Volunteer

-Visit the City of Seattle's website to find organizations that are coordinating volunteers and/or donations to help others during these difficult times. 

-When a loved one is struggling with a mental health crisis, you want to do everything you can to help them but it can be hard to know what to do.  Check out these tips and resources for supporting others in crisis. 

- Participate in Seattle Together, a new initiative from the City of Seattle.  Celebrate ideas, share resources and events, and connect community during the pandemic.  Amplify stories of good work and resiliency, elevate resources, share best practices and more. 

- Help Public Health leaders track the spread of COVID-19.  To slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), we need to learn more about it. That's where you come in. SCAN is testing both healthy and sick people to understand how the virus is spreading in King County. The findings will help their partners, including Public Health – Seattle & King County, keep people informed and make the best possible, data-driven decisions to protect our community.  Learn more at https://scanpublichealth.org/

- Pray this rosary for Vulnerable People on the Move in English or Spanish.  

-During this time of social distancing, prisons and detention facilities cannot receive any visitors, making their isolation feel even more extreme.  Help support them emotionally through letters.  Send a message of support, hope, and encouragement through the Archdiocesan Criminal Justice Ministry. Click here for more information.  

 - Catholic Community Services runs a drop-in center in Federal Way for 75 guests. They welcome food donations, including cold or frozen store-bought or restaurant-prepared casseroles (no homemade please) and unopened ingredients to make sandwiches (i.e. bread, deli meat, veggies, condiments, etc.).  Non-perhisable, ready-to-eat food is also encouraged.  Donations can be brough to the St. James parish office on Tuesdays, 9am-11am.   To coordinate, email Patrick Barredo.  As more meals are brought to CCS/CHS, they will need to be delivered. If you can help transport food, contactCCS Network BuilderErin Maguire(ErinMa@ccsww.org).

 - Join the Sewing Bee!  Catholic Community Services is in need of masks for farmworkers. If you can sew, they need you too.  Help save lives as workers labor to provide food for our community.  Instructions and a tutorial are included.   

 - Visit the #SupportSeattleSmallBiz Map to help find small businesses providing takeout or delivery in their neighborhoods.

 - Support residents of the Josephinum, the largest property operated by Catholic Housing Services and the home of Christ Our Hope Catholic parish. With 221 low-income units, the building houses approximately 250 individuals. You can write notes of support to the residents and the staff, contribute something on their agency wish list, and/or volunteer to occasionally provide food for some of the residents.  Contact  Lauren Pusich for mor information: immersions@christourhopeseattle.org

 - Many people living in senior centers and care facilities are currently prohibited from eating together so they can practice social distancing. Write little notes of encouragement or solidarity to put on their food delivery trays. Check local places like Providence Mt. St. Vincent, Bridge Park and Elizabeth House to see what's possible.

 -  Help prevent stigma.   Misinformation about coronavirus can create fear and hostility that hurts people and makes it harder to keep everyone healthy. We’re stronger as a community when we stand together against discrimination. Take advantage of these resources to prevent, interrupt, and respond to stigma.  Read more about the issue here and about how to respond to coronavirus racism here. 

 -  Almost all students around the world have had their schools closed. Many schools in other countries, particularly where Maryknoll is serving, are not able to provide online learning for their students, as many students would not have a computer, phone, or other device at home, nor the internet. Make a video or send letters of support to these students. If you would like to do that, please contact Anna Johnson at ajohnson@Maryknoll.org

 -  Fill in for volunteers in high risk categories so programs can continue to run in our community.  For example, St. James Cathedral needs volunteers to prepare hot meals, make sandwiches, and put together sack lunches on weekday afternoons for their Cathedral Kitchen meal program.  Volunteers are welcome to hand out the meals as well, served Monday to Friday, 4pm-4:30pm.  Contact Patrick to find out more (pbarredo@stjames-cathedral.org).  

 - Respond to the needs of seniors, school families, single parents, and those with health challenges in our community by becoming a prayer partner or pen pal.  Contact Marion Kari, our Pastoral Outreach minister, to find out how you can help these OLG members (marionk@olgseattle.org).

 -  Reach out to neighbors and friends who may now need help with store/pharmacy runs, childcare, and/or companionship.

 -  Help a local shelter by fostering a pet while their operations are curtailed. 

Remember, if you are in a high-rish category, we strongly suggest refraining from contact with others at this point.  If you are sick, have been around someone sick, or have travelled to New York in the past two weeks, please do not volunteer at this time.