We LOVE our Volunteers
Volunteer appreciation posters hanging at the Regrade Family Center shelter
As National Volunteer Week comes to end, we’re grateful for the countless hours, warm smiles, and immense kindness that our volunteers have contributed to make our work possible. “Volunteers have always played a key role at Mary’s Place,” says Volunteer Services Director, Javin Smith, “Volunteer service not only provides support for families and staff, but also allows our community to come together in this work to end family homelessness. Our volunteers bring their expertise and compassion to work in partnership with us in a way that uplifts us all.” From bringing joy to a child’s day in Kids Club to sorting donations that help our warehouse staff supply families with essentials quickly and efficiently, our volunteers are essential to our mission of ensuring that no child sleeps outside.
Sharing joy and knowledge with kids and teens
The Kids Club, Tots Club, and Teen Club programs at Mary’s Place give kids a safe space to play and participate in enriching activities with other kids. Our volunteers help shape those programs by sharing their unique backgrounds and expertise in creative and powerful ways.
High school student, Evan, has always found the work at Mary’s Place inspiring as his mom was a Mary's Place Board member when he was young. As he got older Evan wanted to get involved himself. He recruited his friend Benton who shares in his love of STEM, especially computer coding. Evan and Benton lead weekly computer coding activities at Mary’s Place, where kids learn everything from the fundamentals, to how to a code a dance party. “We always end with the dance party activity,” they share, “everyone codes their avatar to dance to a song. It’s really cool because not all of the kids speak English, but music is universal! It’s a great feeling when kids ask us when we’re coming back to hang out and code with them again.”
Supporting shelter services
It takes many hands (and hearts!) to keep our shelters warm, safe, and comfortable. Our volunteers play a key role in supporting this work, and the kindness and love they provide is appreciated by our staff and families alike. Our volunteers help prepare and serve meals, clean shelter spaces, organize donations, and more!
“I’ve done everything from building baskets and creating gift tags for holiday celebrations, to serving meals and working in the kitchen, and even putting stamps on letters during fundraising campaigns,” shares long-time volunteer, Adrienne, “I’m constantly telling people to get involved, there are so many ways to help and make a difference whether you’re able to make a large time commitment or a small one. When I volunteer, I feel good because I firmly believe in what Mary’s Place does for families.”
Involving the whole team
Charlie and Adam are passionate about giving back to the community where they live and work. “We’re all humans living in a community together and we all deserve kindness and a helping hand.”
Charlie’s personal life experiences inspired him to get his whole team at Starbucks involved with volunteering at Mary’s Place. In the past year, Charlie’s team has completed lots of projects at Mary’s Place shelters including landscaping, painting, installing drip irrigation for a community vegetable garden, and clearing a safer path to the bus stop and cleaning up the outdoor play area. Most recently, Adam was inspired to put his skills in building to use and constructed two 8’ x 4’ chalk boards for kids at Mary’s Place to get creative. His Starbucks team came out to help him install the chalk boards on a wall near the play area, and the kids immediately got to drawing! “It really struck me, seeing them have the moment of joy”, said Adam. “Sometimes when you’re going through a hard time you just need a little moment of joy to help get you through.”
As we conclude Volunteer Week, we want to say a huge THANK YOU to our volunteers for sharing their time, serving as ambassadors for Mary’s Place, and helping to ensure that no child sleeps outside in our community!
If you’re interested in getting involved, check out our volunteer page or contact volunteer@marysplaceseattle.org.