DESC volunteers help to provide the opportunity for residents and clients to develop relationships with their community. By providing a listening ear and a kind smile, volunteers help the men and women at DESC increase their confidence and become more able to face their day-to-day challenges.

Individual Volunteer Positions

All volunteers must be over the age of 18 (no exceptions) and agree to a 6-month commitment, must be dependable, have good communication skills and able to maintain appropriate boundaries with clients. Volunteers must be comfortable working with clients and staff from various backgrounds. No experience or training is needed for volunteer positions, unless otherwise stated.

Must attend Volunteer Orientation to be considered for a volunteer position. Orientations are held once per month in the Main Shelter conference room, 517 3rd Ave Seattle, WA 98104. Must email our Volunteer and In Kind Gifts Officer or call 206-515-1517 to sign up.

Current Openings:

Administration Volunteer - 12pm-2pm M-F openings. Assist with the front desk at the Administration office. Assist clients, answer phones, and coordinate other office duties. Must have excellent customer service skills, and prior experience working with DESC clients

Volunteer Driver - Friday 11am to 12:30pm Pick up food from Food Lifeline and transport to the downtown shelter. Clean driving record required. Must be comfortable driving large van.

Garden Volunteer Like working in the garden? We have a vegetable garden at Evan's house that needs some love this spring. Schedule is flexible.

Breakfast Volunteer - Connections - 8am to 9am at Connections Sunday and Friday mornings. Assist staff in serving a light breakfast to Connections Clients. No experience necessary

Financial Literacy Instructor - Connections - Wednesdays 11am to 12pm. Teach clients budgeting and saving techniques and skills for them to succeed in saving for an apartment. Financial knowledge and budgeting techniques skills required.

Contact us for the date and time of the next orientation.

Here are some ongoing opportunities:

Shelter Support Volunteer

Positioned at the Coffee Counter in the shelter, you'll help homeless clients access hygiene supplies, coffee, towels, mail and games. You'll listen to clients and provide friendly conversation. Positions are available 7 days a week, morning, noon, and evening, in two hour shifts. We ask that you be able to commit to a minimum of one shift per week.

You'll help with the preparation, serving, and clean up of the noon meal. You'll interact with residents and help them with tasks. Positions are available in our Connections program, The Morrison housing program, and 1811 housing program. Positions are available 7 days a week in Connections for breakfast and lunch, and 5 days a week in the Morrison and 1811 for lunch. These are one to two hour shifts. We ask that you be able to commit to a minimum of one shift per week.

Here you'll provide support to clinical clients by handing out hygiene supplies, serving snacks and coffee, helping them with various activities like laundry, thus providing clients with opportunities for socialization. Background knowledge or experience with mental health issues and homelessness is required. These are 4 hour shifts, 8:30-12:30 Monday thru Friday. We ask that you be able to commit to a minimum of one shift per week.

You'll help sort and organize in-kind donations for the shelter. You'll work with shelter staff to maintain clothing closets and the hygiene counter. These are 2 to 3 hour shifts, Monday thru Friday. We ask that you be able to commit to a minimum of one shift per week.

You'll have fun leading Bingo activity for residents at the Morrison. You'll set up, call numbers, and distribute prizes. Prior experience with mental health issues is required, and you must feel comfortable leading a group. We ask that you be able to commit to a minimum of two Saturdays per month, from 12:30 to 2pm.

Religious, civic, business, and professional groups regularly help with seasonal cleaning, maintenance and other special projects. Groups can choose to make a one-time commitment, or to build a longer relationship with DESC and the people we serve.

These projects are mostly maintenance or other special projects. One month notice is needed to properly plan a group project of this kind. Volunteer groups are approved on a project availability basis. Group projects typically work best for 5-10 volunteers and occur either in the morning or afternoon. Group projects can be arranged for Saturdays. All volunteers must be 18 or older. Re-occurring groups can be arranged on a monthly or quarterly basis.

If your group would like to build a relationship and work directly with residents in our housing programs, you can adopt a building. Possible activities include: hosting a meal or social event, provide classes or workshops, organize an in-kind supply drive, special activities for the holidays and other ideas your group would like to share. We ask that your group be able to commit to at least one year, visiting the program at least four times per year and providing holiday gifts (approx. $ 10 per gift) for the building residents.

• The Union Hotel (52 residents) Corner of 3rd Ave S and S Washington
• The Morrison (190 residents) 3rd Ave between James and Yesler
• Main Shelter (203 beds) 3rd Ave between James and Yesler
• The Lyon Building (64 residents) 3rd Ave and James
• 1811 Eastlake (75 residents) Corner of Yale and Boren
• Rainier House (50 residents) 5270 Rainier Ave S

For more information on any of these positions or group activities, please e-mail our Volunteer and In Kind Gifts Officer or call 206-515-1517.

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