Volunteer
COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES
Individual Community Service
Join our network of volunteers
Volunteers are a vital part of our ministry, impacting thousands of lives worldwide. Hands of Hope Northwest collects, sorts, boxes, and ships medical equipment and supplies all around the world to developing countries. We also make durable medical equipment available to those locally who have a short-term need. None of this could happen without our team of over 200 amazing volunteers!
- Medical aid shipped to 81+ countries
- 321 medical missions supplied
- $7M of medical equipment loaned to the public
Email your completed application to info@handsofhopenw.org or bring it to our distribution center during office hours in order to start serving.
Volunteer Text Notifications!
Volunteers are able to receive text notifications about warehouse closures, shipments, and special events. To learn more, please call or visit our front office.
Organizational Community Service
Volunteer as a Group
We would love to have your group come and serve at Hands of Hope Northwest or help us raise funds! Projects are available for church groups, businesses, corporations, medical professionals, service clubs, and more.
Email your completed application to info@handsofhopenw.org or bring it to our distribution center during office hours in order to schedule your group event.
Current Volunteering Hours
Our warehouse is currently open to volunteers on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9AM-2PM, but keep an eye on our calendar for changes.
Become a community leader
Serve on our
Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors is actively seeking new members to join us. If you are interested, please talk to Executive Director Todd Durbin or a board member and fill out the application linked below. We prefer candidates to have volunteer experience of our operation, but it is not required.
- Collaboratively determine strategic direction
- Participate in board meetings and project-specific committees
- Pray for our ministry, leadership, and volunteers
- Raise funds to support our mission
- Represent and promote Hands of Hope Northwest within the greater community
Email your completed application to info@handsofhopenw.org or bring it to our distribution center during office hours in order to start serving.
Charity Projects for Craft Groups
Make & Donaate
Calling all sewing, quilting, knitting, crocheting, and other craft groups - this is your place to shine! Hands of Hope Northwest is happy to accept donations of handmade items for patients around the globe. Past project donations include:
- Infant Receiving Blankets
- Blankets
- Quilts (Baby, Child, or Adult Sized)
- Crocheted Afghans/Throws
- Pillowcases
- Chemo Port Pillows
- Baby Burp Cloths
- Cloth Diapers
- Caps & Hats
- Mittens
Please call our office at (208) 461-1473 before dropping off large quantities of these donations so we can make space on our shelves for your projects.
Volunteer Activities
Our volunteers participate in a wide variety of activities. They often choose just one or two areas to specialize in, but are welcome to help with as many areas as they like, and even try out several in order to find their calling. There is something for every age and ability level! Take a look at all of the things our volunteers do.
Sorting
Donations that arrive at our warehouse go through what we call a “first sort,” separating medical supplies by category and expiration date.
Counting & Packing
After the first sort, donated medical supplies are then sorted again by item, boxed, and catalogued before being assembled into pallets.
Staffing our Front Desk
Our front desk volunteers are the face of our organization, helping customers with local loans and answering phone calls.
Repairing Equipment
Many donated items are often in need of repair, so our volunteers help fix these items before they are used in our Local Loan Program or shipped to another country.
Data Entry
We keep an inventory of every single item that is packed for shipment, and data entry volunteers are the folks who help track this information.
Loading Trucks
As soon as the logistics for a shipment have been ironed out, we need willing hands to help load the truck with donations.
Picking Up Donations
Pick up pallets of donations from local hospitals and clinics in our box truck.
Fulfilling Supply Requests
Organize and fulfill requests for medical supplies needed on mission trips.
Facility Maintenance
Help with a variety of daily chores that keep our warehouse open and running, including painting, sweeping, vacuuming, cleaning bathrooms, and more.
Advocating
Spread the word of our ministry far and wide to the public, for both those who are interested in donating supplies or funds as well as those who may be in need of our services.
Fundraising
Help raise money to keep our ministry going and growing. We are happy to help with idea generation and planning.
Pray for Us
Without prayer, our ministry would be ineffective. We value our prayer warriors.
Staffing Events
Volunteers are needed to help with a variety of special event operations, such as setting up decorations, staffing check-in and activity booths, and serving food.
Provide Volunteer Treats
Our volunteers enjoy sitting down for coffee and a snack halfway through their work, and there is nothing they love more than homemade goodies! Help us show appreciation for our volunteers by bringing a treat to share.
Make & Donate
There are several local volunteer groups who make quilts, sew baby blankets, or crochet hats and mittens. We welcome donations of these items that we can send to countries in need.
Newsletter Mailings
We send out over 800 paper newsletters every quarter, so assistance folding papers and stuffing envelopes is greatly appreciated!
Train New Volunteers
If you like working with people, we would love to have you train incoming volunteers and direct volunteer groups.
Laundry
The towels we use to dry equipment that has been through the washer need to be laundered regularly. We are grateful to our volunteers who take these towels home, wash them, and bring them back sparkling clean.