Your guide to a kid-friendly city
Getting cards while in the hospital boosts kids’ moral. (Image: Cards for Hospitalized Kids
By Doing Good Together
Published January 2026
Updated January 5, 2026
At Seattle’s Child, we believe in community and in the importance of all of us working together to improves the lives of the kids and families in our neighborhoods and cities. That’s why we’ve partnered with national nonprofit Doing Good Together, an organization committed to making volunteering and service, along with daily kindness, easy and accessible for every family. Check out the volunteer opportunities compiled by the organization below and make “giving back” a natural part of life’s early lessons.
Date/Time: Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Location(s):
As the weather gets colder, women and families in our programs need help staying warm. We are especially in need of women’s items for our Angeline’s Day Center shelter, but we are also looking for men’s and children’s items as well. New or gently used items with no rips or stains are welcome. Shop our Winter Warmth wish list here!
Clothing items needed include:
Warmth Kit items needed:
Contact: Lori Bugaj, lbugaj@ywcaworks.org.
Date/Time: Friday, January 2, 10 a.m.–noon and Friday, January 16, 10 a.m.–noon.
Location: Please note this event does not meet at the main Juanita Bay Park parking lot. Navigate to 10442 Forbes Creek Drive, Kirkland, WA, 98033 to find the site.
Ages: Families are welcome to participate. Most event activities are best suited for volunteers who are 12 years old and older, though many activities are adaptable for all ages. Volunteers younger than 14 years old must be accompanied by a responsible adult who will remain onsite and supervise them for the duration of the event.
Time Commitment: Two hours.
Volunteers will help restore critical habitat by removing invasive plants such as blackberry or ivy, planting native plants, and pitching-in with stewardship tasks like mulching and weeding. In fall/winter we may also be planting native plants. With your help, this park with have healthy and thriving natural areas for years to come! Learn more here.
Visit our ‘About Volunteering’ page for youth volunteer guidelines or if you have questions about what to bring and expect at our stewardship events.
Contact: Registration is available online on Eventbrite.
Date/Time: Ongoing need.
Location: You can drop off items at either Cafe location (4202 6th Ave S or 2022 Boren Ave) or mail items to 2022 Boren Avenue.
Ages: Everyone can help assemble hygiene kits and create cards.
Time Commitment: Varies.
Families are welcome to help with one or both of the following projects:
Hygiene Kits: Recovery Café seeks to provide basic hygiene resources for our community members. Your family can help by making hygiene kits! Quart or gallon-sized Ziploc bags tend to work best. Please include the following hygiene items in every kit. Travel-size items are preferred.
The last item (or two) can be something like hand sanitizer, dental floss, ear plugs, shampoo, lotion, deodorant, chapstick, a disposable razor, or sunscreen (which is especially useful in the summer months). We ask that hygiene supplies that would only be useful for certain community members, like hair ties or menstrual products, be kept separate from the kits, but folks are welcome to donate those if desired!
Sweet Treats: Everyone loves homemade treats! Volunteers are invited to bake and donate their favorite cookies, cupcakes, brownies, or other goodies to share with the Cafe community.
We ask that any sweet treat containing nuts be clearly marked. Cookies are always a win in our community, but other baked goods like cupcakes, muffins, brownies, etc. are also greatly appreciated! Items that are pre-portioned and do not need to be cut are easiest for us to serve, but donations like cakes and pies would also be warmly embraced. Batches of at least 30-45 treats are most desirable, so that we can offer at least one to any Member present at the time. They can either be dropped off to us in individual bags/wrapping or in a container–if you would like the container to be returned to you, please be in contact with Anderson (anderson@recoverycafe.org)
Contact: Anderson Witiak, anderson@recoverycafe.org.
Date/Time: Ongoing.
Location: Please mail cards to our main downtown office: Sound Generations Meals On Wheels, 2208 2nd Ave., Ste 100, Seattle, WA 98121
Ages: Everyone can participate.
Time Commitment: Varies.
A handmade card from a caring person can really brighten an older adult’s day. Whether you’re looking for something to do on a rainy day or planning a family activity, all you need is your creativity, some paper, and any other art supplies you have. Remember to make your cards general enough, so they will suit any recipient. You can write messages like, “Have a good day,” or “Happy spring or fall,” and/or include an inspirational quote or silly joke. You could also share something about yourself, like where you are from. Please, no glitter or “get well” messages. Do not include any personal information on your cards. Envelopes are not necessary. If you include envelopes, please do not seal them. Learn more here.
