National Volunteer Week 2025
At RH2, we’re committed to strengthening the communities where we live and work. One way we do that is by offering every employee eight hours of paid Volunteer Time Off (VTO) each year to support causes they care about—whether it’s trail cleanups, educational outreach, animal fostering, or something completely unique.
In honor of National Volunteer Week, we’re shining a light on just a few of the ways our team members have been using their VTO hours to make a difference this year.
Puppy Love and a Weekend of Cuddles
Katrina O. – East Wenatchee Office
When Katrina welcomed a foster puppy named Hudson into her home for the weekend, she used her VTO hours to ensure he had a safe, loving place to land.
“Hudson was very cuddly and clingy and stayed by my side most of the weekend. It felt great to give him a safe place. I was sad I couldn’t keep him longer—especially when I dropped him off and he didn’t want to leave his crate.”
Even though it was just a short stay, Katrina’s care made a big difference—and gave her dog a temporary new best friend, too.
Trail Work + Team Bonding in Bellingham
Lower Padden Creek Trail Work Party
In early April, some staff from the Bellingham office spent their VTO hours outdoors, volunteering with the City of Bellingham to help restore and maintain the Lower Padden Creek Trail.
“It was a great opportunity to support our local client and spend time together outside of the office,” said one participant shared.
“Even though the work was totally different from our day jobs, the communication and camaraderie were still there.”
For some, the site even overlapped with RH2’s ongoing stormwater quality improvement projects in the area—offering a deeper sense of connection and pride.
Volunteers: Payton S., Orin P., Bret B., Dan B., John M., and Brynna B.
Bringing STEM to Life for Little Learners
Barney S. – Bothell Office
Barney used his VTO hours to visit a Pre-K classroom, where he gave a fun and interactive talk about clean water and the water cycle as part of the kids’ science learning.
“He taught us the science behind his work, the water cycle, and how to remove harmful germs to make water safe to drink,”said a classroom teacher.
“We highly appreciate his time to increase our knowledge in water purification.”
Sometimes volunteering looks like gloves and shovels—and sometimes it’s all about sparking a child’s curiosity.
A Culture of Connection
These stories reflect just a few examples of RH2’s approach to volunteering: flexible, employee-driven, and rooted in purpose. Whether it’s through a weekend spent with a foster puppy, time given to local trail clean-up, or a classroom science talk—our team is showing up for their communities with heart.
We can’t wait to see what the rest of the year brings.
