Top 30 Volunteer Programs in Vancouver, WA

With the new year at hand, many people are looking for volunteer opportunities in Vancouver, WA. This time of year draws a lot of interest in various non-profits around town who could use some extra helping hands. Individuals, couples, families, and large work or church groups often seek out places to donate their time, energy, and money.

Of course, the new year season is not the only time these worthy organizations need your support. The hope is that you will connect with a group that you can develop an ongoing relationship with as you find ways to serve. The needs are here year round. Sometimes, however, it can be challenging to find a good match for your skills, interests, and availability.

We have compiled a list of 30 organizations for you to consider when looking for opportunities to volunteer in Vancouver, WA, during the new year and beyond. To help with your search, we have placed these groups into six categories:

1. Serving children and families

2. Serving the homeless

3. Serving those with mental health needs

4. Serving the hungry

5. Serving to protect animals

6. Serving to preserve natural resource

You will note, however, that many of these organizations could be in several categories as their services often overlap, so it’s worth looking through the whole list while you search for a great spot to serve your community.

30 Great Places to Volunteer in Vancouver, WA

Serving children and families:

1. Great Life Mentoring: Established in 2000, Great Life Mentoring is a 501(c)(3) that works to connect children in need with loving mentors. They serve children ages 9-16 in Clark County, WA and Portland, OR who have experienced trauma or face other difficult circumstances in life. Mentors volunteer to spend time with the children to provide stability, attentiveness, and friendship. Mentors volunteer to spend time with the children to provide stability, attentiveness, and friendship.

2. Boys and Girls Club: Designed to provide safe spaces for children to play and work when not in school, Boys and Girls Club of Southwest Washington serves children throughout the Vancouver area. Volunteers serve as tutors and caregivers for children in the program.

3. The Children’s Center: The Children’s Center seeks to bring mental health services to children and families in need in the community. Volunteers coordinate food drives, holiday drives, and personal item drives to further serve the children and families in the program.

4. Children’s Home Society of Washington: Founded in 1896, the Children’s Home Society seeks to help children grow up safe and healthy by connecting families with adoption services, counseling, and medical services, as needed. Volunteers help with a variety of tasks such as teaching, tutoring, grant writing, and content development.

5. Northwest Children’s Outreach: Established to meet a child’s basic needs, Northwest Children’s Outreach works to provide food, clothing, diapers, and school supplies to children and families in need. Volunteers work to sort, organize, and pack items as needed to fulfill orders. They may also organize collection drives to gather donations.

Serving the homeless:

1. Second Step Housing: Serving 225 people each year in 43 housing units, Second Step Housing works to connect affordable housing with community services to address the roots of homelessness. Volunteers help with mailings, events, and marketing to continue connecting with businesses and individuals in the Vancouver, WA area.

2. Share House: Share House operates several shelters in Clark County, along with a day center and homes for transitional housing. They serve those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Volunteers assist with activities such as meal preparation and serving, coordinating activities for children, and serving summer meals.

3. Open House Ministries: Open House’s shelters help families regain independence by assisting with job searches, addressing food instability, and providing temporary housing. Volunteers have many ways to serve, including working in OHM’s thrift shops, coffee shop, and second-hand bike shop.

4. Friends of the Carpenter: Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, FOC operates a day shelter Monday-Friday to serve vulnerable and homeless members of the community. Volunteers are invited to help in a variety of areas, from being a liaison with local churches to assisting with woodworking projects at the day center.

5. Janus Youth Program: This multi-state organization serves at-risk and homeless youth by providing day shelters, emergency shelters, and transitional housing. Volunteers serve in a variety of roles, depending on current needs.

Serving those with mental health needs:

1. National Alliance on Mental Illness: Since its inception in the 1970s, NAMI has sought to support those affected by mental illness. Through support and training, NAMI staff and volunteers assist individuals, families, veterans, and medical professionals.

2. Columbia River Mental Health Services: Serving a broad population, CRMHS provides group therapy, substance abuse and addiction treatment, and outpatient therapy. Volunteers fill many roles including fundraising, assisting with clerical work, and running special events.