Contact: mealsonwheels@
Date/Time: Saturday, January 17, 10 a.m.–noon.
Location: Juanita Heights Main Entrance: 12406 89th Pl NE, Kirkland.
Ages: Families are welcome to participate. Most event activities are best suited for volunteers who are 12 years old and older, though many activities are adaptable for all ages. Volunteers younger than 14 years old must be accompanied by a responsible adult who will remain onsite and supervise them for the duration of the event.
Time Commitment: Two hours.
Join the Green Kirkland Partnership for a fun day of forest stewardship at Juanita Heights Park! Juanita Heights Park is a serene, forested park nestled in the Finn Hill Neighborhood featuring a nature trail loop, beautiful conifer trees, and wildlife habitat. Volunteers will help restore critical habitat by removing invasive plants such as blackberry or ivy, planting native plants (Oct-Feb), and pitching-in with stewardship tasks like mulching and weeding. With your help, this park with have healthy and thriving natural areas for years to come! Learn more here.
Visit our ‘About Volunteering’ page for youth volunteer guidelines or if you have questions about what to bring and expect at our stewardship events.
Contact: Registration is available online on Eventbrite.
Date/Time(s): Check the volunteer calendar for available shifts starting in January.
Location: Food Lifeline Hunger Solution Center, 815 S 96th St, Seattle.
Ages: We welcome volunteers 10 years and older! Youth 10-13 years old must be accompanied by an adult.
Time Commitment: Two-hour shifts.
Is one of your family New Year’s Resolutions to volunteer more? Food Lifeline’s mission is to feed people experiencing hunger today while working to end hunger for tomorrow. Change lives and feel great – join us in our warehouse for a volunteer session at the Hunger Solution Center! Volunteers are needed to sort and repack nutritious food to feed our neighbors who are experiencing food insecurity. It is easy, fun, and you can make a huge difference in just a few hours. Click here for our volunteer guidelines.
Contact: volunteer@foodlifeline.org. Each individual must register in advance to volunteer. Kids too! Volunteers who arrive without signing up may be turned away.
Date/Time: Cards should be delivered by February 14.
Location: Mail your cards and $1 per card to: Soldiers’ Angels Valentines for Veterans, 2895 NE Loop 410, Suite 107, San Antonio, Texas 78218
Ages: Everyone is welcome to participate
Time Commitment: Varies
Holidays like Valentine’s Day are fun to celebrate when you can share the day with your friends or loved ones. Unfortunately, our military heroes often find themselves alone or feeling homesick during holidays. The mission of Soldiers’ Angels is to make sure no one who serves this country feels unloved – and that’s especially true on Valentine’s Day! You and your family can help by making or purchasing Valentines cards for our military and veteran heroes. Why do we ask for the $1 per card? The $1 helps cover the cost to distribute the thousands of cards we receive. Have questions? Check out our FAQs here.
Contact: info@soldiersangels.
Date/Time: At your convenience.
Location: Mail cards to: Cards for Hospitalized Kids: 7290 W. Devon, Chicago, IL 60631
Ages: Everyone can participate.
Time Commitment: Varies.
Cards for Hospitalized Kids is an internationally recognized charitable organization that spreads hope, joy, and magic to hospitalized kids across America through uplifting, handmade cards. Your family can help by making cards. Here are some guidelines for creating your cards:
Contact: info@
Date/Time: Flexible.
Location(s): Click here for a list of where you can drop off coat donations in your local area.
Ages: All ages can participate.
Time Commitment: Varies.
One Warm Coat’s mission is to provide free coats to children and adults in need while promoting volunteerism and environmental sustainability. Founded in 1992 by one woman with one coat to give, One Warm Coat is a national movement born from one simple act of kindness and strives to make a tangible difference in people’s lives by providing comfort and hope to those who need it most. One Warm Coat supports individuals, groups, companies, and organizations across the country by providing the tools and resources needed to hold a successful coat drive. Coats are distributed in the communities where they are collected, to children and adults in need, without charge, discrimination, or obligation. Your family can help by holding a Warm Coat Drive or by donating coats.
Contact: drives@onewarmcoat.org or call 877.663.9276.
Date/Time: Meals are served seven days a week. Lunch is at noon and dinner is at 5 p.m.
