Volunteer

“God brought me here.” -Kim

“I’ve been working with Transform Burien for seven years. God brought me here. My favorite thing about serving with this organization is the people who come to us. They are family to me. And, for many, we are their family. Families take care of each other. They help keep me clean and sober. Among the most important things we give to our guests here at Transform Burien are love and hands-on caring. We want each individual to know they are loved. They don’t always hear it in other places, so they will hear it from me every time I get a chance.”
-Kim

“This work is about loving each other.” -Theresa A.

“I’ve been involved with Transform Burien for many, many years. I help in the kitchen doing lots of things, like serving food, wrapping silverware, and filling salad dressings. People here are family. The leadership is great; they always have time to talk. It’s fun serving our guests and saying “God bless” and “Jesus loves you.” Jesus loves us all. We all have hard days sometimes. The Lord will take care of it. He takes care of me. I love people and respect people. This work is about loving each other. It gives me joy to make people happy.”
-Theresa A.

“Good things happen here. God is at work in this place.” -Andrea

“What a gift it is to volunteer with Transform Burien. Looking for ways to ease homelessness, my son and I put our hands to work in the clothing bank. We have come to know many of the people who visit us. They come to Transform Burien for fundamental basics, like food and clothes. They leave with more than these essentials. Warm smiles, friendly conversations, and a helping of love are part of the package, too. It’s been rewarding to get to know the individuals we serve. Kind, helpful, gracious, funny, colorful, smart, creative people – often troubled or in a low spot in their lives. On certain days, special services are available here including mobile medical help, veterinary services, housing assistance, showers, and more. The workers at Transform Burien are amazing, dedicated people who create a warm and welcoming environment and have a heart for service. I learn from them at every crossing. Good things happen here. God is at work in this place. I’m so thankful to be a small part of it.”
-Andrea

“I am so grateful for what Jesus is accomplishing in our community through this organization.” -Jesse

“It’s been a true blessing for me to volunteer with Transform Burien. Valuable opportunities to meet the needs of others are plentiful here – whether it’s offering our guests fresh groceries, a hot meal, some new clothes, essential services, or even just a kind word. Watching the efforts of each volunteer add up into something larger, something that helps change the lives of those in need, is incredible. I am so grateful for what Jesus is accomplishing in our community through this organization.”
-Jesse

“I have received services myself here occasionally. Sometimes, those services have meant the difference between surviving and not surviving” -Terry

“This August marks five years on the street for me. Although I’m homeless, I have been volunteering at Transform Burien for a few years now. I love this place. I help wherever I’m needed and fill many roles. It would even be great to be the director one day! I have received services myself here occasionally. Sometimes, those services have meant the difference between surviving and not surviving. I’m empathetic and care about people in a deep way. I want to help, and people seem to instinctively know they can come to me if they have a problem. I just keep my personal boundaries and a sense of humor, and I’m good to go. As a spiritual man, I’ve learned that faith can grow into knowing. I have had actual experience which gives me confirmation. I’m a simple guy. I tell the truth, follow my conscience, and trust my heart. Working with Transform Burien is a life passion for me.”
-Terry

“When I walk in the door, I say to myself, “I’m home,” and everything is relieved.” -Crystal

“I came to Transform Burien about 6 years ago. I had been homeless. I came in to get some items because I had just gotten my new apartment. Charlotte, one of the people who started this work, connected with me. She pulled me right in and welcomed me to the team. Now I coordinate the processing of donated clothing and supplies. I volunteer here 3 days a week. We keep the clothing annex room open so people can come and talk with us. When I walk in the door, I say to myself, “I’m home,” and everything is relieved. This is home for me. When we’re here, we are working for God. Sometimes I need help myself, and when I do, I find it here. I’d rather be here than anywhere else.”
-Crystal

“There are huge needs out there and I’ve been grateful to be a part of this important organization.” -Diane

“I’ve been volunteering in the clothing bank at Transform for over nine years and have learned a lot about the human condition. As with a lot of people, I’ve seen a whole new side of life, one that thankfully, I’ve never had to live myself. One big takeaway is that I’m here to serve, not to judge. In the beginning I was sort of standoff-ish since I wasn’t sure how to deal with people who were so different from me, but I soon found out that they’re not so different, just at a different place in life. I’m very happy to see the huge hearts of my fellow volunteers, so many people willing to listen to others’ stories, help find services of one type or another, and just walk alongside them if only for a few minutes or an hour. In the last few months we’ve seen a lot of refugees from Central and South America come in and it’s wonderful to see them welcomed by the folks at Transform. There are huge needs out there and I’ve been grateful to be a part of this important organization. God has blessed this place.”
-Diane

“Whatever your skills or interests, there’s a place for you to volunteer with us!” -Charles

“I love volunteering at Transform. Whenever I’m out in Burien I run into our guests and it’s great to be able to greet them by name and to know a bit of their story. While the volunteers at Transform could tell many stories of people beating addiction or finding housing or jobs and we are glad to have played a small part in that, even our neighbors who remain on the street are still deserving of the basic dignity that comes with a meal and clean clothes. Throughout my time here, I have served in every department. Whatever your skills or interests, there’s a place for you to volunteer with us!”
-Charles

“I’m amazed at the dedication I see among the volunteers and staff here, and the caring that they show for one another.” -Kathy A.

