How you can help the House
Volunteers play a huge role in supporting our daily operations. As one of the largest Ronald McDonald Houses 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.
VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS AND RESTRICTIONS
- Minimum time commitment of three consecutive months
- Volunteers agree to come in once a week for a three-hour shift on the same day and shift each week.
- Minimum time commitment of three consecutive months
- Volunteers agree to come in once a week for a three-hour shift on the same day and shift each week.
- Parent/guardian permission required
THIS IS YOUR FIRST STEP TO VOLUNTEERING
INDIVIDUAL OPPORTUNITIES
Front Desk
Kitchen Supervisor
Events Volunteer
Family Resource Center
House A -- Helping Hands
House C -- Helping Hands
Room Check Volunteer
Van Driver
Click here to fill out our volunteer application.
GROUP OPPORTUNITIES
No Volunteer Application is needed for Group Volunteers
Activity Night
Family Meal Program
Movie Night
Work Groups
If you have any questions about volunteering, contact our Manager of Volunteer Services.
DRIVES, DONATIONS & EVENTS
Benefit Event
Food Drive
Necessities Drive
- 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.
INDIVIDUAL OPPORTUNITIES
Front Desk
The Front Desk is the hub of the Ronald McDonald House! Volunteers are the first people our families, visitors & staff see when they enter. The volunteer’s primary responsibility is to help the residents in any way possible & to assist in House management. Volunteers must be 18 years old to volunteer at the front desk.
Commitment: Minimum of three (3) months
Shift: 3 hour, weekly
Current shifts available: Sunday 12-3:00, 3-6:00, Sunday 6-9:00, Tuesday 3-6:00, Wednesday 9-12:00, Friday 12-3:00 and every other Friday 6-9:00
Back to top
Kitchen Supervisor
The Kitchen Supervisor (age 21 years and older) is responsible for managing the Groups that come to the House to provide a meal for our families through our Family Meal Program. As Kitchen Supervisor, you are vital to the evening’s success. Your purpose is to provide support and direction to the group throughout the meal. Your goal is to provide a nice meal for our families and a rewarding evening for our group while staying within our preparation and clean up guidelines. We depend on you to welcome our groups to the House, direct them through set up and clean up, and be available to answer questions that arise. At the end of the evening we count on you to thank the group for all of their hard work. As Kitchen Supervisor you are mature, confident, diplomatic, comfortable giving directions, resourceful, enjoy working with people and have a good sense of humor.
Commitment: Minimum of six (6) months
Shift: 4 hours, two times per month
Current shifts available: Sunday-Thursday, 3-7:00 PM
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) 838-0613.
Back to top
Family Resource Center
As a Family Resource Center volunteer you will staff the center where families check out movies, electronic games and game consoles. Your goal is to provide a supportive home away from home as well as enjoyment and needed relief from the stress of the day. This is a great position if you are under the age of 16 and need to volunteer with an adult. You 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 for the center. This is a customer service position perfect for those who are friendly, resourceful, positive individuals who are helpful yet can follow the rules. You need to be comfortable with handling a lot of activity and resourceful when it is quiet.
Commitment: Minimum of three (3) months
Shift: 3 hour, weekly
Current shifts available: Wednesday 3-6:00, every other Saturday 3-6:00
Back to top
House A -- Helping Hands
All those little housekeeping chores that you do in your own home also need to be taken care of at our House – and then some! Help us provide a comfortable, clean and welcoming home for our families by lending a hand helping with these chores. Specific tasks include cleaning shared areas of the House, restocking supplies, assisting families as needed and being a warm presence in the House. You are perfect for this position if you enjoy cleaning and are responsible, organized, self motivated and comfortable working alone.
Commitment: Minimum of three (3) months
Shift: 3 hour, weekly
Current shifts available: Tuesday, Thursday and Fridays, 12:00 - 3:00 PM
Back to top
House C -- Helping Hands
Our House C has a small; community feeling and we need your warm and friendly presence to assist the House Manager. You will be helping with housecleaning tasks, restocking supplies and other projects assigned by the House Manager. We need volunteers who are responsible, self motivated and comfortable working alone at times. Volunteers must be 18 years old or older.
Commitment: Minimum of three (3) months
Shift: 3 hour, weekly
Current shifts available: Thursday 9:00 - 12:00 / Friday 9:00 - 12:00
Back to top
Room Check Volunteer
As Room Check Volunteer, you will conduct room checks in partnership with a House Manager, as required by the Health Department, using the lists and forms created for this work. Observations will be recorded and notes left in the rooms. If the family is present, staff will answer any questions, and explain any issues. Your primary responsibility is to support the staff member as he/she inspects the unit for safety and sanitary issues, and to record all findings for later disbursement amongst other staff. It is important to maintain a professional yet friendly demeanor.
Commitment: Minimum of three (3) months
Shift: 3 hour, weekly
Current shifts available: Tuesdays, 12:30 - 3:30 PM
Back to top
Van Drivers
As a Van Driver you will 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. You will need to be personable, helpful and dependable. As a Van Driver you need 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 and have a good driving record and insurance.
Commitment: Minimum of six (6) months
Shift: Varies
Current shifts available: On Call
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 that are entertaining, educational 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.
Back to top
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 big 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.