Volunteer Opportunities
Help make Mercer Island a better place!
The City of Mercer Island offers volunteer opportunities year-round for residents looking for a way to give back to their community. The City encourages those residents to put their skills, expertise, and time to good use through volunteering. Please look at each of the department's volunteer opportunities below to find out more information about volunteering with the City of Mercer Island:
Youth and Family Services (YFS)
Mercer Island is unique because it is one of the few cities that has its own human services department. Residents can volunteer time at the Mercer Island Thrift Shop, the Food Pantry (food bank), Luther Burbank Administrative and Counseling Offices, or with fundraising efforts through the non-profit MIYFS Foundation. Information about volunteering with YFS is available on the YFS Volunteer Opportunities page.
Parks and Recreation
Mercer Island has many parks and open spaces as well as recreation programs that need volunteer support. Residents with a passion for the outdoors can volunteer to be stewards to restore forested areas, remove invasive plants, rebuild trails and more. Other opportunities include volunteering for recreation programs, office work and more. Online information about volunteering with Parks and Recreation is also available at the Parks and Recreation volunteer opportunities page.
Emergency Preparedness
Major disasters are unpredictable and can cause severe disruption to the Island community. To be prepared, City resources are coordinated with local volunteers to insure the community is ready for the worst. Emergency preparedness volunteers are assigned to a different Disaster Response Team and provided training by Emergency Preparedness Officer Jennifer Franklin. Those interested in volunteering to be part of the City's coordinated response in an emergency can sign up on the Emergency Preparedness Volunteer Opportunities page or contact Officer Franklin at 206.275.7905 or jennifer.franklin@mercerisland.gov for additional information.
Boards and Commissions
Island residents have the opportunity to get involved in the civic process by volunteering to serve on a City board or commission. The City Council encourages citizen participation in municipal government in this manner. Click on Boards and Commissions for more information and an application or contact City Clerk Deb Estrada at 206.275.7793 or by email at deb.estrada@mercerisland.gov.
VOICE and SVP
This program has been canceled for 2020 and 2021. Volunteer Outreach in Communities Everywhere (VOICE) and Summer Volunteer Program (SVP) provide structured service learning and group volunteer opportunities to Mercer Island high school and middle school youth. During the summer of 2011, youth in the VOICE and SVP programs volunteered 10,582 hours, served 19,225 meals to the hungry, and directly impacted 10,835 people while working with 55 different non-profit organizations on Mercer Island and in neighboring communities. Youth interested in making a difference in the community can go to the VOICE and SVP Volunteer Opportunities page to find out more information.
Other Opportunities
Interested in volunteering with other City Departments? Check this list of Departments to locate contact information for other potential opportunities.
