Volunteer
How you can help the House
Volunteers play a huge role in supporting our daily operations. As the second largest Ronald McDonald House in the world, we rely on volunteers to help us provide a warm and welcoming home-away-from-home for families. Each month, over 500 volunteers contribute their time to keeping the House open every day of the year.
Many opportunities exist for both individuals and groups. There also are opportunities for volunteers to assist at special events. We ask individual volunteers to commit to a weekly three-hour shift, fill out an application and provide us with two written character references.
BASIC REQUIREMENTS AND RESTRICTIONS
- You must be 16 years of age or older to volunteer on your own. If you are age 13 to 15, you may volunteer with an adult, who must also go through the same application process. For a group opportunity you must be 13 years of age or older. In addition, an adult supervisor(s) must be in attendance.
- Children under age 13 may not volunteer at the House, but we encourage them to hold drives or collect items for our Wish List.
- If you have suffered a significant loss of a loved one within the last year, we require that you wait at least one year from your loss before volunteering at the House.
- We ask that volunteers and volunteer groups not solicit donations on behalf of Ronald McDonald House Charities to support/fund their volunteer activity.
- If you are wanting to work court-appointed Community Service hours, please contact the Manager of Volunteer Services and let her know about your circumstances.
- Provide two written character references from non-relatives.
- Submit to a criminal background check.
INDIVIDUAL OPPORTUNITIES
Dinner Night Supervisor
Events Volunteer
Facilities Volunteer
Family Resource Center
Front Desk
Front Desk on Weekends, House C
Kitchen Volunteer
Van Driver
Click Here for Volunteer Application
GROUP OPPORTUNITIES
Activity Night
Family Meal Program
Movie Night
Work Groups
DRIVES, DONATIONS & EVENTS
Benefit Event
Food Drive
Necessities Drive
- For group opportunities, please email or call our Manager of Volunteer Services at (206) 838-0606.
- If you are interested in hosting a Benefit Event, please contact Development.
- If you are interested in organizing a food or necessities drive, please contact Development.
- If you have any questions about volunteering, contact our Manager of Volunteer Services at (206) 838-0606.
INDIVIDUAL OPPORTUNITIES
Dinner Night Supervisor
The Dinner Night Supervisor is responsible for managing the Groups who come to the House as part of our Family Meal Program to provide dinner for our families. Meal time can be challenging: We we have numerous guidelines to follow to ensure food safety, plus families often are stressed by caring for their ill children. The Dinner Night Supervisor is vital to the evening’s success. This Volunteer's goal is to provide a nice meal for our families and a rewarding experience for the group while staying within our preparation and clean-up guidelines. We depend on this Volunteer to welcome our groups to the House, direct them through set up, be available to answer questions throughout the evening and to say good-bye and thanks at the end of the evening. This Volunteer must be mature, confident, diplomatic, comfortable giving directions, resourceful, enjoy working with people and have a good sense of humor. Hours are 3–7 p.m. Back to top
Events Volunteer
If you are interested in volunteering for a special event such as our annual RMHC Auction or Hockey Challenge, please contact Development at (206) 838-013. Back to top
Facilities Volunteer
This person is responsible for assisting our Facilities Team in ensuring a clean, warm, and welcoming home for our families. Having a well-cared-for home that is clean provides a real comfort to our families who are going through an incredibly stressful time. We count on you to use your own initiative. Make it your goal to be a genuine asset to the House and to our families. The more you are willing to give of yourself, not just your time, the more you will receive. Tasks and responsibilities will depend on the demands of the day, but will likely include: sorting and folding laundry, assisting with preparing rooms before a family’s arrival, cleaning shared spaces of the House, and other housekeeping and light maintenance projects. In addition, while being in the House, volunteers have the opportunity to meet families and to provide a warm presence. Volunteers will be asked to commit to a weekly shift of two to four hours, between 1- 7 p.m. Back to top
Family Resource Center
The family resource volunteers staff the center where families come to check out movies, game units and electronic games. The family resource volunteers are responsible for opening the center, assuring it is organized and clean, checking items in and out of the center via the computer system and adhering to the rules established. Shifts are 9 a.m.-noon, 12-3 p.m., 3-6 p.m., 6-9 p.m. Back to top
Front Desk
The Front Desk is the hub of the Ronald McDonald House! Volunteers are the first people our families, visitors and staff see when they enter the Ronald McDonald House. This is truly a customer service position and requires friendly, resourceful, positive volunteers. They need to be comfortable with handling a lot of activity and resourceful when it is quiet. It is here that you will greet families and visitors, handle deliveries, answer phones and deal with all of the questions and situations that arise on a day-to-day basis. Forward calls and messages to the appropriate persons. There are some light housekeeping duties to keep our front room area neat and sanitary which is essential to the health of the children and families who live here. This position does special projects as requested. The volunteer’s primary responsibility is to help the residents in anyway possible and to assist in House management. We count on you to use your own initiative. Make it your goal to be a genuine asset to the House and to our families. The more you are willing to give of yourself, not just your time, the more you will receive. Shifts are 9 a.m.-noon; noon-3 p.m.; 3-6 p.m., 6-9 p.m. Back to top
