Nestled in Bellingham, Washington, Gardenview Village stands as a beacon of hope for housing service models for the homeless community. Gardenview offers 35 tiny homes, each 8-by-12 feet in area and arranged in tight rows on their plot of land near Lakeway and the Bayview Cemetery. The village accepts seniors and medically fragile individuals for housing.
The village also provides an example of how nonprofit services and volunteer workers fill the gaps in critical infrastructure in Bellingham — providing housing access, alleviating food insecurity, and fostering community for left-out or marginalized communities.
Volunteering to Support Your Community
At the heart of the Gardenview Village initiative is Volunteer Coordinator Connie Sparks, whose dedication has been instrumental in fostering a supportive environment for both residents and volunteers.
Sparks emphasizes the transformative power of volunteerism in creating a nurturing community. “Our volunteers don’t just provide services; they build relationships that uplift both themselves and our residents,” she said.
This sentiment reflects a broader trend observed nationally, where formal volunteering is rebounding post-pandemic. Recent census data indicates that 28.3% of Americans aged 16 and up volunteered through organizations between September 2022 and September 2023, approaching pre-pandemic levels.
Recognizing the mutual benefits, Sparks actively recruits student volunteers from local colleges. “Students bring energy and fresh perspectives. In return, they gain real-world experience and a sense of purpose,” she noted.
This approach aligns with findings that 25.7% of college students engage in volunteer activities, contributing significantly to community services.
“What do you do when you can’t do anything, but there’s nothing you can do?” asks Huey Freeman, a character from the popular Boondocks cartoon. “You do what you can,” answers his grandfather, Robert Freeman.
With all the unpredictable and chaotic events happening in the United States right now — numerous executive orders from President Donald Trump, rising international tensions, and controversy surrounding Elon Musk and Tesla — people are feeling more stressed than ever.
As we work to address these larger issues, it becomes even more essential to bring positivity into our communities to help us get through the challenging times together.
“I feel like there’s so many people in the world that are interested in community service, or interested in doing something for the betterment of their community, especially right now, and I love that this place gets to act as a way to bridge that gap for people,” said Mallory Schaefbauer, a WWU graduate and program coordinator for WWU’s Community Service Center (CSC) .
This sentiment was echoed by Genevieve Quigley, the Coordinator for another center, the Volunteer Center of Whatcom County: “Volunteerism is a great way to become more connected in your community, help others, and find personal fulfillment.”
The Volunteer Center of Whatcom strives to remove barriers between potential volunteers and local nonprofit needs, in order to better mobilize volunteers to meet community needs. Quigley noted that the agencies her organization works with are specifically trained to work with volunteers, making the two parties compatible and more capable of doing good together.
“We help nonprofits expand their capacity to recruit and manage volunteers successfully so that agencies can focus on providing vital services,” said Quigley.
By connecting volunteers to hundreds of different non-profit partners in Bellingham and Whatcom County, this organization develops a network of volunteers across the county to help those in need.
Quigley encouraged members of the community to volunteer, pointing out that volunteering can be a great way to better connect with your community. She also outlined how volunteering can help you in the future, “it is also a fantastic way to improve your resume, and gain experience you will need in the workforce.”
Volunteering as a Student
Volunteering isn’t exclusive to adults in the workforce, many students being volunteers across The Volunteer Center of Whatcom County and other organizations as well. Quigley noted the strong tie her organization has to the WWU’s CSC, which has been a great resource to get the word out and has led to a rise in student volunteering over the course of the last year, according to Quigley.
Located in the Viking Union building at WWU, the CSC can be found down the stairs next to the Helpdesk on the fifth floor.
One of the main purposes of the CSC is to connect students with the community through events and volunteer opportunities. Sometimes students can feel overwhelmed or discouraged by the process of volunteering, and the CSC serves as a stepping stone for those who are looking to get involved.
Schaefbauer said the CSC’s work is “geared towards specific volunteer opportunities for students to get involved on campus and off campus.”
The CSC has a long list of non-profit contacts that Schaefbauer and her colleagues use to help each student find one that is tailored towards their interests and needs.
“Usually when students come in and say they want to get involved I’ll say ‘what are you interested in, what’s your major?’” Schaefbauer said. For example, Schaefbauer helped a pre-med student interested in pathology with a hospital-related volunteer position.
Schaefbauer shared that she didn’t know where to start searching for volunteering opportunities when she was a student at WWU.
“It was like, I care so much but I don’t have any time or financial resources to invest in getting to do these things,” Schaefbauer recalled. Now, the CSC alleviates this stress for students who are looking to give back. Schaefbauer said, “it makes my day when a student comes in and is like ‘I want to get involved.’”
The CSC also has a long list of non-profit contacts ready to go, as well as a website database of community needs called Get Connected. Students can access the website by creating a volunteer profile and looking for opportunities that interest them, or they can contact the CSC staff for help finding volunteer opportunities tailored towards their interests and needs.
“I love talking to students,” said Schaefbauer. “It makes my day when a student will come in here and be like ‘I need community service hours’ I’ll be like, great! What can we do for you?”
