Other volunteers help the MSA in office related tasks, such as mailings, resource and fundraising, and research into MS related topics.

By supplementing the services provided by staff, direct service volunteers help over 100 people each year in King County. The amount of emotional and practical support provided to MSA clients would be virtually impossible without the aid of volunteers.

MSA office and special event volunteers helped us educate thousands of people about MS and raise nearly $70,000 last year.

Volunteer Opportunities Transportation: Drive person with MS to appointments, shopping, or physical therapy. 2-3 hours weekly or occasionally as needed. Truck/Van Volunteer: Occasionally help transport furniture items or appliances for disabled individuals living independently

Home Repairs Volunteer: Use your carpentry, basic home electrical or plumbing skills to help with minor repairs, grab bar installations, etc.

Hydrotherapy (Pool) Assistance: Help with exercise in swimming pool, 1-2 hours a week, daytime at North Seattle, South Seattle, South King County or Eastside pools.

Peer Support: Information and/or emotional support for another person with MS via regular telephone calls, or face to face, or peer support for family members of person with MS.

Chore Assistance: Visit a person with MS, assist with house or yard chores, provide childcare, prepare meals, run errands, etc. 1-3 hours weekly, as available.

Team Home Care: Work with co-workers, your church or service group to "adopt" a family affected by MS. Take turns to work together doing chores, running errands, etc.

Companionship: Visit people with MS in nursing homes or other community settings, perhaps take on outings, 1-2 hours per week.

Massage: State licensed or students at certified schools. Provide in your office, at client's home, or on-site massage.

Hair Care: Professional hair cuts, in client's home and/or your salon.

Resource Development: Work with Board members, Executive Director and Development Manager to raise funds. Time is flexible, varies with projects. Help with various fundraising efforts: creating an annual fund-raiser, soliciting prizes and selling tickets for yearly raffle, and other special projects.

Educational Research: Investigate, track and report on issues of interest to MSA. Time is flexible.

Seasonal Group Projects: Your group volunteers for short-term or one-time projects such as "spring-cleaning" of client's home or yard, gardening, tree pruning, holiday cooking, etc.

Office Assistance: Answer phones, do mailings, file, help with public education, some special projects (according to your skills and interests).

Home Computer Assistance: Teach basic PC skills to individuals with MS, or trouble-shoot PC problems. Usually one to four visits.

Volunteer Training  

To be effective while protecting one's own emotional health, volunteers are offered training three times a year. Training sessions include such elements as: 

• Effective Listening Skills
• Assessing crisis situations
• When to ask for professional intervention
• Stress management
• MS treatment and research updates

Guests and visitors are always welcome to attend. Call 206-633-2606 to register. 

Volunteer Support and Recognition

Volunteers are provided with individual supervision, training materials, training sessions and coaching, a quarterly newsletter and access to the reference library. In addition, volunteers are invited to MSA sponsored educational series and other presentations throughout the year. The value of the services volunteers provide encourages MSA to give them recognition throughout the year, including an annual event.

In addition, the volunteer manager is a resource that is available to the volunteers for advice, strategy sessions and support.

Chore Assistance

The physical symptoms of MS often include loss of strength or feeling in one or more areas of the body, reduced mobility and extreme fatigue. These problems can make even simple household tasks like vacuuming, dishwashing or laundry very difficult or even impossible. MSA volunteers, through chore work, running errands or providing "respite" for primary caregivers, help many people with MS to maintain a higher quality of independent living. In addition, lasting friendships are often formed this way.

Emotional Support/Peer Counseling

Loss of social support is a common factor in the lives of people living with their disease. When this is combined with reduced physical ability, loss of job related identity, damaged self-esteem, financial difficulties or other psycho-social problems, a sense of disempowerment or hopelessness may result.

Not surprisingly, there is a high risk level for clinical depression and interpersonal adjustment problems within this population group. Through empathic listening and sharing his or her own personal experience, a sensitive, trained and supervised volunteer can help reconnect the client to a sense of community belonging and interpersonal value. This is a positive and helpful process for people who are both newly diagnosed with MS or living with it for some time.

While not a professional therapist, the volunteer offers hope, companionship, social, physical and intellectual stimulation as well as assisting with concrete tasks of everyday living. The volunteer helps reconnect people to their sense of humor and proportion. Precisely because the volunteer is not a paid professional, he/she makes a significant therapeutic contribution through their relationship with the client.

Click here to go to Volunteer Registration Form

* Other volunteer opportunities? *

* Use your imagination! *

* Ask Gregg Robinson *

* (206) 633-2606 *

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The Multiple Sclerosis Association of King County
753 North 35th St., Suite 208, Seattle, WA 98103
Phone: 206-633-2606      Fax: 206-633-2920
Email: info@msakc.org