Volunteers Swarm to Help Seattle-Area Nonprofits

But a common observation among nonprofits is that laid-off workers are also volunteering to network and keep their skills sharp. For some, volunteering also works as a type of job-search therapy.

“When you are out looking, you can get demoralized,” said Bill Budo, a former vice president of project management at Safeco, who was laid off in December after Liberty Mutual Group acquired the company. “You have got to look for outlets that you can control.”