This holiday season, we wanted to share some opportunities to give back here in King County, from preparing holiday meals to fulfilling children’s holiday wish lists. As we have seen over the course of the pandemic, kindness, connection, and generosity go a long way.

• Donate gift cards or purchase wish-list-items for clients of Mary’s Place. Mary’s Place provides safe, inclusive shelter and services that support women, children and families on their journey out of homelessness. Their No Child Sleeps Outside program raises critical funds that keep more than 4,000 moms, dads, and kids in their hard-won homes or help them move back into housing quickly and to operate Mary’s Place’s five emergency family shelters. Find details about holiday giving opportunities here.
• Contribute to the Downtown Emergency Service Center’s (DESC) holiday gift campaign. The DESC, one of Seattle’s largest homeless service providers, is running a holiday gift campaign to provide a gift to every client living in one of its permanent supportive housing locations. Click here to learn more about the gift campaign.
• Sponsor an apartment at the DESC’s new permanent supportive housing site, Hobson Place. Support someone who is moving into Hobson Place by sponsoring an apartment, which helps to purchase bedding, cleaning supplies and housewares. Click here to learn more about sponsoring an apartment.
• Donate household items, clothing, and toiletries to Plymouth Housing. Plymouth Housing, a large permanent supportive housing provider in the region, is looking for cleaning supplies, winter clothing, rain gear, socks, and other items. Contact Cathy Martin at cmartin@plymouthhousing.org to coordinate a drop off.
• Prepare a meal for Helen’s Place or the Sophia’s Way shelters. The Sophia Way is dedicated to supporting women transition from homelessness to safe and stable housing on the eastside. Sign up here to deliver home-cooked lunch or dinner to one of their two shelters.
• Donate food or funds to the Rainier Valley Food Bank. Check out RVFB’s website to find out how to contribute, including the best foods to donate, like canned goods, shelf stable milk or milk alternatives, and nut butters.
• Make a donation to the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle.
  The Urban League empowers Black and other diverse communities to thrive by securing educational and economic opportunities. To support its mission, the organization held its 20th annual Breakfast: Era of Essential Service event. Check out the Facebook Live recording to see how the Urban League’s vital work helps our communities.
  
  
• Advocate for long-term solutions to help people experiencing homelessness. Ending homelessness in King County is the best way to help our unhoused neighbors, especially during the cold winter months. Visit WeAreIn.org and/or follow us on Twitter and Facebook to see how you can get involved.

Looking for more ways to give? Our friends at The Seattle Times’ Project Homeless put together this helpful guide that includes different items that homeless service providers in the region are in need of this holiday season. 

Be sure to share some of these opportunities with your friends, family, and community on Twitter and Facebook.