Youth-Led Community Initiative

Helping the Homeless
in the Pacific Northwest

PNWAid delivers essential supplies — blankets, food, water, and hygiene kits — directly to individuals experiencing homelessness. Every kit represents dignity restored.

A mission born from compassion and action.

Founded by a high school student who saw a need and refused to look away, PNWAid mobilizes youth volunteers and community supporters to provide direct relief to unhoused neighbors across Washington and Oregon. We believe no one should go without warmth, food, or dignity.

Community Outreach

Showing up where it matters most

Volunteers
Food distribution
Blankets
Handshake
Group
Our Impact

Every number is a person helped

Since our founding, PNWAid has grown from a single student's idea into a community-wide movement of care and action.

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Care Kits
Distributed

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Volunteers
Involved

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Outreach
Events

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Communities
Served

What We Provide

Essential supplies, delivered with care

Each kit is assembled with the most critical items for survival, warmth, and dignity.

Blankets
Warmth
🛌 Blankets & Warmth
Food
Nourish
🍱 Food & Water
Hygiene
Dignity
🥴 Hygiene Kits
How It Works

From your hands to their lives

Every donation reaches someone directly — our process is simple, transparent, and hands-on.

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1. Donate Supplies

Drop off blankets, food, hygiene items, or socks at a collection point or contact us for pickup from your location.

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2. We Assemble Kits

Our volunteers carefully pack every donation into complete care kits that are ready for distribution in the field.

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3. Direct Outreach

We go directly to shelters, encampments, and community centers and hand kits to people who need them.

Join the Movement

Ready to make a difference?

Whether you volunteer, donate supplies, or spread the word — every action has real impact on a real person's life.

Our Story

Driven by empathy.
Powered by community.

PNWAid was built on the belief that youth can lead meaningful change — one care kit, one conversation, one life at a time.

Volunteers helping
Who We Are

More than supplies.
Restoring dignity.

PNWAid is a youth-led humanitarian initiative dedicated to supporting people experiencing homelessness in the Pacific Northwest. We believe every person — regardless of their circumstances — deserves to be seen, heard, and cared for.

Our volunteers show up at shelters, encampments, and community centers to distribute blankets, food, water, hygiene kits, and other essentials. Beyond the supplies, we show up with compassion and treat every person with full dignity and respect.

We partner with local organizations, schools, faith communities, and individual donors to maximize reach and impact across Washington and Oregon.

💡 Founded by a high school student who wanted to turn concern into action. PNWAid started with one question: “What would it actually take to help?” That question became our mission.

Our Values

What guides everything we do

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Compassion

We lead with empathy. Every person we serve is treated with the same kindness we'd want for our own family members.

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Service

We show up — in rain, cold, and on weekends. Service is not a checklist; it's a commitment we renew every time we pack a kit.

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Community

Change happens when people come together. We build bridges between students, families, businesses, and neighbors across the PNW.

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Dignity

Homelessness is not a character flaw. Every kit we give honors the full humanity of the person receiving it.

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Transparency

Every donation goes directly to supplies and outreach. We are fully accountable to the community that supports us.

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Youth Leadership

We prove that age is not a barrier to impact. Young people are agents of change right now, not just in the future.

Our Team

Students leading the way

PNWAid is entirely volunteer-run, driven by passionate young people who believe in the power of direct action.

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Founder & Director

High School Student

Launched PNWAid to turn empathy into action and prove that youth-led change is possible right now.

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Volunteer Coordinators

Student Volunteers

Organizing events, assembling kits, and leading outreach efforts across the PNW with energy and dedication.

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Community Partners

Schools & Organizations

Local schools, faith communities, and businesses who donate, host drives, and amplify our mission region-wide.

Be Part of It

Our story is still being written.

Every volunteer, every donated blanket, every shared post adds a new chapter to our story.

Take Action

There are so many ways to help.

Whether you have time, supplies, or just a platform — your contribution matters more than you know.

Three Ways to Help

Pick your path to making a difference

Volunteers
01 / VOLUNTEER

Give Your Time

Join our volunteer crew for outreach events, kit assembly sessions, and supply drives. No experience needed — just a heart to help. We organize regular events throughout the year across the PNW.

Outreach EventsKit AssemblySupply DrivesAll Ages Welcome
Donations
02 / DONATE ITEMS

Give Supplies

We accept in-kind donations of essential supplies year-round. Every item you give goes directly into a care kit for someone in need in our community. Contact us to arrange a drop-off or pickup.

Blankets & SocksHygiene KitsFood & WaterHand Warmers
Awareness
03 / AWARENESS

Use Your Voice

Share our mission on social media, talk to your school or workplace, and help us reach more supporters. Awareness is free and incredibly powerful — every share could change a life.

Social MediaSchool CampaignsFundraising
Most Needed Items

What to donate right now

These are the items we need most urgently. Every single one goes directly into a care kit that reaches someone in need tonight.

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Blankets

New or gently used, all sizes. Most needed in fall and winter months throughout the PNW.

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Socks

New only — consistently the single most requested item from people experiencing homelessness.

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Hygiene Kits

Toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, deodorant, and any personal care essentials packed together.

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Non-Perishable Food

Canned goods, granola bars, trail mix, peanut butter — anything shelf-stable and nourishing.

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Water Bottles

Sealed bottled water, especially important during summer outreach events and warm weather.

