A Lettuce Link volunteer harvests fruit for local food banks

When you live in a part of the world that only sees about 71 clear days per year, it’s hard to justify spending any more time inside than absolutely necessary during the summer months, even if it is for a good cause. Fortunately, there are numerous summertime volunteer opportunities that will allow you to get your daily dose of vitamin D while giving back to the community. Don’t forget the sunscreen!

Seattle Tilth: Promote organic gardening and support local food systems by volunteering at Seattle Tilth’s Rainier Community Garden or joining the Issaquah Storm Drain Buttoning Brigade. 

Outdoors for All: Volunteer to help enrich the quality of life for children and adults with disabilities through outdoor recreation. Currently, Adaptive Cycling Volunteers , Adaptive Kayaking Volunteers and Summer Day Camp Volunteers are needed, but new opportunities are posted year round.

PAWS: Make a difference in the life of an animal and get your steps in! Volunteer to be a dog walker with PAWS, the Progressive Animal Welfare Society.

Lettuce Link: Volunteer to help provide access to fresh, organic produce! Spend a day growing and harvesting organic produce for local food banks at the Marra Farm Giving Garden or sign up to be a Community Fruit Tree Harvest Leader, and ensure that fruit that would otherwise go to waste is donated to those who can use it!

Nature Consortium: Help preserve Seattle’s largest remaining contiguous forest, the West Duwamish Green Belt. Plant, weed, mulch, be entertained (live performers have been known to show up to volunteer work parties).

United Way of King County: In King County nearly 40,000 children qualify for free and reduced-price school meals. However – only 11% of kids who participate in the Free Lunch Program participated in federally funded Summer Meal programs. Volunteer and help get the word out about the Summer Meal programs by distributing flyers and other info in the community.