Periodically this week I find myself paralyzed. It might be at work or in the car, at home or in the shower, at the grocery store or while eating. How did a racist, misogynist, gay-hating, sexually-assaulting degenerate get elected President of the United States?

As I watched the election results unfold on Tuesday evening a growing sense of despair overcame me. What do we do with this awful reality? So far I’ve unplugged from social media, avoided talking to gloating Republicans and generally bemoaned things with fellow progressives.

I’ve also talked with a lot of people about how we as progressives have obviously failed considering how few people showed up to vote, and that we couldn’t convince people to vote for the better candidate.

So, rather than just sit back and continue to be an idle progressive, I want to be an active progressive.

The time to get involved and start to make actual change is now – no more just supporting something through words or social media or money; it’s time to put actions to our beliefs.

That said, I don’t necessarily know how to make that action happen. The best way is probably to start in our local communities by helping the needy, immigrants, people of color, the LGBQT community and the youth.

These are the people who will be punished the most by Donald Trump’s ensuing administration. As a heterosexual, white, middle class man his policies aren’t likely to directly affect me all that much – other than in the pocketbook or by destroying the environment – but that just means that I need to do even more for those in need.

Anyway, enough rambling. Here is a list of places to volunteer here in Tacoma. Let’s get to work, folks. We can’t change the outcome of this election, but we can do something as a result of it.

General services

Catholic Community Services of Western Washington:
http://www.ccsww.org/site/PageServer?pagename=volunteer_postings

Goodwill Tacoma: https://www.goodwillwa.org/about/volunteer/

YMCA: https://www.ymcapkc.org/morgan-family-ymca/programs/volunteer/

Lutheran Community Services: http://www.lcsnw.org/volunteer.html

Salvation Army: https://volunteer.usawest.org/OpportunityListPage.aspx

YWCA: https://www.ywcapiercecounty.org/volunteer-opportunities

Meals on Wheels (delivering food to homebound seniors, the disabled and more):
http://www.lcsnw.org/tacoma/mealsonwheels.html

Planned Parenthood: https://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-center/washington/tacoma/98405/tacoma-health-center-4106-91810

Youth

Hilltop Artists: http://hilltopartists.org/get-involved/volunteer/

Tacoma School District: https://www.tacomaschools.org/partnerships/pages/volunteer.aspx

Stand Up For Kids (National non-profit trying to end youth homelessness):
http://www.standupforkids.org/volunteer/volunteer-sign-up.aspx?source=45

Community Youth Services (Empowers youth at-risk and their families to meet their goals for safety, stability, belonging and success): http://www.communityyouthservices.org/volunteer.shtml

LGBQT

Rainbow Center: http://www.rainbowcntr.org/volunteer/

Oasis Youth Center (a safe place for queer youth): http://www.oasisyouthcenter.org/give

Cedar River Clinics (social justice organization that combines direct services and community education): http://www.cedarriverclinics.org/volunteer/

Domestic Violence

Crystal Judson Family Justice Center (Serves the needs of domestic violence victims and their children): http://www.aplaceofhelp.com/index.aspx?nid=109

Trafficking

Washington engage: http://www.waengage.com/volunteer

Immigration

Northwest Immigrant Rights Project: https://www.nwirp.org/join-us/volunteer/

Tacoma Community House (education, employment, immigration advocacy):
http://www.tacomacommunityhouse.org/volunteer-with-us/

AIDNW (Advocates for immigrants in Detention Northwest): http://aidnw.org/get-involved/

Activism

Million Women March on DC on Jan. 21, 2017: https://www.facebook.com/events/1775078802708937/

Showing Up For Racial Justice (White People for racial justice):
http://www.showingupforracialjustice.org/trump_splash?splash=1

Black Lives Matter: http://blacklivesmatter.com/find-chapters/

Politics

http://www.wa-democrats.org/volunteer

http://www.piercecountydems.org/

– Craig Craker