Current Volunteer Opportunities

We have two volunteer needs right now! 

Help Line Shift Openings – Mondays 9-1 or 1-5/Fridays 9-1 or 1-5/Thursdays 9-1
*Volunteer Training required to volunteer for this position*

Childcare – Mondays 10-12 in North Seattle
Come play with infants and toddlers while mothers attend support group. You do not need to have taken the volunteer training to help with this opportunity.

Please let Erin know if you can help out: epankow@newbegin.org

Volunteer Spotlight: Kasey Burton

Kasey Burton (or “Little K” as we like to call her) began volunteering on the Help Line in June of 2011 and at the Legal Clinic two months ago.  It’s always a happy day when Kasey volunteers. She brings an uplifting energy to New Beginnings, possesses strong advocacy skills and makes the day more fun.

Q: Why do you volunteer at New Beginnings?

I love the hands-on approach New Beginnings lets volunteers have. I’m used to volunteering in a much more passive capacity, where the work is outlined, you have your task, and you do it. Here, a volunteer can accomplish whatever they want, and I couldn’t ask for more supportive people to work with. Everyone is always helpful, whether it’s answering a question or assisting me in transitioning into legal clinic—the staff here has always been great about working with me to help me achieve my goals.

Q: What are you up to right now? (work, school?)
Right now I pretty much just work and volunteer. I work at a restaurant downtown, which is fun and has really helped me get to know the area better. I plan on going to law school in the coming fall, but I'm not sure which school just yet. Still waiting on that LSAT score!

Q: What’s one thing New Beginnings’ staff might not know about you?

Before I wanted to be a lawyer I was convinced I was going to be a psychologist. I wanted to do research on serial killers, including interviewing them and helping the FBI solve cases. Ever watched Criminal Minds? That could have been me. Then my freshman year in college I took Intro to Comparative Politics and it ruined my plan because it was so awesome that I became a Political Science major.

Q: Do you have a motto or phrase you live by?

I try really hard to follow the motto “Just roll with it.” I used to be a hyper-planner with everything mapped out and I was stressed all the time! So I decided I needed to learn how to relax and just wing it sometimes. My stress level has declined significantly since I have embraced this phrase.

Q: What do you know about domestic violence now that you didn’t know before volunteering with us?

I think what stood out to me the most as I began to really learn about DV through New Beginnings was how difficult it can be to leave. When thinking about the elements involved in leaving an abuser I only ever took into account the emotional components. I had never thought about the “What next?” aspect of the situation. After training I really became conscious of issues such as finding a living space, financially supporting oneself and one’s children, and how hard some abusers will work to draw a survivor back in again. I find myself continually impressed by the strength and determination of those we work with.

Q: What’s your favorite thing to do on the weekend? Favorite place to eat out or get a cup of coffee?

Nap! I love naps. So much. I don’t eat out a lot, but I usually end up going to Chipotle. They have delicious guacamole. Guacamole = best condiment ever. If I’m looking for a good cup of coffee I’ll hit up either Café on the Ave (try their grasshopper latte!) or The Ugly Mug in the U-District. I also highly recommend The Ugly Mug’s lentil soup. Scrumptious.

Q: Tell us about the Bulletin Board Outreach Project you’re working on for New Beginnings. I started the bulletin board project inspired by my time as a resident adviser at the University of Washington. As an RA, it’s your job to act as a resource for residents, referring them elsewhere as necessary—especially in situations involving serious matters like counseling or substance abuse. When I was a resident in the halls I would’ve had no idea where to turn, and that knowledge increased only marginally when I became a RA. So, I decided the best way to help college students—many of whom are entering their first serious relationships or are realizing they no longer have their parents to fall back on—would be to advertise this information in the residence halls on floor bulletin boards. Students pass by them every day, sometimes reading them as they wait for the elevator, or if they’re wandering around avoiding homework. RAs have to put them up anyway, so why not incentivize the sharing of DV resources by making it easy for them? I pulled together some information on a number of DV topics, put them on PowerPoint slides for easy printing, and I sent them off to the Housing and Food Services administrators. With help from a friend of mine who is a current RA, I got their attention, and now we’re getting this important message across to students.

Volunteer Spotlight: Lyn Seidel

Lyn volunteers at the Shelter every Wednesday and helps “with the stuff you don’t have time to do, but wish you could get done.” Lyn has kept the Women’s Clothing room looking fabulous since she started, and has recently started in on the Children’s Clothing room. Lyn is punctual, reliable, easy going, and very willing to work hard and give of her time. Lyn is such a warm hearted woman and we adore her and the energy she brings. Lyn also helps at the Transitional Housing Program with gardening and with special holiday events as they come up.

Why do you volunteer at New Beginnings? What do you like most about volunteering here?

I was abused at one time and received help in another state. When I retired in 2007, I needed something to do so I found New Beginnings so I could give back and help others with the same kind of help I had in the past.

I like the people at New Beginnings. All of the people I have worked with are so nice and appreciative of any help I give that you can’t help but feel you’re doing good helping others out. When co-facilitating, the women would tell their story and you could see in their eyes the pain and agony they were going through. Through time, you could actually watch the room and see the woman become whole people again. They blossomed and they were able to go out and do life again. It was so gratifying to be around those women. They did more for me than I did for them in watching them grow. New Beginnings’ advocates take someone truly wounded and teach them to be healthy and productive – watching this whole process was amazing.

Do you have any pets?

I have a nine-year-old West Highland Terrier named Saill, pronounced "si" which is Gaelic for salt. We also have a 13-year-old cat with a salt & pepper coat so we named her Pepper. So, salt & pepper :)

What do you do when you’re not volunteering?

I liked to cook from scratch, knit, sew, spend time with friends. I also ready every day and if I don’t one day, I feel like something is missing.

What do you know now about domestic violence that you didn’t know when you first started volunteering?

Not too much because I lived through it. The part about domestic violence that is so amazing to me is a common belief that after a woman leaves her abuser everything will immediately return to normal. They don’t understand that you have to heal and re-learn and grow back again and it’s long hard process. There’s a lack of understanding that it takes a lot of time to heal.

What’s your biggest pet peeve?

The thing that really bugs me most is those that don’t want to grow and change. If you can’t grow and change every day you become a brittle person and you can break. You need to be able to bend and grow every day.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

Never stay angry. If you are angry you become angry and no one wants to be around an angry person.

Anything else you’d like to share with other volunteers?

All the volunteers are really valuable people. Any little bit they do is always appreciated, needed and valued.