An NPR member station
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

City Initiative Directs Volunteers to Groups in Need

The city of Spokane will use April, the National Volunteer Month, to formally kick off a new volunteer database and a week of doing good. The initiative ‘Spokane Gives’ will direct volunteers to the organizations that need help.

Spokane Gives starts with one week of concentrated volunteer opportunities, from April 12th-19th. Jason Clark at Second Harvest Food Bank welcomes the flood of volunteers, and says often the volunteers get as much out of it as the people they are serving.

Clark: “More than 2,000 people came to our building last year and gave their time to help feed hungry people, and I’d like to thank the mayor for organizing this activity because I think Spokane Gives can bring even more people to our organization to help feed hungry people.”

The city has launched a new web page, which is live now, for people to sign up for events that week. Volunteers spots are available until filled, for example, today Salvation Army needs 10 volunteers for a dinner event, Catholic Charities Spokane is looking for 30 to sort donations, and the Boy Scouts could use up to 600 people to help plant trees.

The page will stay live after Spokane Gives week so volunteers, or agencies, can use it year round.

The city has partnered with United Way, the Empire Health Foundation, Windermere Real Estate and Spokane Teachers Credit Union to make it happen.

Copyright 2014 Spokane Public Radio

Related Content