The Burien Shuttle is a FREE door-to-door transportation service that drives local senior citizens around to run errands, buy groceries, get to medical appointments and assorted other travel needs, and they’re looking for volunteer drivers.
Here’s the info on how you can help “change the world, one mile at a time”:
Drive the Burien Shuttle and Change the World, One Mile at a Time.
This summer, seniors in the Burien-Highline community need a little extra hope. Help Burien seniors remain independent by becoming a volunteer driver for Senior Services Shuttle Program. The Shuttle takes seniors to run errands, buy groceries, get to medical appointments and run other local errands. We are seeking reliable, caring individuals to drive our agency vans—no wear and tear on your own vehicle! We offer flexible hours and free training in defensive driving and passenger assistance.You do not need a special driver’s license and do no lifting or bearing of weight.
Interested? Call Valerie at (206) 727-6262, email valeried@seniorservices.org, or visit www.seniorservices.org for more information.
Or, if you don’t have transportation, perhaps you could utilize the Burien Shuttle’s services:
Need to buy groceries? Run an errand? Go to the doctor? The Burien Shuttle is a FREE door-to-door van service here in Burien! Seniors and anyone with disabilities or special needs can ride. The van is lift-equipped for people who have difficulty using stairs or use a mobility aid, such as a wheelchair or scooter.
Call (206) 727-6262 to book your ride – no forms to fill out!
Rides are provided on a first-come, first-served basis. The Shuttle runs Monday – Friday from 9:00am – 4:00pm and serves the Burien-Highline area.
by Janet Grella
As the sun sets on the last day of National Volunteer Month, The B-Town Blog wanted to highlight some of our local volunteer efforts in the community.
These unsung heroes deserve a pat on the back, as well as the ongoing praise and thank-you’s for their volunteer efforts that keep such entities running as our own regional hospital Highline Medical Center, the Highline School District, and Highline Area Food Bank.
Highline Hospital recently celebrated their 300 volunteers at a luncheon at the Normandy Park Cove. One hundred were able to attend the party, which was catered by Emerald Cove Catering.
“One of our volunteers has supported us for 31 years….and has given more than 13,500 hours of service. Incredible!” noted Mara Burke, Director of Community Relations and Volunteer Services.
Mara called the hospital volunteers “a tremendous resource, and quite the gift. Over-all these volunteers contributed nearly 51,000 hours to the running of hosptial services in over 40 divisions at their Main Campus in Burien and their Speciality Campus at 16251 Military Road South in Tukwila. As a matter of fact, BTB was advised that over one-third of the hospital workforce is comprised of volunteers.
“As you can tell, we are extremely appreciative of all that our volunteers do to support our patients, staff and community, ”
If you are interested in joining the army of loyal volunteers at the medical center click here. There are positions for adults and teen volunteers, and they currently have 59 teen volunteers who work after school.
Highline Public Schools tells us that for the 2008-09 school year (through March ‘09) they’ve had over 2,700 volunteers working over 30,000 hours.
Catherine Carbone Rogers, Director, Communitcation and Community Engagement told BTB “We have many volunteer activities available in schools. Suffice it to say that every school can use volunteer support.”
“We welcome community volunteers in all our schools. We have recently begun some work to bring more of a community focus to our schools in SeaTac and White Center, with funding from the Stuart Foundation. Fourteen of our schools in SeaTac and White Center now have “community schools” programs, which provide academic and enrichment opportunities for students outside the school day. We have partnered with Community Schools Collaboration, a local non-profit organization, to coordinate these programs, which are often created by and staffed by community volunteers and community-based organizations,” Catherine told BTB.
To volunteer at our local public schools stop by any school to fill out an application. You will have a Washington State Patrol background check to qualify for school volunteering.
“As funding becomes available, we want to expand community schools programs to all our schools district-wide. This will provide many more opportunities for community members to be involved in schools” she continued.
Our local food bank could also use your help. Understaffed but working hard, the Highline Area Food Bank is serving more and more people. Generous donations, fundraisers and smart buying help them keep the food stocked. Volunteers help keep the merchandise flowing to people in need.
Mike Werle, Executive Director of Highline Area Food Bank told BTB “We have over 50 different people volunteering for the food bank in some kind of capacity. With me being the only paid staff, volunteers are our life blood. Volunteers can help by picking up food from local stores (7 days a week), work during our distribution times (about 20 -25 people needed to run smooth), help clients out to their cars after they have picked out the food and it takes about 7 – 12 people to set up the food distribution area each day we are open.”
Volunteering is a great way have a positive effect on the lives of the people we serve in our local community. We at the Highline Area Food Bank are totally dependent on our volunteers. Ways that you can help are: register clients, assemble and package bulk food, pickup donations from local stores, assist clients in selecting their food, helping clients get the food to their cars and generally just serving our clients. In 2007 the in-kind labor costs donated by our volunteers was over $101,400. Without dedicated volunteers, none of this would be possible.
