Community Action of Skagit County Volunteer Newsletter: November 30th

Now- December 13 | Skagit County 

The Skagit Valley Herald Christmas Fund is a non-profit  organization that has provided toys, books, and a holiday meal to families and children in need in Skagit County for 67 years. In 2015 the Fund helped 1,866 families with 5,240 children.

They currently need volunteers to help out with the following  roles: 

• Phone Registration- Need both English & Spanish speaking volunteers 
• Toy Sorting & Gift Packing

To volunteer & sign up for a shift please call Maria at 360 419-7263. To view these needs click HERE.

Now-December 25 |  

Urban Fitness & Health (525 E College Way, MV) 

From now until Christmas you can drop off 

Canned Food Items at Urban Fitness & Health for the Canned Food Drive. 

Food from this drive will be donated to Community Action’s Food Bank  Distribution Center.  The Distribution Center is the hub for independent food banks and feeding programs run by partner nonprofits, churches, and schools. Your donations to this food drive benefits ALL food bank customers in the county.  

Thank you for helping nourish our community!

Holiday Season | Skagit County 

Are you looking for an opportunity for you or your group to contribute to your

community this holiday season? The

Skagit Food Distribution Center, a program of Community Action has two holiday projects just waiting for some energetic volunteers to take them on: 

Feeling Crafty?

We are looking for volunteers to organize a holiday stocking drive! This project would involved making 225 holiday stockings for low income seniors and filling them with small stocking stuffers like snacks or treats, ornaments, and holiday cards. 

More of a Foodie? What about organizing a food and fund drive?

With every one dollar you raise, the Skagit Food Distribution Center can purchase 7.5 pounds of food for hungry families at the holidays. The Food Distribution Center also welcomes donations of dry or canned soup or beans, peanut butter, canned tuna, baby food and formula, protein bars, pasta and sauce, and more!

For a full list of suggestions and signs for your collection boxes, or for more information on either of these opportunities, please contact Tracy at tracym@communityactionskagit.org or 360 588-5753.

Ongoing | Skagit and Whatcom

Camp Fire Samish has served the community since 1912.  Its all-inclusive programs provide nurturing, constructive, and fun environments for young people to discover their sparks-unique skills, passions, and interests through Club programs, enrichment classes, community service, and camp experiences.

They currently need volunteers to help out with the following roles: 

• Council Board Members
• Event Planning
• Fund Development
• Tutoring Students After School

For more information contact Aaron at operations@campfiresamish.org or 360 255-7765. To view and respond to these needs directly, click HERE. 

Ongoing | Mount Vernon 

Goodwill is a non-profit organization that has been serving north Puget Sound for over 90 years. They operate 24 retail thrift stores whose sales, along with the donations and financial contributions from individuals, corporations, and foundations, support Goodwill’s free job training and education programs. 

They currently need volunteers to help out with the following roles: 

• Office Aide – support job training
• Instructor’s Aide – computer basics

NOTE: Volunteers should be 18 and older.

For more information call 206 860-5732. To view and respond to these needs directly click HERE.

Ongoing | Sedro-Woolley 

Helping Hands is the largest food bank in Skagit county with a client base of over 16,000 clients from all over the county.  They distribute food 4 days a week to a average of 1,000 families every week but have other food programs as well. 

They currently need volunteers to help out with the following roles: 

• Driver
• Food Loader
• Interpreter
• Participant Navigator
• Warehouse Assistant

For more information contact Erik at erik@helpinghandsfoodbank.org or 360 856-2211. To view and respond to these needs directly, click HERE. 

Ongoing | Mount Vernon

Hospice of the Northwest provides security and support to patients and families at a time when they may be experiencing discomfort, confusion, stress and grief.

They provide a complete range of services designed to ease the symptoms and difficulties of late-stage illness, which improves everyone’s quality of life. 

They currently need volunteers to help out with the following roles: 

• Office/ Administration Volunteer
• Pet Peace of Mind Volunteer 
• Spanish-Speaking Patient/Family Volunteer
• Spanish-Speaking Veteran Patient/Family Volunteer 
• Veteran Patient/Family Volunteer

For more information contact Erin at 360 814-5550. To view and respond to these needs directly, click HERE. 

Ongoing | Mount Vernon

Skagit DVSAS is a 501(c)(3) private, non-profit organization located in Mount Vernon, WA serving Skagit County since 1979. It is the recognized provider of domestic violence and sexual assault services in Skagit County. It provides confidential assistance for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, rape, child sexual abuse, stalking, elder abuse, sexual assault and sexual harassment.

They currently need volunteers to help out with the following roles: 

• Direct Service Advocates
• General Support Volunteers
• Hotline Advocates
• Office Support Volunteers 

For more information contact Lisset at volunteer_coord@skagitdvsas.org or call 360 336-9591. To view and respond to these needs directly, click HERE. 

Ongoing | Mount Vernon

Therapeutic Foster Network (TFN) is a therapeutic foster care program at Youthnet. TFN offers comprehensive support and services to the foster child and the foster home exceeding what is available in traditional foster care.

They currently need volunteers to help out with the following roles: 

• Respite Providers
• Therapeutic Foster Parents
• Traditional Foster Parents 

For more information contact Caylie at info@youthnetnw.net or 360 420-4143. To view and respond to these needs directly, click HERE. 

It’s easy! Follow these simple steps.

1. Go to www.skagitvolunteercenter.org and create a profile for your organization
2. Create and post your volunteer opportunity under your organizations profile 
3. Update your volunteer opportunities regularly to maximize your chances of landing in the newsletter!

The newsletter is produced by Skagit Volunteer Center Staff and volunteers and is sent out semi-monthly (twice a month) to over 3,000 Skagit residents. Newsletters are traditionally published on the 1st and 3rd week of each month. 

Note: Because this newsletter is not produced by a computer and is lovingly handwritten, we cannot guarantee that all opportunities posted will be featured in the newsletter immediately following your submission!