KidVantage is powered by volunteers. Individuals from all different walks of life find their way inside the Hubs with a similar vision at heart; doing what they can to help children thrive.

For Anne King, commonly referred to as Dr. Anne at the Issaquah Hub, this is how her journey started. In November of 2020 she started volunteering her time. She had seen KidVantage when passing through the parking lot to take her granddaughters to gymnastics and eventually she found her way inside.

“Volunteering makes me get out of the house and move more than I would do at home, and gives me a little bit of a social life,” Anne says.

Volunteer Power

Before Anne retired, she worked as a pediatrician. For her, volunteering is a way she can continue to help local kids.

Most afternoons you can find Anne at the Issaquah Hub. She sits in the corner by the mountain of donated items, sorting clothes by gender and size.

She is there so often, she has come to call this spot her office. “They always know where to find me,” Anne explains.

In 2025, Anne donated 523 hours of her time to KidVantage. Even when Anne isn’t at the Hub, she is often still finding ways to help.

A few years ago, Anne noticed that there were items that would come in through donations that may be damaged or in the wrong size – this sparked a project that would become near and dear to her.

Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle

At the end of her shift, Anne would take home things KidVantage couldn’t use; sweaters with holes, a singular mitten, adult clothing, etc. From there she would turn them into something else.

She spent time figuring out how to best dismantle an item; carefully undoing stitches, respooling the yarn, deciphering what was usable and what wasn’t. From there she could give the yarn new life.

She started with mittens, as hats would often come in without a matching pair, but soon the need for hats began to grow.

She made hats of all sizes and colors, different styles and shapes, and she continues to do so today. Most evenings when Anne returns home she finds herself knitting.

“I’ve been knitting for so many years that I can knit while reading or listening to the news,” Anne says. She explains the process has become muscle memory.

Finding Your Place

While knitting is something Anne can do easily, the process isn’t always simple. Items can take up to two hours to dismantle, and turning them into hats can take just as long. This hasn’t discouraged Anne.

In 2025, Anne knitted 547 hats for KidVantage, 427 of which were made entirely of yarn she had recycled. So far in 2026, Anne has made 340 hats and 300 of those were made entirely out of recycled yarn.

Anne wants to encourage other supporters to join in, find a job or project that creates them joy and helps lighten the load. “Volunteers are really important, because this place runs on volunteers,” Anne says. “And you know, if you find a corner that you fit in, mine is a literal corner, but you know… there’s something for everybody.”