Location(s): Click here and scroll down to see BAM locations.
Ages: There are opportunities for everyone to help. However, the age limit to serve in our women and children’s shelter is 10 years old in the dining room and 13 years old to serve in the kitchen. Men’s shelter volunteers must be at least 18 years old.
Time Commitment: This will vary depending on which type of BAM project you choose.
At the Seattle Union Gospel Mission, we work to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty. It all starts with dignity in the form of a blanket, a hot shower, a home-cooked meal, a warm place to sleep, and friendship. It continues with addiction recovery, one-on-one counseling, and long-term solutions. Our Bring-A-Meal (BAM) program provides meals for men, women, and children while providing a life-changing volunteer experience for community groups. Families can help out in the following ways:
Prepare a meal at a donor kitchen and deliver it to one of our shelters. A donor kitchen is a publicly available kitchen in a faith-based organization, community center, or another site. The donor kitchen does not need to have a health permit but must have basic facilities such as adequate handwashing, dishwashing, refrigeration, and cooking equipment. It must have a safe water supply, be protected from weather and animals, and be cleaned before food preparation starts.
The BAM coordinator can help in arranging the best options for your group. Click here to learn more about BAM.
Contact: Cindy, at cpetersen@ugm.org or 253.250.8562 to make arrangements. ugm.org
Date/Time: Flexible.
Location: Foster an animal in your home and check in with RASKC, 21615 64th Ave S, Kent.
Ages: Children may participate in caring for animals, though an adult in the household must be the official volunteer.
Time Commitment: Very flexible. You can wait until the time is right for you to foster.
Got love to share? Consider becoming a foster volunteer! As a foster volunteer, you make a short-term commitment to nurture one or more animals from the shelter in your home on a temporary basis. For example, some dogs have lingered in the shelter too long and need some respite; and some cats need a break from living in a kennel. Providing time in your home helps them sleep deeply and feel their best selves again. RASKC also offers puppies, kittens, and rabbits for foster care too.
Foster volunteers are given online training, great support, and everything necessary– free pet food, free medical care for the animal, and a free kennel. When the pet is ready to be adopted, you may choose to: a) Select who the animal will be adopted to within our Adopters Welcome guidelines, b) Bring the animal back to the shelter, or c) Adopt the animal yourself. You can decide when the time is right for you to foster– on an ongoing basis or just every once in a while. Community service might be available for school (if it is okay with the school). Usually, 1.5 hours is credited for each day an animal is cared for in your home.
Contact: Sarah Luthens, RASKC.Volunteers@kingcounty.
Date/Time: Ongoing.
Location: Your own home.
Mail your drawings to: Color A Smile, PO Box 1516, Morristown, NJ 07962-1516
Ages: Everyone is welcome to participate.
Time Commitment: Varies.
Color A Smile is a nonprofit organization that distributes cheerful drawings to senior citizens, our troops overseas, and anyone in need of a smile. Every month, Color A Smile mails out thousands of cheerful drawings. Since 1990, Color A Smile has distributed millions of drawings nationwide. Their goal is to put smiles on people’s faces and remind them that someone is thinking of them. Download a page from their website, grab some crayons, and Color A Smile. Click here for coloring templates and instructions.
Contact: info@colorasmile.org, 973.540.9222.
EXPLORE our growing list of at-home projects you can do whenever you’re ready. Each project includes conversation starters, book ideas, and more! Follow along on social media as other families tackle this month’s project and share their stories! Simply join our Facebook group or find us on Instagram (@doinggoodtogether and #sharekindness).
A good book opens the door to a new perspective, creating a wonderful opportunity to strengthen empathy muscles.
Doing Good Together™ offers a growing collection of book suggestions for the child or tween in your family.
This list was compiled by Doing Good Together™ and reposted with permission. When calling or emailing to volunteer for any of the opportunities listed above, please let the coordinator know you found it through this listing. You are encouraged to ask any questions you may have of the sponsoring organization before committing to a project.
Disclaimer: This list is provided as a service to families. Inclusion of organizations in this listing does not imply affiliation, endorsement, or quality assurance on the part of Doing Good Together™. Doing Good Together™ bears no responsibility whatsoever for the activities and actions of the listed organizations. © 2025 Doing Good Together™
Copyright 2026 Seattle's Child. All Rights reserved. Website by Web Publisher PRO
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