Volunteer

If you're a stubborn, cock-eyed optimist, and you want to make a difference in the lives of children, we could use your help! We aren't ashamed to admit that we are supported by the kindness and service of others. We have faced what seemed to be the brink of extinction over and again, surviving diphtheria and flu epidemics, bankruptcy, boiler explosions, fire and floods… and that was just the first hundred years. But we have never faltered in our commitment to serve children. We thank you for your support in our first century of service, and we look forward to your continued support as we work to discover new areas of need in the community and develop programming to better meet those needs.

You can support GATEWAYS as a volunteer by joining and becoming an active member or even a Board member, or by giving of your time and talents and helping out in one of our programs that serve young people, by donating your labor to help maintain the gardens, grounds and buildings at Dyslin Ranch or by contacting your government representatives regarding legislation that affects our ability to serve the youth and families in our community.

Volunteers helped build the original Ranch buildings, constructed our meditation gardens and built the polocrosse field. They have worked with the kids as mentors, counselors and teachers, answered our phones and even fixed our plumbing!

If you are retired or have a few hours a week available and you are interested in helping to guide the next generation to embrace the core values of personal responsibility, self-reliance and community service, we can really use your help! We work with all kinds of kids in the community, as well as the kids who come to us through the foster care system. Our volunteers soon discover that there are more ways to serve foster kids than by becoming a foster parent (although we LOVE to help people open their lives to that)...

Time and again the generosity of a single person or organization has proven that people in our community are inherently kind and caring. We survive entirely through the charity and leadership of members of our community. GATEWAYS is funded by the generous donations of the community through grants, in-kind gifts, private contributions, patrons of our Bingo Hall and social enterprise activities conducted by the GATEWAYS Foundation. Without the support of our neighbors, we wouldn't be able to provide vital services to youth and families. MORE IMPORTANT, we survive through your efforts as volunteers, board members, mentors and friends.

To learn more about volunteering, contact us at 253.383.4361 or fill out the volunteer application form

PLEASE NOTE: Volunteers who may come into unsupervised contact with clients must pass an appropriate WSP or DSHS background check.