July 2014

For Current Volunteer Opportunities

In This Issue

Volunteer Programs Coordinator

Volunteering Improves Health!

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Help End Homelessness

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Meet LIHI's New Volunteer Programs Coordinator!

Please welcome Mercedes Elizalde, our new Volunteer Programs Coordinator!

Mercedes has been working with LIHI for over a year as a case manager and is excited to continue working towards achieving LIHI's mission of building homes for the homeless, advocating for greater equity for low-income people at the local and national level, and providing supportive services to low-income and recently homeless individuals and families.

Mercedes has worked or volunteered for 10 different nonprofits across the Bay Area of California and the Seattle Area. From large organizations that have several hundred employees across multiple cities, to organizations with less than 3 paid staff. She has worked in youth development, early childhood and early learning advocacy, with adults with developmental disabilities, homeless adults and families, teen in environmental justice, and with women fighting for reproductive justice. Currently, she is on a Masters of Nonprofit Leadership at Seattle U.

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Mercedes Elizalde Volunteer Programs Coordinator Email: melizalde@lihi.org Cell:206-595-3271

Volunteer with Kids this Summer in Greenwood and Columbia City!

Live or work near Greenwood? Live or work near Columbia City? Want to volunteer with some amazing kids this summer? Of course you do!

For kids transitioning out of homelessness, hunger is a reality, especially during the summer, when school lunches aren't an option. All children attending these camps receive free or reduced-price breakfast and lunch during the school year. But when school is out kids go without these crucial meals. This is the key reason why LIHI organizes an on-site day summer camp where in addition to accessing meals each day kids have an opportunity to learn and play.

Sign up to volunteer at the camp today and help create memorable summer experiences for our young residents! Volunteers are especially needed for Tuesday - Thursday 10am-12pm or 11am-1pm

Meadowbrook Camp 2011

Here's what last year's volunteers shared about their experience at the camp:

"The children were wonderful, and it was great to see that no matter what their family's financial situation or where they came from, that kids are kids. They just want people that care about them to do fun things with."

"It was great to see how our camp activities could make the kids happy despite the tough situations faced by their families. It was heartbreaking to know that some of them would have gone hungry this summer without this program running."

Find out more about this program here and here, and email volunteer@LIHI.org to volunteer!

Support the Urban Rest Stop

We are looking for some awesome volunteers to support the Urban Rest Stop in downtown Seattle and the University District.

The Urban Rest Stop, a project of the Low Income Housing Institute, provides a clean, safe and dignified place where as many as 500 homeless individuals, families, elders and youth access restrooms, showers, and laundry facilities each day.

Locations:

The Downtown URS is located at 1924 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA, and is open weekdays from 5:30 AM to 9:30 PM, and weekends from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

The University District URS is located at 1415 43rd Ave NE, Seattle, WA, and is open Tuesday-Friday 9am-6pm.

Hours are very flexible. We ask for a 3 month commitment and at least one 2-hour shift per week.

Find out more about this program here and here or email volunteer@LIHI.org to sign up today!

Volunteering Improves Health!

. 84 percent of people who volunteer enjoy improved physical health,

. 95 percent agree that volunteering also improved their emotional health,

. and finally, 96 percent of volunteers report that volunteering makes people happier!

Have you noticed these or other quality of life improvements since you started volunteering? Let us know by replying to this email - your response might be featured in the next newsletter and shared with prospective volunteers to encourage them to join our program!

Click here to read more about these fantastic outcomes.

Ready to explore volunteer opportunities with LIHI? Check out our current openings here!

Join us on Facebook!

Do you want the most up-to-date news on LIHI? How about relevant information on low income housing, homelessness, and advocacy in Washington? You'll find all this and more on LIHI's Facebook page! Click here to join our Facebook community.