If you would be interested in volunteering please contact our Executive Director @ 206-433-9900.
Give back to the less fortunate than you and volunteer for a cause you believe in. And if you already volunteer thank you.
When you volunteer you give the gift of your time to those less fortunate than you. Be there for them. Volunteer!
| Mar ’09 |
| 10 |
| 12:00 am |
The first-ever Rock n’Roll Seattle Marathon Event, scheduled for June 24-27, is seeking volunteers.
And get this – Volunteers for this event will actually get something other than Satisfaction (I Can’t Get No…):
- Free Race Crew T-Shirt.
- Free ticket to the post-race headliner concert.
- Free race goodie bag.
- Satisfaction of helping others.
- You’ll have a great time!
WHAT: Inaugural Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle Marathon & 1/2 Marathon
WHEN: Wednesday June 24th, Thursday 25th, Friday 26th, Saturday 27, 2009
WHERE: 26.2-Mile and 13.1-Mile Race Courses from Tukwila to Seattle (Volunteer stations to be assigned)
CONTACT: Volunteer Coordinator: Adriane Ferguson; Email: adriane@seafair.com Phone: (206) 728-0123 ext.109
Seafair
2200 Sixth Ave. Suite 400
Seattle, WA. 98121
INFO: New this year, the Rock n’Roll Seattle Marathon & ½ Marathon will be taking place on the streets throughout Seattle! We need your help in creating an inspiring and upbeat environment for the runners and walkers participating in this event.
Not a runner or walker? You can still be a part of the event! With over 15,000 marathon and half marathon participants, volunteers are needed to assist with every aspect of the event, including setup, pre-registration, the Health & Fitness Expo, the Start Line, Finish Line and water stations along the course. Team up with your friends or family and make it an experience you won’t forget!
Volunteer Opportunities:
- Pre-race Expo and Registration: Qwest Event Center-Wednesday June 24 (set up), Thursday June 25 & Friday, June 26.
- Issue registered runners their race numbers
- Distribute race participant T-shirts
- Distribute race Goodie Bags
- Stock and sell souvenirs
- Start Line – Foster Golf Links- Tukwila- Saturday, June 27th:
- Start Corrals, Gear Check, Bus Unloading, Refreshments, Medical Tent
- Finish Line – Qwest Field- Seattle-Saturday, June 27th:
- Checked Gear Retrieval, Chip Removal, Refreshment Zone, Awards, Pedestrian Traffic Control, Medical Tent
- Water Station – Groups of 30 or more-Saturday, June 27th:
- Volunteers are located on various parts of the course.
- Medical Station-Saturday, June 27th:
- Various Locations along the course. Volunteers are needed to staff medical tents and assist runners with minor injuries.
To sign-up, or to register to run, please click here: www.rnrseattle.com
| Feb ’09 |
| 13 |
The City of Burien is seeking volunteers to serve on one of four Advisory Boards:
- Arts Commission
- Business and Economic Development Partnership
- Parks & Recreation Board
- Planning Commission
All appointments are made by the City Council and are for four-year terms (ad-hoc committee appointments are for the duration of the study or special purpose).
Applications are being accepted through February 13, 2009, and here’s how to get in on the action:
- Apply online by visiting the city’s website here.
- You can also fill out an Online Application Form.
- You can download an Advisory Board Application and mail it to:
Citizen Advisory Board
City of Burien
15811 Ambaum Blvd. SW, Suite C
Burien, WA 98166
- If you prefer the “real world” in-person method, you can pick up an application at:
Burien City Hall
15811 Ambaum Blvd. SW
Burien, WA 98166
Further information about Burien’s citizen advisory boards is available by contacting:
Monica Lusk
City Clerk
(206) 248-5517
MONICAL@burienwa.gov
United Way of King County is looking for volunteer tax preparers in our area, and here’s the scoop straight from their press release:
Every year, thousands of people in King County don’t claim the Earned Income Tax Credit despite the fact that they’re eligible. That means millions of dollars go unclaimed – dollars that should be coming back into our community. In addition, thousands of others who DO claim the EITC do so as a result of going to a paid preparer. That means many of our low-income individuals and families end up spending a large portion of their refund just to get their own money!
That’s why United Way of King County joins forces with a variety of community partners to coordinate the Free Tax Preparation Campaign! Taxpayers receive all of the credits for which they’re eligible, and gain access to e-filing and direct deposit capabilities…and it doesn’t cost them a cent.
You can help.
Get involved with United Way of King County’s Free Tax Preparation Campaign and join the nation’s largest anti-poverty effort! Help low-and moderate-income individuals and families in King County keep more of what they earn! With the assistance of over 370 volunteers, the 2008 Campaign filed 12,330 tax returns, and returned over $14.4 million in federal refunds; $4.6 million in Earned Income Tax Credits. All of this was accomplished at no cost to our tax customers, and we estimate that we saved our customers over $925,000 in tax preparation fees!