“I have been fortunate in my life, and am now semi-retired. I began volunteering with Transform Burien early in 2022. I’ve always felt that Jesus directed us to help the “least of these”, especially the homeless and the mentally ill. I started in the laundry program once a month, which gives me time to get to know the people while the machines spin. It’s good to talk with the people and interesting to hear their stories – they’ve all had struggles, some very tragic. My monthly volunteering soon became three times a week in the food bank and sometimes other areas. The staff and people who come in keep me coming back. They are lovely and enjoyable people and every day something interesting happens. I’m amazed at the dedication I see among the volunteers and staff here, and the caring that they show for one another.”
-Kathy A.

“God says to give everyone love – more love, less judgement.” -Ron

“It will be 6 years in November that I’ve been volunteering with Transform Burien. I love it – I’m working for the Lord. Years ago, I had a suspended sentence for DUI. I had to go through many steps, including an alcohol recovery program. For my community service, I started sweeping and mopping floors here and wiping tables. I stayed because I loved it. Now I help coordinate the work of our kitchen. It’s been a growth process for me, working with our guests. I continue learning. Everyone makes mistakes. God says to give everyone love – more love, less judgement. I want to be more like that, filled with calm and grace. I know I’m doing a good thing, helping people. After awhile, they are not just people, they are friends.”
-Ron

“Come by and share a meal with us and see what happens here.” -Kathy N.

 “I have been volunteering between 1 and 4 days a week at Transform for more than 20 years, since the inception of the organization when two pastors got together to pray about how the churches in Burien could work together to do more to serve the community and show practical love to people in need than any one church or individual could do alone. Transform started with one church offering a once-a-month spaghetti dinner for homeless people, a second church offering a small clothing closet, and a third church offering a free after school tutoring program. A growing number of pastors began gathering for prayer weekly to ask God how the churches could best serve the community. Five individuals were chosen as Transform Board members, the organization incorporated as a 501(c)3, and we began renting out the old Community Center on 146^th and 4^th Ave SW to serve meals, and hand out food and clothes. Since then, the organization has grown to include hundreds of volunteers from at least 14 Burien churches and the community working together to provide all the meals, groceries, clothing, laundry, haircuts, showers, Bible Studies, and collaboration with city, county, and school district services.

Volunteering here has enriched my life by allowing me to get to know hundreds of wonderful volunteers and donors who give their time, skills, and finances to offer friendship and practical help to thousands of people in need. Perhaps most precious to me is that I have become friends with homeless and low-income people, heard their stories, and been able to see them find hope and meaningful life as they were accepted, loved, and given practical help. Most of our guests in the early years were homeless. Some of them found homes and recovery services, and now volunteer with us. Now more and more of our guests are low-income who need our help to provide for their families’ basic needs because their income barely covers their rent.

I love the fact that Transform Burien is led by a stable board of directors who are careful stewards of the donations of goods and finances given by many generous donors. They make well thought out, prayerful decisions that keep the organization on track with the overall mission of praying and helping churches and individuals work together to do much more to serve our community and show God’s love to people in need than any one individual or church could do alone. I like that we can provide much more with our donors’ donations than most organizations because we are volunteer run and only employ one employee.

Come by and share a meal with us and see what happens here. Maybe your life will be enriched by meeting a new friend outside of your usual social group or by finding a new meaningful place to use your time and talents. You can find out more about Transform by going to our Transform Burien Facebook page.”
-Kathy N.

“Serving others is where we can find purpose, joy, and the humble spirit that Jesus reflects.” -Al

“I’ve lived a blessed life. I had some hardships early on, but those hardships have helped me see the blessings more clearly. This is why I’m here. I’ve been volunteering at Transform for about seven years now, mostly in the food pantry. It’s all about the relationships for me. I am a servant. Serving others is where we can find purpose, joy, and the humble spirit that Jesus reflects. During my time with this organization, and through prayer and reading, I am reminded over and over that the love of Jesus is really strong. Now here I am at the foot of the cross, with my goal to become more like Him.”
-Al