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The idea here goes something like this: You were generous financially with our 2015 Give!Guide.
Now, as the new year begins, you may want to invest some of your valuable sweat equity in a local nonprofit, but you're not sure where to start. That's why we publish this guide, to help you further the causes you support and to help make Portland an even greater city than it is now: a city that works for everyone.
More than 60 worthy nonprofits have identified their needs in the pages of this guide. If you can fill one of them, terrific! If you know someone else who can, point that person in the right direction.
Let's get started.
Animals
Cat Adoption Team
How we help Portland? CAT provides adoption, foster and medical care, and low-cost spay/neuter programs, plus other high-quality programs and services that help homeless cats and keep cats in homes. Together with our community, we strive to make the Portland metro area one of the best places in the country for cats, kittens and the people who care for them. Join us in saving lives!
How can Portland help us? Bring your passion for cats and skills with people to CAT. Make purr-fect matches as an adoption counselor, foster a litter of kittens, represent CAT at events, provide daily care for shelter cats, assist clients, or help with office tasks. However you choose to volunteer, your efforts save lives!
Nancy Puro
503-925-8903, ext. 258
Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon
How we help Portland? Whether abandoned, dumped, stray or simply born on the street, FCCO provides care for the homeless cats living in our community. As the only organization in Portland caring exclusively for feral and stray cats, our spay/neuter services improve cats' lives and prevent future generations of homeless kittens. Since our founding in 1995, we have spayed/neutered almost 80,000 cats!
How can Portland help us? If you're a team player who cares about cats, we need you! We'll find a volunteer position that matches your interests and skills. From hands-on help with cats to behind-the-scenes projects, our growing volunteer program has many opportunities to get involved and help cats in need.
Olivia Hinton
503-797-2606
Must Love Dogs NW
How we help Portland? Since 2008, Must Love Dogs NW has been deeply committed to ending pet homelessness in our community. We strive to educate the public on responsible dog ownership, behavior modification, and training assistance. We work to find homes for dogs that are abused, neglected, homeless or about to be homeless, and those in shelter settings. We provide spay/neuter and microchip assistance to animals in need. Through our volunteer foster network, we are able to provide a loving home environment where we can get to know our dogs and fully assess their needs. Must Love Dogs NW is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that relies 100 percent on the generosity of the community. Help us make a difference today.
How can Portland help us?
Volunteers are the heart of our organization. Experience the joy of helping a dog in need and making a difference in your community. Whether you're interested in fostering, acting as an adoption counselor, events or fundraising, we'd love to have you on our team!
George Martin
844-364-7690
Project POOCH Inc.
How we help Portland? Project POOCH youth learn compassion and respect for life through daily interactions with dogs, staff, volunteers and adopters. Youth develop critical social and life skills and establish a strong work ethic. Once released, youth volunteer, find employment, attend college, and turn their lives around, making for safer communities throughout Portland, where POOCH youth and dogs build successful, happy lives.
How can Portland help us? POOCH ambassadors raise awareness about our mission! We are looking for compassionate and enthusiastic individuals interested in staffing POOCH information tables at businesses, street fairs, and outreach and fundraising events. If you're friendly, outgoing, comfortable speaking with the public, and available evenings/weekends, we'd love to hear from you!
DeVida Johnson
503-697-0623
Animal Aid
How we help Portland? Animal Aid impacts the community by helping prevent and reduce animal suffering and by providing assistance to abused, homeless and sick animals. We promote and encourage altering of all pets to reduce overpopulation. We find loving, dependable, forever homes for animals in the shelter and in foster homes, and educate the public by promoting respect for all animals.
How can Portland help us? Volunteers are vital to Animal Aid's success. Caregivers come in daily for maintenance, feeding and cleaning of the shelter. Socializers are here Monday through Friday during the hours of 11 am to 4 pm to play with and socialize our cats for potential adopters. Our volunteers are the heart of Animal Aid!
