Volunteer

Washington flooding

How to volunteer for flooding relief efforts

Seeing images of flooding may compel you to head to the impacted area. Do not underestimate the complexity of working in a disaster area. Until a need has been identified and the local community impacted has requested support, volunteers should not enter.

Recovery lasts a lot longer than the media attention. There will be volunteer needs for many months after the disaster.

To volunteer, visit the website of Washington Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster to find organizations active in your area:

Find an organization to volunteer with

Find a volunteer opportunity

Check out Get Connected, our system for connecting volunteers to opportunities in their communities.

Search for volunteer opportunities

Share a volunteer opportunity

Organizations can post and share opportunities using Get Connected, our system for connecting volunteers with service opportunities.

Share your organization's opportunities

Are you ready to volunteer?

Finding the opportunity that best suits your skills, availability, and expectations can make all the difference in your experience.

Questions to ask yourself

It is good to ask yourself some important questions about your interests, needs, and limitations before you begin searching for volunteer opportunities:

Do you have a passion that can be pursued through volunteering?
How much time can you give? Once a week, a few times a month, or every so often?
What skills would you bring to a nonprofit or volunteer organization?
Are there new skills or knowledge you would like to acquire?
Where and how do you want to serve?

Examples of volunteer opportunities

It’s also important to consider what kind of volunteering experience you want to have and what kind of environment you will feel most comfortable in. Examples of volunteer opportunities include:

Tutoring children in reading and math.
Helping to build houses with families in need.
Participating in neighborhood watch programs.
Serving as a Community Emergency Response Team member
Mentoring a young person to help him or her achieve a personal goal.
Joining a community environmental clean-up or recycling project.
Delivering meals for elderly and ill residents in your neighborhood.
Helping local nonprofits by fundraising, recruiting other volunteers, serving on their boards, or contributing other skills you may have.

Washington State Volunteer Awards

Nominate an amazing volunteer today

The Washington State Volunteer Service Awards seek to honor the many acts of kindness individuals, families and service groups perform in communities across the state of Washington. Nominations are now open until January 5, 2026!

Learn more

Volunteer Stories

Harnessing reading power through service

“It is an amazing experience to serve students from K-5. Even the youngest of students have insightful observations or unique perspectives of the world. Tutoring students at these grade levels has helped me feel like I am also learning and growing right alongside them.”

Read the full story