11 Local Seattle Non-Profits to Support This Holiday Season
Looking for ways to spread good cheer in your community? Wintertime can be especially difficult for those who are hungry, homeless, or facing special challenges. If the holidays get you in a giving mood, consider volunteering or donating through one of these worthwhile Seattle-area nonprofits. Many offer one-time events and opportunities for the whole family.
Treehouse
Treehouse helps 7,808 kids in foster care each year by providing them with basic necessities, educational support, and important childhood experiences. Treehouse offers numerous volunteer opportunities, from taking tickets at the Holiday Carousel to sorting donations at the Wearhouse, a store in Seattle where foster youth can shop for free. Participate in their community events, email volunteer@treehouseforkids.org, or call 206.267.5117.
BLACK COFFEE NORTHWEST
Black Coffee Northwest is a meeting place rooted in culture, tradition, and advocacy. Their youth-run coffee bar has its own personality reflective of those in our community. Black Coffee Northwest is a place where people meet, cultivate relationships, and develop ideas. It's a place for people to step back from the daily hustle and enjoy an exceptional beverage. Get involved by stopping by their Shoreline location and be sure to check out their regular community events. To get in contact for other ways to lend a hand, email info@blackcoffeenw.com or call 206.316.8366.
YWCA
The YWCA has been serving women and families facing homelessness, violence, and discrimination for more than 100 years. Their services include emergency shelter, affordable housing, youth programs, and more. You can help make the winter season bright for families in poverty by donating gifts or volunteering for either long-term ongoing tasks or one-time events. Learn how to become a YWCA volunteer, email volunteer@ywcaworks.org, or call 206.490.4376.
Lake City Holiday Project
The Lake City Holiday Project, sponsored by Meadowbrook Community Care, fulfills holiday wishes for more than 600 low-income kids every year and supports multiple community nonprofits, including food banks, housing groups, and community centers. During the first two weeks in December, volunteers are needed to pick up gifts and deliver them to the Maple Leaf LCHP store. Drop-site hosting, gift bagging, and simply displaying a Lake City Holiday Project informational poster are other ways you can help out with this heartwarming community project. Learn how you can participate or call 206.524.2448.
FareStart
FareStart prepares and delivers food to shelters and homeless programs across Seattle 365 days a year. As a FareStart volunteer, you can help prepare food or deliver meals to local shelters as well as harvest and glean at local farms. Learn how you can donate to FareStart, email volunteer@farestart.org, or call 206.267.7614.
Youth Eastside Services
Youth Eastside Services provides counseling to help kids and families who are coping with emotional distress, substance abuse, and violence. The YES Adopt-a-Family program matches low-income families receiving YES services to sponsors who provide gift cards that help them afford presents, groceries, and basic necessities during the holidays. Interested in helping struggling youth directly? Volunteer mentor opportunities are also available. Find out more about ways to support Youth Eastside Services or call 425.747.4937.
Food Lifeline
Food Lifeline has provided 197,000 meals daily in 2021 to food banks, shelters, and after-school programs by redirecting good food from manufacturers, grocery stores, and restaurants that might otherwise go to waste. Volunteers are needed to sort and pack food and inspect produce at their warehouse. Learn more about how to volunteer or check out ways to donate.
Westside Baby
Westside Baby is the only nonprofit in Western King County that collects and distributes free diapers, clothing, cribs, and safety gear for babies and children. More than 120 local social service agencies rely on Westside Baby to provide critical necessities for low-income families. Westside Baby has distributed 2,400,000 diapers in 2020 for babies who are homeless or fleeing domestic violence. To help local families in crisis, you can subscribe to monthly boxes for babies, volunteer at their White Center hub, or call 206.767.1662.
Emergency Feeding Program
The Emergency Feeding Program partners with over 120 social service partners and distributes over 600,000 meals every year to help those who are hungry get through the night. The EFP is always looking for volunteers to staff distribution sites, pack food boxes, and distribute food at their Renton warehouse. You can also donate funds online; $20 can feed a family for up to two days. For more information, email info@emergencyfeeding.org or call 206.329.0300.
Tacoma ResCue Mission
The Tacoma Rescue Mission has been offering meals, shelter, and employment support for the homeless and others coping with difficult life challenges for over 100 years. The Rescue Mission accepts donations to help feed low-income children and offers a variety of sponsorships and volunteer opportunities that are both short- and long-term. For more information, email volunteer@trm.org or call 253.383.4493 ext. 1500.
Looking for more volunteering opportunities? Check out 52 places to volunteer in Seattle and 12 organizations that support the homeless in Seattle.
Did you know that you could donate to a local non-profit by just by opening a checking account?
Each year we partner with a new local non-profit organization to help support the amazing work that they do through our Feel Good Checking® program. When you open a Feel Good Checking account, we donate $20 to our non-profit partner. Since we began the Feel Good Checking program, it has raised over $233,838
for local non-profits. Plus you also earn 6.14%
APR* on the first $500 in your account. Click below to learn more and see if Feel Good Checking is a good fit for you.