Be the Change.
We are the leader in building better communities through volunteerism. Our mission is to support volunteer efforts to address community needs; and inspire, engage, and mobilize volunteers.
Who Are We?
The Volunteer Center FAQ:
What is the Volunteer Center?
The Volunteer Center of Lewis, Mason, and Thurston Counties is a nonprofit organization that supports volunteer efforts to address community needs and inspires, engages and mobilizes volunteers. We fulfill this mission by connecting people with opportunities to serve, teaching volunteer management skills to organizations that use volunteers and promoting volunteerism in our community.
Why should I use the Volunteer Center?
The Volunteer Center specializes in meeting people where they are in terms of their volunteer needs: Regardless of if you are a student, retiree, young professional, or any other occupation, the Volunteer Center can match you up with a community service project that suits your interests, schedule, and abilities. We can also help keep track of your volunteer hours and give you proper documentation. Everyone can find event-oriented opportunities as well as ongoing volunteer work with their peers, as a family, or with multiple generations. If you're a volunteer manager, or director of a nonprofit or public agency, Volunteer Centers offer classes and workshops on volunteer management topics for managers at any level of experience.
Where is the Volunteer Center located?
We are located at 222 Columbia Street NW in downtown Olympia, about a block from the Olympia Transit Center. We also have outreach offices in Chehalis and Shelton.
Who do I contact if I have any questions about volunteer opportunities?
You can contact us by calling (360) 741-2622, or send and e-mail to contactus@volunteer.ws.
What kind of opportunities will I find with the Volunteer Center?
The Volunteer Center is associated with over 250 non-profit and public agencies within Lewis, Mason, and Thurston Counties. Volunteer opportunities include everything from mentorship of at-risk youth, community gardening, event planning, to creating a marketing plan.
Is the volunteer matching database that the Volunteer Center uses safe for minors?
Absolutely. In compliance with the Adam Walsh Child Safety and Protection Act (Pub.L. 109-248), no one under the age of 13 is allowed to register with the Volunteer Center. The only people who have access to your registration and information are those that you give your permission to, and no individual in the database can contact any other individual directly. All of the organizations listed in our database are registered 501 (c ) 3 non-profits or public agencies. Ultimately, however, any decision made by young people to volunteer should be discussed with a parent or guardian.
How many volunteer opportunities are listed?
The list is ever-growing, but at the time of this writing, the Volunteer Center has over 650 volunteer opportunities listed.
What experience does the Volunteer Center have with schools and youth?
In January of 2009, we partnered with Komachin Middle School in Lacey to complete 44 service projects with 800 students throughout the county to celebrate Martin Luther King Day. The Volunteer Center supports local Kids Care Clubs, groups of young people who work together to help others in their communities and around the world. We also advocate for youth and train with non-profits to provide safe and meaningful volunteer opportunities. The Center also promotes family volunteering through our Family Volunteer Day Challenge. And our Executive Director, Sara Ballard, has written a service-learning program for high school students called 360 Degrees: Learn It, Live It, Love It and designed a nation-wide AmeriCorps*VISTA program to help low-income students gain job skills through volunteering.
How do the agencies that work with the Volunteer Center choose who will volunteer for them?
It differs from agency to agency. Some agencies will have age limits or ask for specific qualifications (such as a driver's license), while others need only willing individuals who'd like to help out. Read the volunteer opportunity carefully and do not be afraid to ask the organization questions about what your volunteer experience will be like. The most successful volunteer matches happen when both the volunteer and the agency they work for communicate with each other and ask plenty of questions.
What are the benefits of registering as a volunteer on the database?
All potential volunteers are responsible for contacting the agency that posts an opportunity they in which they have an interest. As a registered volunteer, that process is even easier. And registering as a volunteer allows you to search our volunteer matching database for opportunities that fit your interests, your skills or the time you have available. You can truly customize your search to fit your needs.
You can not only browse opportunities, but also see contact information so you can call the agency directly for opportunities or express interest through easily accessible e-mail on our database. You also will receive e-mails about new opportunities that match your online volunteer profile once you’ve completed that section of the registration process. Registered volunteers also may receive our monthly newsletter and get updates on national volunteering opportunities through the HandsOn Network if they so desire.
Registering as a volunteer also makes it easier for you to track your volunteer hours, set volunteering goals and challenge others to volunteer in our communities.
How can I try new things in my volunteer “job”?
The organization you work with may already be open to changing the kind of work you do for them. The discussion about what you have to offer to any organization will be more productive for everyone if you review Ten Tips for Wise Volunteering to help you sort out your best fit.
How can I get community service done quickly? Who will take me?
Search our volunteer matching database using the keyword “community service” to find organizations that work with volunteers fulfilling community service requirements. You also may approach your favorite charity or nonprofit and ask them if they would work with you, however, every agency has different needs and volunteer requirements.
If you are from a nonprofit organization and still have questions, check out our Organizational FAQ.