Front Desk on Weekends, House C
Front Desk House C volunteers are responsible for being a warm presence in the House to listen and help families as much as possible. They are also responsible for such duties as greeting and directing visitors and families, registering return families, conducting tours of the building, accepting room payments, checking families out of the House, answering the phones, assisting with light cleaning, restocking supplies as needed, assisting families with questions or needs. The volunteer’s primary responsibility is to help the residents in any way possible and to assist in House management. The House Manager(s) located in Building A. will support the Front Desk Volunteer. Your on-the-job training will commence the first hours of your shift. The House Manager will continue to check with you throughout the day to see how you are doing, will be available for questions and will assist with any issues or situations that arise. There will always be a staff member near by. Shifts for these volunteers are Saturday or Sunday noon-6 p.m. Back to top
Kitchen Volunteer
We count on this person to keep our kitchen warm and welcoming! Our kitchen is the one place in the House where everyone tends to gather. Because of this, our kitchen requires a lot of love and care. This person helps us maintain our surroundings to the highest hygiene standards due to the compromised immune systems of many of the children living here. You also will be in charge of making fresh coffee, organizing and tidying the kitchen and pantry and refilling supplies as needed. Hours are 9 a.m.-noon; and noon to 3 p.m. Back to top
Van Drivers
Our Van Drivers provide relief and enjoyment for our families by driving them, in our van, to local shopping centers, events and local attractions. Often our families do not have a car while they are in Seattle or are not comfortable driving in the city. Our families truly appreciate any transportation that our volunteers are able to provide and look forward to van outings. This volunteer position requires someone who is personable, helpful and dependable. The Van Driver needs to be comfortable driving in the City with the minor distractions of up to 11 other people in the van. You can drive on a weekly set schedule, every other week or be on call. We will leave that up to you. You must be over 18 and under 75 years of age. A qualified Volunteer Van Driver is someone who has fulfilled all of the written and driving requirements necessary to drive the van. Please email or call our Manager of Volunteer Services 206-838-0606. Back to top
GROUP OPPORTUNITIES
Activity Night
Activity Nights have taken on a whole new look. We are excited about the changes and look forward to groups that are eager to provide opportunities for entertaining, education and fun for the children who are staying at the House. We ask that you fill out a proposal that will be submitted to our Activities Coordinator. To get more information on Activity Nights and how to submit a proposal, read our guide to Activity Nights.
Family Meal Program
The Family Meal Program has turned into a wonderful way for small volunteer groups to support our families. The families who stay with us experience a high level of stress because of their child’s illness. Having a meal waiting at the House when they return from the hospital makes a lot of difference in our families’ lives. Dinner Nights are always the first activity identified by our families on the Activities Calendar! Dinner Nights are held Sunday through Thursday at Houses A & C. For more information, read about our Family Meal Program and/or contact our Activities Coordinator at 206-838-0621. Back to top
Additional information: Meal Program Manual
Movie Night
Host a Movie Night in our Rashard Lewis Theater! Pick out your favorite movie, bring in some popcorn and you are set! Movies need to be PG or lower so that they are suitable to our kids. Movie Nights are scheduled on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights at 6 p.m. For more information, contact our Activities Coordinator at 206-838-0621. Back to top
Work Groups
Just like your house there is always something to be done at this house. The kitchen can always use organizing and cleaning, we need to vacuum, dust and disinfect daily. The yards need to be weeded and the sidewalks swept. You can also come in and do the families' House chores for the day. Those groups are willing to come in and do whatever it takes – priceless! Back to top
DRIVES, EVENTS & DONATIONS
Benefit Event
Hold an event to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities. Get a group of friends and coworkers together, collect pledges for a bowling or poker party; host a dinner party or recipe swap, and ask guests to bring donations; make your next birthday or office party a philanthropic event! Cash contributions enable us to offer support to more than 800 families each year. For information, please contact Development. Back to top
Food Drive
With up to 80 families staying at the House, the need for nonperishable food has increased enormously. The cost and stress of dealing with a very sick child can sometimes make providing the basics difficult. Hold a "food drive" through your congregation, school or at your neighborhood store. Call us at (206) 838-0600 to get a copy of our updated shopping list. Back to top
Necessities Drive
Hold a "drive" through your congregation, school or club to collect paper goods, cleaning and laundry supplies, toiletries, and other items for our families. We also like to have stamps and calling cards for families so they can keep in contact with their friends and families at home. View our current Wish List. Back to top
For more information, contact our Manager of Volunteer Services at (206) 838-0606.