Volunteer
Want to serve kids or families in Thurston or Mason County? There are so many ways you can do that. Find one listed here that fits your style, or propose a new project to us. We love to hear new ideas!
After-School Center
Would you like to help in our after-school program on Olympia's west side? You can make a positive difference by assisting elementary age through high school youth with their homework and reading, and help with recreational, cultural and social activities. We also serve snacks and meals, and host a few special holiday events throughout the year. Just being there as a trusted person the kids can talk to is sometimes enough!
The kids that attend our center are low-income or at-risk, so experience working with these populations helps but is not required.
The program runs after school during the school year and all day during the summer.
Tutoring
Tutors are needed to work with elementary students assisting with basic homework, reading, and playing educational games. The time commitment can vary depending upon your availability. If you are proficient in a particular subject, that's great--please let us know what topic you'd like to focus on. Or you can be a general tutor as well.
We are currently running tutoring programs at McLane and Chambers Prairie elementary schools. Each runs 2 days a week for a few hours after school; they do not run in the summer. You can choose one location or both.
Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors is entirely volunteer and we're always considering applications. Learn more on our Board page.
Internships
We can often accommodate school internships. Please contact us to let us know the scope and focus of your project/class, and we can work with you to see whether we are the right fit for each other.
Events
Assist at a health fair
Staff our booth at one of many community events we attend, like Sand in the City, Capital City Pride, Rainier Round Up Days, and many others. Give out stickers, help kids with interactive displays, chat with everyone attending, and much more!
If you're a teen, you can serve food or help to sell raffle tickets at the Champions for Kids Celebration each March, and earn service hours.
Staff the registration table at one of our large events, or be a greeter.
Community Work
We have groups doing work in a more focused area or community throughout the area. For example, the Thurston County Drug Action Team focuses on educationg the public about drug trends and dangers, and Rainier Community Cares and Tenino/Bucoda Healthy Action Team work to make those cities safer and healthier with more support for families. You can help this work by:
Joining a group or coalition
Serving on an advisory board
Helping to set up events for the groups
Offering to speak or share your expertise at a meeting
Sharing information about a group's work with others
Make Your Own Project
Do you have an idea for a project or program not listed here? Can you offer something we didn't think of, but that you think would help us out? Do you want to design a new guidebook for us or give presentations on our behalf? We love out-of-the-box thinking, and unique ways of serving and supporting local families. Call or email us (information at the top right of this page) to set a time to talk over your proposal.
Office and Communications Help
We need volunteers to assist with office projects on an as-needed basis. These include mailings, fundraising activities, special events, office work, public relations projects, and/or updating our various guidebooks each summer.
Have other ideas? Want to be a guest writer for our newsletter, website or other publication? Please email the Communications & Admin Director and share your idea.
Learn More
Do you have any questions not answered here? Give us a call or write us an email and we'd be happy to chat with you.
Phone: (360) 493-2230 ext. 20
Email: Click here
Youth Opportunities
The Youth Volunteer Resource Guide lists local volunteer opportunities open to teens. It's updated at the beginning of each school year. Here you can find an interactive copy; if you need printed ones, please contact us.
For educators, we also have flyers available to print and pass out to your students.
Mentoring
Did you know that many youth are currently waiting for a caring adult to talk to or connect with? Expand your universe and mentor a child!
Learn about “Be the one Mentoring Coalition” and mentoring opportunities in our community at www.betheone.info.