Julie Toporowski
volunteer.coordinator
503-292-6628, option 5
The Pixie Project
How we help Portland? The Pixie Project helps the pets and people of Portland by providing personalized cat and dog adoption services, and finding great forever homes for rescued animals. Pixie also operates a veterinary clinic to assist low-income pet owners with spay/neuter and other surgeries, keeping animals healthy, happy and in their homes.
How can Portland help us? Volunteers are the backbone of the Pixie Project. We are looking for caring, responsible, reliable animal lovers who want to have a positive impact on the Portland community and our pets! Currently, we have the most need for dog and cat foster homes and volunteers to assist in the clinic.
Sheena
Family Dogs New Life Shelter
How we help Portland? Family Dogs New Life is a no-kill dog shelter dedicated to rescuing and finding homes for needy dogs of all ages, breeds and backgrounds. Our organization was built on the belief that all dogs deserve a second chance at a new life. It's not about being the perfect dog, it is about dog and adopter being perfect for one another.
How can Portland help us? We are looking for committed, experienced and compassionate dog lovers to help with dog walking and socializing, as well as volunteers to help with outreach events.
503-771-5596
Community
Exceed Enterprises
How we help Portland? Exceed Enterprises provides vocational and personal development services for people with disabilities.
We provide employment and work experience by sub-contracting with local businesses. We also offer vocational experience through off-site work crews.
Our day program provides recreational, social and therapeutic services for individuals. Our Work Futures Program provides work skills assessment, vocational planning and job readiness for participants.
How can Portland help us? Help people with disabilities. Assist with scheduling and coordinating events such as fundraisers and employee recognition events. Help people with disabilities at our day care program and participate on an advisory committee or help with computer/clerical work.
Shelley Engelgau
503-652-9036
Community Vision
How we help Portland? We work to make Oregon a better place for individuals experiencing disabilities. Community Vision believes everyone should have the opportunity to live, work and thrive in a community of their choice.
How can Portland help us? Volunteers can get involved by participating in a variety of outreach activities and events, including our annual Harvest Century Bike Ride. More than 200 volunteers are needed for Harvest to help with registration, packet pick-up, merchandise and other event support.
Community Vision is also looking for mentors to support our Dream Builders program that works with youth to plan for their transition from high school to adulthood. Activities range from meeting to discuss life goals, riding public transit, building networking skills, attending college classes, or arranging for informational interviews.
Lisa Steenson
503-292-4964
Harper's Playground
How we help Portland? Harper's Playground inspires vital communities in Portland by building innovative playgrounds for people of all abilities. Our inclusive, nature-based play areas foster more play and greater inclusion for everybody.
The first playground at Arbor Lodge Park is serving as the example for two more inclusive playgrounds in Portland—one at Gateway Park in Northeast and one at Couch Park in Northwest. Our vision is to have one in every quadrant by 2020, helping to establish Portland as a model for how to design public spaces with everybody in mind.
How can Portland help us? Harper's Playground couldn't do what we do without our volunteers! We have a Harper's Volunteer Army that we call on to support fundraising and community events, and that we train to be ambassadors for inclusive play. We also rely on volunteers for regular playground cleanups.
Cody Goldberg
503-730-5445
Community Warehouse
How we help Portland? We sort and redistribute donated home goods to low-income folks in our community who are transitioning into stable housing. Volunteers also sell higher-end, nonessential items in our retail stores. Additionally, volunteers help with special events and community outreach. We are Portland's only volunteer-driven, nonprofit furniture bank.
How can Portland help us? If helping low-income folks find furniture and goods to outfit their homes, checking out the one-of-a-kind treasures before they go to our estate store, and meeting lots of great people sounds like your idea of the perfect day, then this is the volunteer gig for you! We need positive, fun-loving volunteers who want to make a difference in the lives of our neighbors in need.
Jessica Thompson
jessica@communitywarehouse.org
503-891-7400
Oregon Walks
How we help Portland? Oregon Walks is dedicated to promoting walking and making the conditions for walking safe, accessible and attractive to everyone. We work to ensure that every Oregonian, regardless of income, ability or geography, can engage with their community by walking. We advocate for better laws, more sidewalks and signed crosswalks, community improvements designed for pedestrians, and increased funding to support these activities.