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Gloves & Hats

Winter warmth essentials that make a real difference on cold Pacific Northwest nights.

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First Aid Supplies

Band-aids, antiseptic wipes, and basic medical supplies for minor care in the field.

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Flashlights

Small flashlights or glow sticks that provide light and safety for people after dark.

Spread the Word

Help us reach more people

Share PNWAid with your network. Every share could bring in a new volunteer, a donation, or a life-changing partner.

Ready?

Let's get started.

Reach out and we'll connect you with the next volunteer opportunity or drop-off location near you.

By the Numbers

Our impact speaks for itself.

Every statistic represents a real person who received care because people like you showed up.

Impact Numbers

The results of showing up

500+
500+
Care Kits Distributed
Each kit contains blankets, hygiene supplies, food, water, and hand warmers — everything needed to get through a difficult night.
18
18
Outreach Events Completed
From Seattle parks to Portland shelters, we've organized and completed 18 hands-on outreach events across the region.
120
120+
Volunteers Mobilized
Students, parents, teachers, and community members who gave their time and energy to make a real, tangible difference.
6
6
Communities Served
Spanning six cities across Washington and Oregon, growing our reach one community at a time with purpose.
Our Journey

How we've grown

From one student's idea to a regional movement — here is how PNWAid came to be and where we are headed.

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FOUNDING

PNWAid Is Born

A high school student assembles the first 20 care kits with family and friends and distributes them directly in the local community.

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FIRST DRIVE

First School Supply Drive

Partnering with a local school, we collected over 100 items in a single week — blankets, socks, and hygiene supplies from the community.

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GROWTH

Volunteer Network Expands

Over 50 volunteers join across multiple schools, transforming PNWAid from a solo effort into a true community initiative with real momentum.

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EXPANSION

Expanding Into Oregon

PNWAid begins outreach events in Portland, extending our reach beyond Washington for the first time and serving a whole new region.

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TODAY

500+ Kits & Growing

With 120+ volunteers, 18 outreach events, and 6 communities served, PNWAid continues to grow — and we are just getting started.

Why It Matters

The human side of every kit

Behind every number is a person who felt seen, cared for, and a little less alone because PNWAid showed up.

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Getting a warm blanket on a cold night meant everything. It's not just the supplies — it's knowing someone cared enough to show up and treat me like a human being.

— Community Member, Seattle

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I volunteered thinking I'd be helping others, and I ended up learning more about compassion and community than I ever expected. This team is remarkable.

— Volunteer, Bellevue WA

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The fact that this was started by a high school student gives me so much hope. PNWAid proves that young people can and do change lives right now.

— Donor & Supporter

Help Us Grow

Imagine what we can do together.

Every volunteer and every donated item pushes these numbers higher. Be part of the next milestone.

Say Hello

We'd love to hear from you.

Whether you want to volunteer, donate, partner, or just learn more — we are here and ready to connect.

Get in Touch

PNWAid is run by students and community volunteers who care deeply about this work. We respond to every single message and would love to welcome you into our mission.

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Email
[email protected]
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Region
Pacific Northwest — WA & OR
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Instagram
@pnwaid
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Response Time
Within 24–48 hours

Want to volunteer?

Fill out the form and select “I want to volunteer” — we'll get back to you with the next available event near you within 48 hours.

Send Us a Message

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Message Sent!

Thank you for reaching out. We'll be in touch within 24–48 hours. See you at the next event! 🌿

FAQ

Common questions

Do I need experience to volunteer?

Not at all. All you need is a willingness to help. We provide all the guidance and training on the day of the event.

Where can I drop off donations?

Contact us via email or the form above and we'll share the nearest drop-off location or arrange a pickup for you.

Can my school or club get involved?

Absolutely. We love partnering with schools and youth organizations. Reach out and we'll help set up a supply drive or group volunteer day.

How often do outreach events happen?

We run events regularly throughout the year, with increased frequency in fall and winter. Follow us on Instagram for upcoming dates.

Support Our Mission

Every dollar goes directly
to someone in need.

PNWAid uses Zeffy — a platform built for nonprofits that charges 0% platform fees. 100% of your donation reaches our community.

Why Your Gift Matters

Your donation builds care kits

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$10 — Warm Blanket

Keeps one person warm through a cold Pacific Northwest night.

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$20 — Full Hygiene Kit

Toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, deodorant — restoring dignity.

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$50 — Complete Care Kit

Blanket, food, water, hygiene kit, socks — everything for one person.

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$100 — Fund an Outreach Event

Helps cover supplies and logistics for one full outreach event.

🔒 Secure & Fee-Free

Powered by Zeffy — a nonprofit fundraising platform that charges 0% fees. Your full donation goes to PNWAid.

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Donation Form

Set up your Zeffy account to activate this donation form. It takes about 5 minutes and charges 0% fees.

Create Free Zeffy Account ↗

After setup, replace the placeholder in the HTML with your Zeffy embed iframe.

Transparency

Where your money goes

100%

Goes to Supplies

Every dollar donated is spent on care kit supplies distributed directly to people in need.

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Platform Fees

Zeffy charges zero platform fees on donations, meaning nothing is taken from your gift.

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Secure & Trusted

All payments are processed securely through Zeffy's PCI-compliant payment system.

Other Ways to Help

Can't donate right now?

Volunteering your time or donating supplies makes just as much of a difference as a financial donation.