3. Lutheran Community Services Northwest: This organization began before The Great Depression and continues today in its work of helping those with mental illness, as well as those who are displaced. LCSN works to provide housing, language classes, and counseling for refugees who have fled trauma and danger.

4. Family Solutions: With highly-trained counselors on board, Family Solutions serves youth and families who are struggling with mental health. They offer services in their centers and local schools as they provide comprehensive mental health care for children and their families.

5. Community Services Northwest: CSNW seeks to build a strong community by helping to address issues of mental illness, addiction, and homelessness. The trained counselors and therapists serve those in need at the free mental health clinic.

Serving the hungry:

1. Clark County Food Bank: This distribution center provides over 5 million meals each year to members of the community who are dealing with food insecurity. Volunteers are needed for sorting and distribution, as well as for work on the farm, harvesting crops for the food bank.

2. FISH Westside Food Pantry of Vancouver: Seeking to provide nourishing meals to families, FISH operates a food pantry Monday-Friday and the first Saturday of the month. They rely solely on volunteers to organize drives, run events, and keep the food pantry open each weekday.

3. One Life Food Pantry: This “shopping style” food pantry is open on Sundays to serve residents of Clark County. Volunteers are needed weekly to serve in the food pantry.

4. North County Community Food Bank: With a goal of seeing an end to food insecurity in the community, NCCFB provides nutrition services, food boxes, and cooking classes for those in need. Volunteers assist with fundraising, special events, packing food boxes, and making deliveries.

5. SixEight Food Pantry: With weekly food distribution times, SixEight aims to provide supplemental groceries to those in need. It serves residents of the 98665, 98663, 98685, 98686 zip codes.

Serving to protect animals:

1. Humane Society of Southwest Washington: In addition to providing shelter for lost and stray animals, HSSW also provides outreach and education, as well as adoption events. Volunteer opportunities at the shelter and the Retails Thrift Store are available for adults, teens, and groups.

2. Must Love Dogs NW: In their commitment to end pet homelessness, Must Love Dogs uses education and outreach to engage the community in responsible pet ownership. Volunteers can serve at special events or as foster parents to pets in need.

3. Northwest Bird Rescue: Cats and dogs aren’t the only pets that need new homes at times. Birds, especially parrots, get some love, too at NW Bird Rescue. Rescued parrots receive medical attention, fostering, and rehoming with a family or in a sanctuary.

4. Chapple Hill Cat Sanctuary: This no-kill sanctuary accepts abandoned, feral, and special needs cats so that they can receive the care they need. Volunteers help with socializing the cats, cleaning, gardening, and maintenance.

5. Second Chance Companions: SCC works to shelter, rehome, and spay and neuter abandoned and stray animals. Individuals who receive Meals on Wheels and who have pets also receive free pet food deliveries from SCC. Volunteers help with answering phones, fundraising, fostering, and assisting with adoption events.

Serving to protect natural resources:

1. Adopt-a-Park: The City of Vancouver manages this program where volunteers can adopt a park to care for. Those who participate help maintain the park by raking, weeding, and cleaning play equipment.

2. Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge: Administered by the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife, Ridgefield is committed to conservation and resource management in its five distinct habitat sections. Volunteers serve as greeters and guides, as well as habitat restoration.

3. Friends of Trees: Their name says it all; this group cares about trees. They work to plant trees throughout the Vancouver area and beyond. Individuals, families, and groups can volunteer with plantings.

4. Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge: Also under the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife, Steigerwald educates visitors and school groups year round. Volunteers work in restoration and education at the Refuge.

5. Clark County Green Neighbors: This ambitious organization focuses on all things sustainable: recycling, food waste, leaf disposal, etc. Volunteers have many opportunities to serve throughout the county at a variety of events.

We all know that need knows no season, so please consider reaching out to one of these organizations today. Get connected and see how you can make a difference by volunteering in Vancouver, WA. We’re eager to hear from you!