A spirited office: Volunteer at a reception desk at a child care center. Greet visitors, and check in kids and parents. Light clerical work may also be involved.
A bug’s life: Volunteer on a special day at an organic farm. Help in the fields, and participate in an insect identification workshop. Hot lunch will be provided.
Power to the pets: Lend a hand at an event meant to raise awareness of animal based charities. Help with lots of fun activities from a petting zoo to a fashion show.
Dawn of the dresses: Volunteer with a program lends low-income women and girls fancy dresses, which they will wear for special occasions.
Cat’s cradle: Spend one day a month at a pet store caring for and playing with the kitties that are waiting for homes.
Grant wishes: Good writers are needed to write grants that will help raise funds for home modification projects benefiting families and disabled people.
Play house keeping: Donate house cleaning to seniors who want to live well, but are no longer able to maintain their living situation independently.
Love a lawn: Volunteer to mow a lawn for a nonprofit once a week. Cut the grass and maintain the grounds, so everything looks presentable.
Do dinner: Make a meal for homeless youth who are attending an informative meeting. Prepare enough food for a hungry group. Cost can be reimbursed.
City of sand: Volunteer at a festival that transforms the Olympia waterfront into a sandy wonderland. Help plan and put on the event.
ADDITIONAL VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity: Habitat is having a new volunteer orientation at 11 a.m., July 16, at 415 Olympia Ave. N.E., Olympia. For information and to RSVP, call 360-956-3456, ext. 3.
Mercy Housing Evergreen Vista Apartments: needs volunteers to buy $25 worth of nutritious snacks, using your money, for their homework club. You would buy the snacks and deliver them to Evergreen Vista. Several volunteers are needed each month. Call Lindsay, 360-352-1315, for additional information.
Dispute Resolution Center needs volunteers to help people resolve their conflicts with friends, neighbors, families, co-workers, landlords or businesses. Learn how to be a neutral listener for four hours per week. Call 360-956-1155.
Providence St. Peter Hospital has fun and rewarding volunteer positions in their gift shops. Profits from the gift shops fund much needed equipment for the hospital. Call Volunteer Services at 360-493-7482.
the Crisis Clinic of Thurston and Mason Counties needs help staffing their hot lines. Hot line volunteers offer free, anonymous, confidential, and nonjudgmental crisis intervention over the phone 24 hours a day. Volunteers receive training. For more information about the 60-hour training, call Jill at 586-2888 ext. 103, or log on to: www.crisis-clinic.org.
The North Olympia Fire Department has established a Fire Corps program and is seeking volunteers to create Web sites, maintain vehicles, promote life safety education, or work with teen fire cadets. For more information, call Lt. Derek Hall at 360-705-0234 or send an e-mail to hall@northolympiafire.com.
The Habitat for Humanity ReStore is looking for volunteer help in soliciting donations for its new and used building supply store. For more information, call Cicely Tatum, 360-956-3456, ext. 3, or send an e-mail to volunteer@spshabitat.org.
Stitches from the Heart needs volunteers to knit, crochet or quilt blankets, sweaters and hats for babies in need. These items are donated to hospitals all over the country. Patterns available. 877-985-9212 or www.StitchesFromTheHeart.org.
The American Red Cross Mount Rainier Chapter is looking for volunteers to support military service members and military families with emergency communications and casework services. For more information, call 360-352-8575.
Friend to Friend is looking for volunteers to visit one on one with residents in nursing, assisted-living and retirement homes throughout Puget Sound. Call 888-383-7818.
Pastoral Care Program needs volunteers to provide lay, nondenominational ministry services to patients and families in a medical setting. Spiritual care-based training will be provided, as well as ongoing supervision and training. Call Renee Crotty at 360-956-1415.
Thurston County Search and Rescue Teams are seeking volunteers for the following specialties: ground search, mounted patrol (horse teams), dog teams, mobile units (4x4, SUV, pickup), mountain bike, quads, radio operators, logistic report and medical support specialists. Call 360-455-8002.
Rosie’s Place, a drop-in center for high-risk youths ages 12-21, is looking for people to fill various volunteer positions. Call Carli at 360-943-0780, ext. 129.
The Hampton Alzheimer’s Special Care Center is in need of volunteers to entertain guests by playing an instrument, or assist in craft-related activities such as painting. Contact LaRay at 360-786-6062.
Kokua needs volunteers to be buddies to its clients and help support them with community activities, visiting the library, attending church or achieving a lifetime goal. For more information, call Cary Richardson at 360-705-4665, ext. 108, or go to www.kokuaservices.com.
Mason County Literacy has many volunteer jobs available, including tutoring positions in math, reading, GED preparation and ESL (English as a second language). Volunteers also are needed to do office work, child care and database management. Call 360-426-9733.
SafePlace needs volunteers and interns to provide support to those affected by domestic and sexual abuse. Call 360-754-6389, ext. 103.
Alterra ClareBridge needs volunteers in its local memory care assisted-living facility. Contact the activity director at 360-236-1400.
The Hugs Project needs volunteers who sew, knit or crochet to create items for the care packages it sends to all branches of the military. Call 360-493-6090.
Thurston County Sheriff’s Jeep Patrol needs volunteers to assist emergency services during natural disasters. Requirements: minimum age of 21, running 4x4, valid driver’s license and proof of insurance. A background check will be performed on all applicants. Call 360-280-2866.
City of Olympia Safe & Sober Driving seeks volunteers who have been injured or have had a loved one injured or killed by a drunken driver to share their stories with the DUI Victim Impact Panel. Call Patty or Cheryl at 360-753-8284.
