Volunteer Opportunities for Individuals

(c) Tim Matsui / www.timmatsui.com

One person can make a real difference for homeless youth. Volunteers sort in-kind donations to ensure they get to youth quickly. They tutor those studying for GED exams. They cook dinner at housing programs. They plant flowers.

By doing these things, and many more, they demonstrate to these young people that this community is there, now and always, to take care of them. They also help YouthCare keep its costs down — and allow our staff to focus on their main work: getting homeless youth off the streets and preparing for life.

Interested in volunteering? Here's what we typically look for in a volunteer:

  • Willingness to support our community's homeless youth
  • 21+ years old
  • Ability to commit to the time commitment for a specific position, typically 6 months consecutively
  • Ability to pass a national background check

How to Get Involved:

  1. Review the Current Volunteer Opportunities, listed below.
  2. Apply for the specific volunteer opportunity you are interested in. Interested in multiple opportunities? Feel free to apply to as many as you like.
  3. RSVP to and attend a Volunteer Information Session.
  4. YouthCare's Volunteer Coordinator will be in touch shortly with next steps specific to the position you're applying for.

If you have questions, please email volunteer@youthcare.org or call (206) 267-3076.

Current Volunteer Opportunities

  • Drop-In Floor Volunteer

    Drop-in services at the James W. Ray Orion Center are often the first link for youth to connect with YouthCare’s other services. Read more

  • GED Volunteer Tutor

    The GED Program at the James W. Ray Orion Center of YouthCare is a program in which volunteer GED Tutors help youth make literacy and numeracy gains, prepare and register for GED, and assist other test-taking logistics.  Read more

  • Join the Meals On-Call Team

    When we don't have volunteer groups to prepare and serve meals at the James W. Ray Orion Center, our case managers and youth counselors end up in the kitchen instead of talking with young people. Help us keep them working with youth by coming in on an as-needed basis to prepare and serve food. Read more

  • Provide General House Support

    YouthCare residences often bustle with energy; other times, there's quiet work being done. Always, staff are laboring to provide individual attention and to maintain a home. You can help them do that by pitching in where needed. Read more

  • Join "The Incredibles"

    This is a team of individual volunteers who are contacted when there is an immediate need for help. It's a great way to have a flexible and diverse volunteer schedule, meet other volunteers, and help YouthCare with our most immediate needs! Read more

  • Serve Dinner at a YouthCare Housing Program

    Once a week, YouthCare’s transitional living programs hold community meetings to encourage collaboration and communication. You can free up valuable staff time on those nights by preparing dinner for the 8-12 youth who live in our various houses. Read more