Get Involved
There is a Place for You Here
Bestowing the Basics has no paid employees. Every delivery, every pouch, every meal, and every box of supplies is handled by neighbors who decided to show up. Board members, program leads, and volunteers — that is the whole organization.
Every hour, every item, and every dollar stays right here in north Idaho.
Volunteer
Join Our Team
We are looking for kind, dependable people, not resumes. Most of what we do is simple, hands-on work: sorting donations, packing pouches, driving a delivery, setting up tables, or sitting and visiting with someone who has not had company all week.
There is no minimum commitment and no experience required. Tell us what you enjoy and how much time you realistically have, and we will find something that fits.
Join Our Board
Help steer the organization — governance, fundraising strategy, community partnerships, and long-term planning.
Join a Programs Team
Pick one program you care about and become part of its regular crew.
Volunteer as Needed
Go on our call list for events, deliveries, sorting days, and busy seasons.
Host a Drive
Rally your church, workplace, team, or neighborhood to collect what we are short on.
You do not need a special skill set. If you can lift a box, drive a car, hold a conversation, or answer email, there is something here for you.
Where You Will Serve
Find Your Fit
Here is what each program actually needs, so you can match it to your schedule and your strengths.
Supplying the Basics
Federal and state assistance does not cover personal hygiene, household, or pet care products, and most food banks receive no funding for them either. We make weekly deliveries to the ABC Food Bank and help sort, stock, and run collection drives. The food bank operates out of the Athol Community Center on Tuesdays, 9 AM to 12 PM and 1 PM to 3 PM.
Volunteers help with: sorting and stocking, weekly delivery runs, drive collection and pickup.
Feeding the Need
The community meal runs the second Friday of each month, October through March, at The Country Boy Cafe. Free summer lunches for kids and teens run every Tuesday from mid-June through mid-August, 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM at the Athol City Park pavilion. Our free community pantry beside the Careywood Fire Station is open 24/7 and volunteers restock it every other week.
Volunteers help with: meal prep and serving, setup and teardown, summer lunch shifts, pantry restocking.
Period Positive Program
Every pouch holds two pads, two tampons, two pantyliners, feminine wipes, a brand new pair of underwear, and a sweet treat, all in a discreet reusable pouch. They go to young women across Lakeland 272 schools who got caught unprepared during the school day. They do not assemble themselves.
Volunteers help with: pouch assembly nights, school restocking, inventory.
Winter Blessings
We partner with schools, agencies, small businesses, and like-minded individuals to bless families at Thanksgiving and Christmas, and we support the ABC Food Bank Tree of Sharing. Our volunteers shop sales all year long to make the budget stretch further.
Volunteers help with: advance shopping, wrapping, sorting by family, delivery.
Behind the Scenes
Not all of it happens out of a truck. We need help with social media, photography, flyer design, thank-you notes, spreadsheets, and event planning.
Volunteers help with: admin, communications, fundraising support, photography.
Skills we can always use:
- Driving
- Lifting & sorting
- Cooking & serving
- Working with kids
- Social media
- Photography
- Grant writing
- Graphic design
- Data entry
- Event setup
- and more
Getting Started
How to Get Started
No application fee and no lengthy process. Here is what happens after you reach out.
Tell us you are interested
Fill out the volunteer interest form at the bottom of this page, or call us at (208) 561-5050.
We will get in touch
A short conversation about what you enjoy, what you are good at, and how much time you realistically have.
Meet your program lead
A quick orientation covering where things are, who to call, and what your role looks like. We do not require background checks.
Show up
Your first shift, delivery, or event. Bring a friend along if that makes it easier.
Bringing children along? Little ones are welcome to accompany an adult at any age. Volunteers aged 14 and over can serve on their own with a parent or guardian’s consent, once the paperwork is signed.
Host a Drive
Rally Your People
A collection drive is the fastest way to make a large dent. Churches, schools, businesses, sports teams, scout troops, offices, and entire neighborhoods have run them for us. Some folks ask for donations in place of birthday or wedding gifts.
Pick your window and a theme
Two to four weeks is the sweet spot, and a themed drive such as hygiene only or paper goods only collects far better than a general one.
We will set you up
Collection bins, printed flyers, a current needs list, and graphics you can post.
Collect
Keep the bin visible and remind people once a week. That weekly reminder is what makes or breaks a drive.
Hand it off
We will arrange a pickup, or you can drop everything at any of our collection locations.
See what it did
We will send photos and numbers so your people can see exactly where it went.
What we are usually short on:
- Toilet paper
- Paper towels
- Shampoo & conditioner
- Body wash & soap
- Deodorant
- Toothpaste & toothbrushes
- Laundry soap
- Dish soap
- Diapers & wipes
- Feminine hygiene
- Cleaning supplies
- Pet food
Drop-off locations: Athol Community Center · Resource Center · Athol P1FCU · Farragut State Park Visitors Center. See details →
More Ways to Help
Not Everyone Can Give Time
Time is only one currency. These matter just as much.
Give
Financially or in-kind. We are a registered 501(c)(3) and our EIN is 88-0553784, so donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law. Venmo, PayPal, check, card, or a deposit at any P1FCU.
Partner With Us
Businesses, churches, and civic groups: host a collection bin, sponsor a program, match employee gifts, or donate services such as printing, storage, or transport.
Spread the Word
Follow and share, mention us at church or at work, or point a neighbor who is struggling toward help. It costs nothing and it reaches the people who do not yet know we exist.
Bestowing the Basics is charged 2.9% plus 30 cents on every online donation. We would be grateful if you kept that in mind when giving.
Questions
Volunteer FAQ
Do I need any experience?
No. Most roles are learn-as-you-go, and you will always start alongside someone who has done it before.
How much time do I have to commit?
As much or as little as you have. Some volunteers serve every week, others help once a year at a single event. There is no minimum.
Can my kids or teens volunteer with me?
Children of any age are welcome to come along with an adult, and we will point you toward the tasks that suit younger helpers.
From age 14, a young person can volunteer on their own with a parent or guardian’s consent, once the paperwork is signed.
Do you require a background check?
No. We do not require background checks for any volunteer role.
Do you sign off on service hours?
Yes. Tell us up front that you need hours documented for school, scouts, or another service requirement, and we will track them for you.
Where are you located?
We operate out of a small space at 6101 ID-54, Unit B Athol, ID 83801, and host most outreach events at the Athol Community Center. Mail goes to PO Box 791, Athol, ID 83801.
Who do you serve?
Athol, Bayview, Careywood, and other small, rural, underserved communities in north Idaho — generally north of Lancaster Road in Hayden and south of the Sandpoint Long Bridge.
Can I help without leaving home?
Yes. Social media, photo editing, grant writing, thank-you notes, and phone calls can all be done remotely.
I would rather donate items than time.
Perfect. Drop items at any collection location or mail them to our PO Box, and email beth@bestowingthebasics.org if you need a receipt.
Get Started
Volunteer Interest Form
Tell us a little about yourself and we will be in touch.
Ready to Get Involved?
Whether you have four hours a month or four hours a year, there is a place for you here. Start with a single conversation.
Questions? Call us at (208) 561-5050