Opportunities Supporting Students in the Issaquah School District
The Garage is a non-profit drop-in space exclusively for high school teens. We're a safe space for teens to come hang out with friends, grab a cup of coffee and a snack, play a game, play music, watch TV, talk over homework, and much more! All events, activities, food, and drinks at The Garage are free of charge. Our teens develop and produce all events and activities that happen at the Garage under guidance and support from staff. In addition, students have access to a professional mental health counselor, free-of-charge.
Friends of Echo Glen is a 100% volunteer community that exists with the sole purpose of helping the youth at Echo Glen Juvenile Detention Center to rewrite the scripts of their lives. These teens have immense untapped potential. We help them gain self-esteem by providing essential building blocks for healthy development thus breaking the cycle of neglect and abuse.
VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION Aug 20th at 5:30 PM Please plan to attend this required orientation if you are considering volunteering. You will learn about the parameters of working with the youth, volunteer needs. You can RSVP for August, Sept or Oct dates through the button below. RSVP HERE
HELP PREP SOFTBALL FIELD: Come join the fun as a group or individual to help with weeding, edging, spreading new dirt, etc. First-time visitors are welcome. EMAIL which date(s) you can come and we’ll schedule the fun for whichever date has the most help available. Sunday May 18 from 2-5pm (and/or) Monday May 19 from 4-6p
GIVE CANINE STAFF SUNDAYS OFF! Can you come 2 to 4 Sundays each month to feed, and play with pups? Could use several volunteers to cover 3 times every Sunday! Timing: • Between 9~10:30 AM - separate pups into their own kennels, feed, pick up poop, then put back to the community yard. Usually takes about one hour plus whatever time you want for puppy play time. • Between 1~3 PM - separate pups and feed and put back to community yard - about 30 minutes plus any desired puppy playtime. • About 6 PM - separate pups into kennels, feed them and pick up poop so they don’t step in it. Again about 30 minutes plus desired puppy play time.
Wish List: Help the staff to keep the residents mentally active. New & nearly new items demonstrate to the kids that the community truly does care & value them. Thank you for your amazing generosity!
Support Youth Going Back to Their Communities: Many youth do not have the support of a family or their families struggle with food insecurity, housing insecurity, or job insecurity when they return to their homes and schools. This adds to their anxiety & low self esteem. Please consider helping a youth leaving Echo Glen with a few items that may help them with their educational or job training plans. Ways to help:
Make a cash donation – designate it as ‘Youth Reentry’ in the ‘Display my Name as’ field
Support Individual Children through in-kind donations from their Amazon Wish List HERE
Career Panels – Those who have overcome felony charges or addictions are the ultimate inspiration. The goal of these panels is to allow the students to learn about various careers & companies so they can begin to visualize their ideal future careers. Help the youth re-write the script of their lives Every January, June and October. Come inspire the students towards a new career – youth are asking to hear about careers with Starbucks & about becoming MRI & radiologist technicians. Youth’s preference is for POC. Do you know anyone who may be willing to present? Please share the need.
Community Service Socials August 21st 5:45 - 8 PM We'll be helping the youth to make hygiene kits and fill them with items donated by Essentials First. Join the social or join us when we hand them to those living on the streets around Pioneer Square. Please let us know you can come as soon as possible so we know how may youth we can hang out with. First-time visitors are welcome too! RSVP HERE
Every Wednesday, cosmetology students do their peer's hair. The state commissary however, does not provide the residents who have textured hair the needed products or tools to keep their hair healthy. Please consider donating some of these items to the Student Star Store where residents can buy what they need with reinforcement points. This donation is a win-win for Echo. It will encourage positive behavior and it will give those with textured hair the ability to properly care for their hair and feel good about themselves. All donations are tax deductible. Wishlist here
Tutors Needed: Can you give support to a student anytime during the hours of 8 AM and 4 PM? IMMEDIATE NEED: Help with 5th and 6th grade Basic Math, Wednesdays anytime between 1:00 & 4:00 PM. ON-GOING: Add your name to the school's list of volunteers willing to tutor throughout the year as students ask for additional help.
Donate a store-bought cake so a youth to celebrate their birthday with their cottage mates. You'll be demonstrating that the community cares and sometimes the cakes we bring are the first they've ever received. With 14 birthdays in June alone, the kitchen staff can't keep up with making all the needed cakes. Questions? email info@echoglen.org
GAME BOARD CLUB - Can you invest a couple hours two-times a month on weekends playing board games with the youth? Looking for a total of 16+ individuals!.
COOKING - Residents LOVE to cook with volunteers! Sixteen+ individuals are needed to share simple cooking recipes with all the youth twice a month. Volunteer with your friends, or we can partner you with 2 others. Day and time are flexible to accommodate your schedule. Volunteers must be over 21 yrs old. Email info@echoglen.org for more details.
Choir - Staff wants to start a choir but needs help from volunteers who have experience leading one. Email info@echoglen.org for more information.
Guitar Club - Volunteers needed to help students practice what they have learned. Email info@echoglen.org for more information.
VOICE mentors needed !
Mentoring differs from tutoring in that mentoring focuses on fostering positive, supportive relationships which help students develop skills and attitudes (such as resilience, self-advocacy, self-confidence, etc.) to promote academic achievement and success in life. Here is a youtube video that the district put together of current mentors talking about their mentoring experience.
March 2022 Feature On Local News HERE
Our mission is to enhance the lives of children who have disabilities and special needs and the high school athletes who mentor them. We believe that modeling acceptance, inclusion, and respect of all individuals transforms and strengthens our communities.
The Issaquah Schools Foundation, in partnership with the Issaquah School District, drives resources to help all students achieve the promise of their potential.