By volunteering once per week during the 2009 tax season, you can join 450 fellow volunteers and help us meet our goal of putting more than $15 million back into the pockets of low-and moderate-income working individuals and families in King County! Speakers of Chinese, Vietnamese, Spanish, Somali, Korean and Russian languages are especially needed.
No Experience Necessary! All volunteers receive free tax preparation training and are certified by the IRS. Slots at some sites tend to fill up very fast, so don’t wait! Sign up now! Trainings start in early December, and the sooner you sign up the faster you can get certified and enjoy the rest of the holidays! And even if you can’t do it this year, that’s okay! But you probably know someone who can, so pass this message along to them!
Tax training will be held at South Seattle Community College, 6000 16th Avenue SW in West Seattle, and run from 8:30am – 5pm. Trainings are available on Saturdays and Sundays throughout December and January and you do NOT have to complete both days on the same weekend. Lunch and snacks are provided.
For more information, or to Register, go to this website:
http://www.volunteersolutions.org/uwkc/user/events/one.tcl
The Community Clothing Closet is a church-based outreach program that helps needy Burien-area individuals and families.
They provide absolutely free new and gently used clothing to those in need.
They also serve free lunch every Sunday and host a free community dinner and free groceries the last Sunday of each month.
They are currently seeking volunteers to help – if you live in the Burien or surrounding communities and have a desire to serve the needy…give ‘em a hand!
More info at: www.hope-christian.net
The Community Clothing Closet is located at 1005 SW 152nd Street, Burien, WA. 98166
| Mar ’08 |
| 22 |
| 9:00 am |
NORMANDY PARK – This Saturday, March 22, from 9am – Noon, volunteers are needed to help eradicate ivy from the Walker Preserve along Walker Creek in Normandy Park.
Here’s a Q&A courtesy Burien Parks:
Q: Why are we doing this stewardship project?
A: English ivy is creeping into the Preserve. Ivy is bad because it:
- Strangles trees
- Creates more weight and “sail area” that can topple trees in high winds
- Provides a home to rats
- As ivy kills native trees, it opens up areas for more non-native weeds to invade the exposed ground. This prevents new trees from getting started. If left unchecked, ivy will destroy the urban forest along Walker Creek.
Q: What will the volunteers do?
A: Stewardship on March 22 will focus on removing ivy from the lower trunks of trees and creating ivy-free rings around the base. We’ll also remove other weeds such as Himalayan blackberry. We’ll use a mix of hand tools to perform these tasks. Volunteers of all ages are welcome but children need to be accompanied by a parent or an adult.
Q: What do volunteers need?
A: The requirements are simple:
- An eager attitude
- Sturdy shoes or boots
- Leather-palmed gloves (if you have them; we also will have plenty to loan)
- Filled water bottle
- We provide tools and snacks!
Q: Who’s organizing this event?
A: This project is a cooperative effort of the Cities of Normandy Park, Burien, and SeaTac; the Port of Seattle; and King County. These governments are working with residents to improve water quality and create healthy streams in the Miller and Walker Creek basins.
Driving and Parking
To avoid causing street access problems during the event, volunteers who are driving should park at Normandy Park City Hall (801 S.W. 174th St.). We will run a shuttle to get you to and from the Preserve. This shuttle will be available throughout the event if you need to leave early.
Sign Up and Questions
Advance sign up is encouraged to help us plan. Please contact Dennis Clark, Miller/Walker Creek Basin Steward ASAP via email dennis.clark@kingcounty.gov, or call 206-296-1909.
This is a great opportunity for people in Burien and SeaTac to see a hidden part of the stream basin downstream from their communities.
View Larger Map
The Burien City Council is seeking volunteers to assist the City in updating its shoreline master program.
The deadline for submittal of applications is 5PM on January 11, 2008, and application forms can be found here (as a PDF).
Selected volunteers will serve on a special advisory committee providing valuable input and guidance during the shoreline master program update process.
The advisory committee will consist of a variety of people representing various geographic areas and a broad range of community interests in Burien’s shorelines.
The committee will meet monthly throughout the update process that is anticipated to start in February 2008 and conclude in the middle of 2010.
No specific shoreline knowledge or planning qualifications are required; however, applicants should be able to commit to attendance at advisory committee meetings and public forums. Dates and times of meetings have yet to be determined.
Burien’s Shoreline Master Program is a set of goals, polices and regulations that manage City of Burien shorelines. It specifically addresses land use and ecological functions adjacent to Lake Burien and Puget Sound. The City has been awarded a grant by the State of Washington to update its master program, which has not been amended since the City incorporated in 1993. Completion of the update process will fulfill a state requirement for shoreline master program updates.
Under the State Shoreline Management Act each city and county with “shorelines of the state” must adopt a Shoreline Master Program (SMP) that is based on state laws and rules but tailored to the specific geographic, economic and environmental needs of the community. State law requires
For more information please contact David Johanson, AICP, senior planner, at davidj@burienwa.gov or (206)248-5522.
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