassion, and community while having fun and making a real impact.
Contact: Go to FredHutch.org/Fundraise to create a fundraising page. If you have any questions or would like help setting up your fundraiser, please call 206.667.4399 or email [email protected].
Homeward Pet Foster Homes Needed
- Date/Time: Ongoing.
- Location: 13132 NE 177th Place, Woodinville.
- Ages: Families are welcome to apply to foster.
- Time Commitment: The time varies, but usually it is between two to four weeks.
Animals are placed in foster care for a variety of reasons, but the goal is to meet their behavioral, social, and physical needs. Some may be too young to be adopted, have an illness or injury, and need to recover before they can be adopted, or they may need to be socialized and learn to live in a family environment. All necessary animal care supplies, veterinary care, online training, and 24-hour support are provided!
To become a foster care volunteer:
- You must be allowed to have animals in your home.
- Be able to transport the foster animal(s) to and from the shelter for periodic health exams, including vaccinations and spaying or neutering.
- Children can also help provide love and care for the foster animal, but adults are responsible for all aspects of foster care.
- If you are physically able to regularly care for and monitor the needs and health of an animal you can be a foster care volunteer. You will also need to keep the foster animal’s environment clean and disinfected.
- You will need to frequently monitor the animals in your care, and the commitment depends on the needs of the unique animal.
More information can be found here: Homeward Pet Foster Care FAQs.
Contact: If you’re interested in becoming a Homeward Pet volunteer foster family, contact [email protected]. www.homewardpet.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]. www.recoverycafe.org
Foster a dog! … or puppies! Regional Animal Services of King County
- Date/Time: Flexible.
- Location: Foster an animal in your home and check in with RASKC, 21615 64th Ave S, Kent.
- Ages: Children may participate in caring for animals, though an adult in the household must be the official volunteer.
- Time Commitment: Very flexible. You can wait until the time is right for you to foster.
Got love to share? Consider becoming a foster volunteer! As a foster volunteer, you would make a short-term commitment to nurture one or more animals from the shelter in your home on a temporary basis. Some dogs have lingered in the shelter too long and need some respite. Providing time in your home helps them sleep deeply and feel their best selves again. RASKC also offers cats, kittens, and rabbits for foster care too
Foster volunteers are given great support and everything necessary – free pet food, free medical care for the animal, and a free kennel. When the pet is ready to be adopted, you may choose to: a) Select who the animal will be adopted to within our Adopters Welcome guidelines, b) Bring the animal back to the shelter, or c) Adopt the animal yourself. You can decide when the time is right for you to foster– on an ongoing basis or just every once in a while. Community service might be available for school. Usually, 1.5 hours is credited for each day an animal is cared for in your home.
Contact: Sarah Luthens, RASKC.Volunteers@kingcounty.
- Complete a RASKC volunteer application if you are an adult. One application per household.
- Submit your completed liability release form if you are an adult. www.kingcounty.gov/
RASKCVolunteer
Make Cards for Meals on Wheels Recipients with Sound Generations
- Date/Time: Ongoing.
- Location: Please mail cards to our main downtown office: Sound Generations Meals On Wheels: 2208 2nd Ave., Ste 100 Seattle, WA 98121
- Ages: Everyone can participate.
- Time Commitment: Varies.
A handmade card from a caring person can really brighten an older adult’s day. Whether you’re looking for something to do on a rainy day or planning a family activity, all you need is your creativity, some paper, and any other art supplies you have. Remember to make your cards general enough, so they will suit any recipient. You can write messages like, “Have a good day,” or “Happy spring or fall,” and/or include an inspirational quote or silly joke. You could also share something about yourself, like where you are from. Please, no glitter or “get well” messages. Do not include any personal information on your cards. Envelopes are not necessary. If you include envelopes, please do not seal them. Learn more here.
Contact: mealsonwheels@
Giving Garden Volunteers with 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-
Soos Creek Regional Trail – Covington / King County Parks
- Date/Time: Saturday, September 19, 9 a.m.-noon.
- Location: 24810 148th Ave SE, Kent.
- Ages: Families with children are welcome to participate. If you are under 18 years old and attending without a parent or guardian, then you must bring a completed Youth Waiver to the event.
- Time Commitment: Three hours.
Join us in restoring the health of Soos Creek. Gary Grant Soos Creek is a natural area that features a graded path that is suitable for leisurely strolls, bicycle, and horse rides. The trail meanders through wetlands, gentle forest hills, and past local Gary Grant Park. A local favorite, you can find dog walkers, bird watchers, and people out for an easy stroll. Most of the trail is flat with slight hills in the more forested areas.
Contact: [email protected], 206.477.6101. Registration is available online. kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dnrp/
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.
Write Letters to Support Our Troops for A Million Thanks ®
- Date/Time: Ongoing, at your convenience.
- Location: Anywhere – letters are mailed to our national headquarters. You will receive the mailing address after you have registered.
- Ages: All ages are welcome.
- Time Commitment: Flexible – write one letter or host a letter-writing event.
Our mission is to empower communities to connect with service members, veterans, and military families through meaningful acts of gratitude that boost morale and strengthen resilience.
Handwritten letters of appreciation are one of the ways we bring this mission to life. Individuals, families, and groups are invited to write letters, which are mailed to our headquarters to be screened, sorted, and delivered to service members and veterans. There is no cost to participate. Optional donations help us prepare and deliver the letters to those who need encouragement most.
Contact: Visit amillionthanks.org/guide to obtain our Letter Writing Guide which includes instructions for obtaining our mailing address. amillionthanks.org
The Million Mile 2026 with Alex’s Lemonade Stand (ALSF)
- Date/Time: Anytime during the month of September. Log your miles from September 1–30.
- Location: Virtual.
- Ages: Everyone can participate.
- Time Commitment: Varies, you can run, walk or cycle as often as you like! All your steps count – even the ones you take around the grocery store when you go food shopping.
Whether you walk, cycle, or run, you can go the distance for children fighting cancer. For Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, participants of all ages log miles throughout September while raising money to help kids with cancer. The Annual Million Mile is a month-long challenge that funds researchers so they can find better treatments and more cures for childhood cancer. Whether you’re a casual walker, an avid cyclist, or a triathlete, Your family can make a difference in the lives of children fighting cancer from anywhere during this virtual event. The Million Mile is a month-long challenge organized by ALSF during September (Childhood Cancer Awareness Month). The goal is to collectively run, walk and/or ride one million miles to raise funds and increase awareness of the need to support childhood cancer research. There is no fee to sign up and no minimum fundraising requirement. Learn more here.
Contact: [email protected] or 866.333.1213. Registration is available online. www.alexslemonade.org
Check Out Our Featured Project Of The Month!
Back-to-School Kindness Challenge
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).
Raise an Upstander
The beginning of a new school year is a great time to help kids identify and stand up against bullying. Featuring one-of-a-kind worksheets, conversation starters, and a special kindness challenge, this toolkit will help your whole family practice being “upstanders.” Access this ebook in the DGT Store today for $6.99.
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™
