County offers volunteer opportunities

Among resolutions people tend to make in the new year, a most common one is to volunteer for a good cause. Pierce County government offers multiple opportunities to do just that.

The county’s boards and commissions always need the public’s engagement in a variety of ways. These range from the Accessible Communities Advisory Committee, Aging & Disabilities Resources Advisory Board and Arts Commission to the Citizens’ Salary Commission for Elected Officials and Civil Service Commission.

For Emergency Management, there are many ways to get involved, both before and during disasters. Pierce County Emergency Management partners with agencies to help residents and businesses prepare and respond to emergencies. Volunteer for Amateur Radio Emergency Services, Citizen Corps, Search and Rescue, and more.

Pierce County Human Services embraces a large network of organizations such as Nourish Pierce County, Northwest Furniture Bank, Senior Friends at Lutheran Community Services Northwest, and United Way of Pierce County. These are just some examples of how your experience and knowledge can go a long way to help those in need.

To work with youth in the county’s Juvenile Court system, a Court Appointed Advocate is a trained volunteer who is appointed by a judge to advocate for a child, or children, in Dependency Court. A Court Appointed Advocate is an independent voice for the child’s best interests throughout the time the child is in care (usually about two years). Advocates gather information about the circumstances of the child’s case, monitors court orders, and makes recommendations to ensure that no child is lost in the system.

Pierce County Parks offers a variety of fun and rewarding volunteer opportunities. Share your expertise on the advisory boards or be a coach in youth sports programs. If you love the outdoors, parks trails and natural areas bring great ways to volunteer your services. Your skills and talents are matched with your work preference to obtain a role that satisfies you and best fulfills the mission of Pierce County Parks.

Interns serve in several divisions of the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and may assist deputy prosecuting attorneys, legal assistants or victim advocates.

Visit piercecountywa.gov/179/Volunteer-Opportunities to learn more about these and other ways you can get involved in 2025.