April is Volunteer Appreciation Month! At Solid Ground, we deeply value our collaboration with the hundreds of volunteers who share their time, talents, and passion for the work of ending poverty. Volunteers make it possible for us to meet basic needs, nurture success, and spread change in our community.

Last year, 919 volunteers donated 38,285 hours of time valued at $1.3 million! All of us at Solid Ground are grateful for the support and collaboration of the volunteers who make our work possible, despite ongoing pandemic recovery challenges.

During the past year, volunteers…

• tutored and mentored children at Sand Point Housing.

• tended our Giving Garden at Marra Farm.
• taught nutrition education through our Cooking Matters classes.
• provided Medicare information and counseling to hundreds of people through our Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) program.
• served as leaders and advisors through our Board of Directors and Community Accountability Council (CAC).
• provided administrative and childcare support to many of our programs, including Broadview Shelter and Transitional Housing, Tenant Services, and Volunteer Services.

• helped at our 2022 Building Community Event and Social Justice Salons.
• wrote articles for the Experience in Action (EIA) newsletter for our Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP).
• crafted and donated over 1,200 knitted items distributed to people in need throughout King County.
• supported our partners to meet critical community needs by volunteering through RSVP at many locations and in many capacities.

A big thank you to our amazing volunteers and all those who support them! Please keep an eye on the volunteer opportunities listed on our Volunteer webpage and help us spread the word!

Looking forward to another year of volunteering, we’re currently seeking:  

• Special Events Volunteers: If you have experience or are interested in learning about event planning and organization – or if you just want to be more involved with Solid Ground’s events – this is a great position to do so! In the coming months, we need support for our Building Community Event on Thursday, May 11, our Social Justice Salon on Tuesday, June 6, and our Food Truck Event on Friday, August 11.
• Marra Farm Giving Gardeners: The farm is open for the growing season! The farm offers a great space to volunteer outdoors and work with folks of all ages. (This is our one volunteer opportunity that doesn’t require  that you attend a Volunteer Orientation first.) New and experienced volunteers are welcome!
  • Individual gardeners and small groups (2-5 people) can sign up on the CFE Calendar.
  • Work parties and bigger groups (6-40 people), please email marrafarm@solid-ground.org to schedule a work party.
• Cooking Matters Volunteers: Cooking Matters offers cooking and nutrition classes focused on maximizing food resources for community members who have less access to nutritious food. Each class is led by a Cooking Facilitator, a Nutrition Facilitator, and a Class Assistant who work alongside a staff coordinator to facilitate fun, lively, and informative classes for participants. We’re looking for volunteers to fill all roles, including support roles for virtual classes!
• Landscape Advisor & Gardening Volunteer: If you’re a passionate landscaper, we’d love your help! We hope to redo the landscaping around our Wallingford office building to create a welcoming and inviting place for the people who visit the building, including those who access the food bank and the library.

Questions about volunteering with Solid Ground?

Contact Simone Marrion, Volunteer Coordinator, at simonem@solid-ground.org.