Our local communities desperately need volunteers. Click here to read about some volunteer opportunities. You can sign up for them, log hours, earn badges, and create a volunteer resume, all through a free service available to you as a BC student.
More Information:
As we continue to move towards a new normal, local non-profits, faith-based agencies, advocacy groups, and government offices can use a lot of help. Volunteering is a great way to learn about your community while making an impact. You can give your time, your expertise, your efforts, and your passion to making your community a better place.
The RISE Learning Institute partners with nearly 200 local non-profit and government agencies from North Shore to North Bend, from Maple Valley to Pioneer Square, many of which have volunteer opportunities available to you. Some are in-person, and others virtual. Some require long and deep commitments, and others occur once. Below are some examples of upcoming and urgent opportunities:
Communities in Schools, Renton-Tukwila: “Each week we have the opportunity to pick up weekend food bags from the Newcastle YMCA and deliver those bags to the schools we support in Lake Washington, Renton and Tukwila School Districts. You can volunteer weekly, monthly or a couple times a month.” Learn more and express interest.
Seattle Humane: “Help foster the next generation of animal advocates by volunteering with our Education program! Offsite events allow us to reach kids and community members who might not be able to come to the shelter, increasing the accessibility of our programs. These volunteers help spread the word about Seattle Humane’s mission and increase awareness of animal care and welfare issues.” Learn more and express interest.
Snoqualmie Tribe sdukʷalbixʷ: “You are invited to join the Snoqualmie Tribe’s Habitat Restoration Team as we restore riparian habitat on the main stem of the Snoqualmie River in Fall City on Nov. 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. We will be adding more plants to one of our largest floodplain forest plantings to build resilience and diversity to a restoration site years in the making!” Learn more and express interest.
Rainier Athletes: “Rainier Athletes is a long-term mentoring organization that begins supporting students and their families in 4th and 5th grade and continues through middle and high school. Be an advocate and ally of RA students and their families. Rainier Athletes are not just athletes but are also artists and engineers – their passions are a way that we engage in a deeper conversation with them and their Core Community.” Learn more and express interest.
These are just a few of many volunteer opportunities listed in BC’s online volunteer portal, BC in the Community. This portal is free for anyone at the College, and registration is very quick (start with “LOGIN” at the top!). Explore the portal to learn about more agencies and sign up to volunteer with them! Encourage your students to do the same.
The RISE Learning Institute has some short user guides and instructional videos to help you make the most of your visit to BC in the Community. Additionally, you and your students can talk (mail to:service-learning@bellevuecollege.edu) with someone at the RISE Learning Institute about how to find the right opportunity for your interests and location, and how else you can make an impact on your community.
Organizations need your help. We hope that you find a way to head out into your communities and make a difference.
Last Updated November 10, 2022