Student Volunteers: Three Snapshots
Growing Veterans. Local not-for-profit Growing Veterans creates community, builds skills and grows food. A 100% local organization, all donations support Growing Veterans to provide a place where veterans and civilian community members work together to grow food for local food banks and provide a positive environment for everyone involved.
The mission statement of Growing Veterans is “to end isolation through creating purpose and belonging. We strive to accomplish this by growing food, community, and each other.” They use these pillars in the following ways:
Food. The organic produce grown at their farms in Lynden and Greenbank (Whidbey Island), Wash., is donated to local food banks.
Community. Strengthening the bridge between veteran and civilian communities by supporting outreach and volunteer programs.
Each Other. Volunteering at the farm provides what they call “Dirt Therapy.” Working in the soil with others towards the same goal has proven to be a positive experience. Growing Veterans also provides accredited Peer Support Training (PST). Those that have taken the training learn how to be a support system for both the veterans and civilians that come to the farm.
Logan Hilgers, Interim Executive Director, said that Growing Veterans is a place where veterans can find community and a safe place to be themselves amongst peers. He first came to this organization as a veteran looking for a community during a time of need. He found a welcoming, nonjudgemental community that provided a safe place to be himself and helped connect him to the resources he needed.
Hilgers asserts that civilian volunteers are an important part of the community and the healing environment it provides. Speaking about why civilian volunteers are a necessary part of the organization, Hilgers said they help “bridge that gap because you think differently, you feel differently.”
Creating that connection between civilians and veterans is an important part of the process behind what Growing Veterans does. “Every veteran’s story is different and so unique that sometimes they can only really relate to other veterans, so it’s great when we can expand that community and have volunteers that didn’t serve. That helps bring some walls down for some people that have served for some reason.”
WCC Learning Center. When he is not studying for his Associates of Applied Science in Software Development, WCC student Kai Schenkel is a volunteer tutor for computer science in the Learning Center. Schenkel strives to motivate students to get out and do things themselves.
Schenkel remarks he used to be terrible at math, but once he “actually learned code,” he realized he loved it. “You can make your own calculator,” he affirms enthusiastically, “yes, you can do anything.”
Local Food Banks. Misrake Estifanos, a senior at WWU, has been volunteering at multiple food banks since she was 12 years old.
Food is not only vital for the body but also for the mind. A proper diet is crucial for maintaining health. According to Harvard Health Publishing, “Good nutrition helps fuel your body. The foods you eat supply the nutrients your body needs to maintain your brain, muscle, bone, nerves, skin, blood circulation, and immune system. Proper nutrition also helps protect you from illness and disease such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and osteoporosis.”
However, many people cannot afford to eat three healthy meals a day. In some cases, they struggle to afford even one.
Estifanos believes that sharing food is one of the most personal and meaningful acts a person can engage in.
“I think food is one of the most interpersonal things you can do with people, you know? From a cultural perspective in Ethiopia, a significant part of our culture is the food—eating it, sharing it, giving it away. And when I don’t have food, I get sad. So, I know I can make someone happy by giving them the food they need!” Estifanos said.
Volunteers don’t have to work at a food bank or donate food if you are unable to, but they can make a difference by spreading awareness. The more people who know, the greater the impact.
When asked what advice she would give to those looking to start volunteering, Estifanos offered a powerful response: “One thing that has always helped motivate me is understanding that this could be me. Anything can happen. I come from a low-income country, and I didn’t have basic necessities like a bed or food when I needed them. Now, I’m in America with a family that provides for me. But in the back of my mind, I still remember what I didn’t have. With America being seen as the epitome of perfection, it’s important to volunteer and help those in need to make this place as perfect as it can be. Because it doesn’t just help those in need—it helps you by giving you a new perspective.”
Meeting the Challenges
Despite the advantages, engaging student volunteers presents challenges. EducationWeek reporter Sarah Sparks points out that academic pressures and time constraints can hinder consistent participation. Moreover, Sparks noted that national trends have shown a decline in volunteerism among young people, “with only 25% of teenagers volunteering in 2015, down from 28% in 2005.”
To address these challenges, some nonprofits such as Gardenview Village offer flexible volunteer schedules. “We understand students have demanding lives. By providing adaptable opportunities, we make it easier for them to contribute meaningfully without overextending themselves,” Sparks explained.
Sparks believes that student involvement extends beyond immediate assistance: “When students volunteer, they not only help our residents but also cultivate a lifelong commitment to community service.”
This perspective is supported by a 2023 Gallup poll indicating that individuals with higher educational attainment are more likely to volunteer, suggesting that early engagement can lead to sustained civic participation.
And in a world filled with uncertainty, small acts of kindness, such as sharing a meal or supporting local food banks, can make a significant impact. As Estifanos emphasizes, giving back doesn’t just change others’ lives—it changes yours as well. If we all do what we can, even in the smallest ways, we can create a stronger, more compassionate community.
This article was written collaboratively by Tidricus Williams, Ava Fry, Temesgen Neguse, Annette Townsend, Charlie Henton, Chance Loewi, and Dana Ringler. Copy-edited by Dana Ringler and Joanna Kenyon.
Article originally published in the Winter 2025 magazine, which is now available on campus newsstands. Get your free copy while they last!
