New remote and contact-less opportunities to serve the community and support our partner organizations.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic started, our official policy as a program has been to discourage individuals age 60+ and over from volunteering outside their homes. Opportunities to volunteer safely from home have been limited this far to:
Project Warm-Up: knitting and crocheting winter clothing and accessories for low-income and homeless people in our community, to be distributed in November at our annual event.
Making face masks for the YMCA of the Inland Northwest, Greater Spokane County Meals on Wheels, and other community organizations.
Senior Reassurance Calls Program: this program, operated by Aging & Long Term Care of Eastern Washington (ALTCEW), uses volunteers to make regular check-in calls to socially isolated seniors and people with disabilities, in order to provide social connection and referrals to critical services.
With Governor Inslee's announcement this week of the county-by-county phased approach to re-opening, and the gradual lifting of some restrictions, we are updating our policy regarding safe volunteering to include "contact-less" service activities in addition to "stay at home" activities. We have also received updates from some of our volunteer stations with new or ongoing safe volunteer activities, as well as some other ways to support our partners.
Read on to learn about more ways RSVP members can volunteer safely in our community.
American Red Cross
For more information on any of the following positions, please contact Kari Strain at (509) 679-8795 or kari.strain@redcross.org.
Virtual Disaster Action Team (DAT) Responder On-call position to provide services and resources to clients impacted by house fire or other disaster.
Virtual Disaster Mental Health Looking for a credentialed mental health professional to support virtual family assistance center for those impacted by COVID and ongoing opportunity to support those impacted by other disasters.
Virtual Disaster Community Partnerships
Someone comfortable on the computer and phone to conduct outreach to organizations and verify resources available for those impacted by disaster.
Virtual Disaster Recovery Team Member
Provide follow-up casework for clients impacted by disaster and ensure they have resources needed for road to recovery.
Virtual Service to Armed Forces Community Resource Development Conduct outreach and document resources and services available to military community to meet critical needs.
Cancer Can't
Cancer Can't is a nonprofit here in Spokane dedicated to helping people fighting cancer in the Inland Northwest by improving their daily lives and circumstances.
This year Cancer Can't is hosting its 6th Annual Dinner and Auction on September 9-11th. With the COVID-19 phased roll-out plan for Washington State and no guarantee that we will be able to assemble in a group higher than 50 people by September, we were faced with a very difficult decision to move our auction online and do it virtually. On September 9th and 10th we will be hosting an online silent auction. On September 11th we will be encouraging small parties to gather together for our live auction and paddle raise.
Although this year’s auction will look much different, we know that now more than ever we need to be supporting cancer patients in the Inland Northwest. Cancer Can't is looking for volunteers to help call small businesses in Spokane to see if they would be willing to donate to our silent auction. It's as easy as calling from our list of possible donors, going door to door to businesses that are open, or just asking your own friends and family who may have connections in the community. A script will be provided when calling if needed. Any help in procuring auction items would be great. Thank you for helping to support cancer patients!
For more information, please contact Emily Grankowski at (509) 731-3076 or emily@cancercant.com.
Catholic Charities Volunteer Chore Services
Assist low-income seniors with chores so they can stay in their own homes for as long and as safe as they can. NOTE: In-home chore services are suspended at this time. The following are safe "contact-less" activities.
Yard Work
Lawn mowing in the summer - to ensure social distancing, call the client when you get there and call when you are finished.
Commodities Senior Food Box Delivery
Every 3rd Wednesday of each month help deliver boxes to drop off at apartments. Wear mask when going into apartment building. Every 3rd Thursday of each month help deliver boxes to individual homes. Wear mask to the door, knock, leave box on doorstep, and go. Call and let the client know their box is on the porch or out front.
For more information, please contact Cyndie Lapke at (509) 459-6172 or cyndie.lapke@cceasternwa.org.
Southside Senior & Community Center
Southside Community Center has an urgent need for fundraising and PPE supplies to adhere to CDC guidelines. Please consider donating money or masks.
In September, they will be holding a "virtual garage sale" event. There will also be a modified version of their Veteran's Day event involving a virtual marketplace. on November 7th. You can help by donating items to be sold at the garage sale or marketplace.
For more information on how you can support Southside Community Center, please contact Lisa Rosier at (509) 535-0803 or director@southsidecenter.com.