At the YMCA, your time and talent go a long way. Every hour you spend as a YMCA volunteer translates into the caring attention a child or teen needs to grow up healthy and resilient. It translates into support for families so they can be successful and strong and into healthier lives for people of all ages, backgrounds, abilities and incomes. Into a safer, more viable community that's a good place to live and work.

As a YMCA volunteer, you can lead an exercise class, read to a preschool class, coach a basketball team, cook for a bake sale, design a program brochure, greet people at the front desk, find items for an auction, serve as a role model for young people, help out in the office or at a special event, or be part of a group or committee working on a neighborhood problem. No matter how you help, you'll make a big difference as you work with others to create a feeling of connectedness in your community.

To solve the problems closest to home-or better yet, prevent them-the YMCA needs more people like you. Do something good. Volunteer at the YMCA.

Volunteers are critically important to carrying out our mission, so we ask our program volunteers to go through an application and screening process similar to that of our paid staff members. This process ensures that the best fit is made between the new volunteer and the program they are matched with, while also ensuring the safety of our members, participants, staff and all of our volunteers.

Before starting a volunteer assignment with the YMCA, a staff member will walk you through the following steps of our application process:

1. Interview: YMCA staff members and prospective volunteers ask questions of each other to make sure that the best possible match is made.
2. Volunteer Application: Volunteers provide background and contact information including an identification check.
3. Reference Checks: We complete two reference checks on each of our new volunteers.
4. Job Description: We provide our volunteers with a job description, often created with the input of the volunteer, so expectations are clear for all parties.
5. Safety Orientation and YMCA Statement for the Prevention of Child Abuse: This process helps us to ensure your safety as well as the safety of all of our participants.
6. Background Checks: All program volunteers must complete the Applicant Criminal and Abuse Disclosure (ACAD) and Washington State Patrol Background Check to ensure the safety of all. Volunteers with a DSHS licensed program also must complete a DSHS Criminal History and Background Inquiry, and an FBI check in specific situations. Having a criminal background does not necessarily prevent someone from volunteering; situations will be handled on a case-by-case basis.
   
   The YMCA provides an orientation for each new volunteer, and encourage them to attend a new staff and volunteer training to give them valuable background information on the YMCA of the Inland Northwest, and to welcome them to the Y family.

If interested in volunteering with any of the above YMCA activities, please contact (509)838-3577 (Downtown YMCA) or (509)777-9622 (Spokane Valley YMCA). Someone will assist you.

Our Mission:
The mission of the YMCA is to put Christian principles into practice through
programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.