How can Portland help us? Lend talents such as fundraising, database management, graphic design and accounting by joining one of our committees; join us at community events to reach out to other walktavists about our work and pedestrian issues; represent Oregon Walks and pedestrian needs on municipal advisory committees and at project planning meetings.
Inna Levin, Volunteer Coordinator
503-223-1597
Village Gardens
How we help Portland? Village Market was designed to meet a basic community need: the lack of access to a local corner grocery store where fresh, healthy, culturally appropriate food can be purchased at a reasonable price. It is a central gathering place for the neighborhood, a hub for community activities and health promotion, and brings people together across cultures.
How can Portland help us? We need your willing hands, organization skill and great ideas! Help us stock shelves, count inventory, and sparkle up pans. Help three hours a week and earn a discount on store purchases for a month. We're looking for neighbors, customers and food lovers to join us in providing groceries to our neighborhood.
Ryan Schoonover
503-943-5643
The KBOO Foundation
How we help Portland? KBOO, founded in 1968, is an independent, member-supported, noncommercial, volunteer-powered community radio station. KBOO embodies equitable social change, shares knowledge and fosters creativity by delivering locally rooted and diverse music, culture, news and opinions with a commitment to the voices of oppressed and underserved communities.
How can Portland help us? KBOO provides free training in all aspects of operating a radio station. We're looking for people to join our community of volunteers, doing everything from front-desk work, cleaning, reporting, tabling, clerical support, news writing, documentary-making, engineering live music, operating sound boards, IT support, website upkeep, and more.
Ani Haines
503-231-8032, ext. 213
The Portland Food Project
How we help Portland? Our mission is to help eliminate hunger in the Portland area by keeping pantries stocked year-round. We run a neighbor-to-neighbor food-collection program that serves 19 local emergency food pantries. It all begins with a reusable green bag that is filled with nonperishable food by donors, collected by neighborhood coordinators, and then distributed to pantries.
How can Portland help us? We are a 100 percent volunteer-run organization and always in need of volunteers to donate a bag of food every two months, become neighborhood coordinators and collect green bags, or help as substitute drivers or unloading, weighing and distributing green bags at our collection site.
Mary Notti
503-775-2110
Good Neighbor Family Pantry
How we help Portland? Good Neighbor Family Pantry helps feed families in need by providing a judgment-free environment where people can provide food for their households by gleaning expired food while helping reduce waste in our landfills. We educate the community about food awareness, which helps distinguish genetically modified foods from organic natural foods.
How can Portland help us? Good Neighbor Family Pantry takes place in space donated by Heart 2 Heart Farms. The People of Portland can help with the set upand tear down of the event each day a food pantry takes place.
Our Host Heart 2 Heart farms also utilizes livestock to donate chemical free, farm fresh meat to families in need through the food pantry. Help with farm chores such as bottle feeding the baby cows, pigs, collecting chicken eggs, and general feeding and watering of the plants and animals are great family friendly activities that would go far to keep Good Neighbor Family Pantry sustainable and able to serve the greatest number of families.
Joshua Ariel
Office.of.heart.2.heart.farms@gmail.com
708-528-0406
ReBuilding Center
How we help Portland? The ReBuilding Center diverts the region's largest amount of building materials from the waste stream—offering them for 50 to 90 percent of market value. Our mission is to inspire people to value and discover existing resources in order to strengthen the social and environmental vitality of communities.
How can Portland help us? Volunteers help with nearly every aspect of the organization, from helping to process donated materials at the North Mississippi Avenue location, to aiding our DeConstruction Services onsite, to market research and in-depth internships. As a community building organization, the ReBuilding Center is here to work for our volunteers, not the other way around!
Dave Lowe
503-467-4985
Street Roots
How we help Portland? Street Roots creates income opportunities for people experiencing homelessness and poverty by producing a newspaper and other media that are catalysts for individual and social change.
How can Portland help us? Street Roots seeks volunteers who are concerned about homelessness and poverty in Portland.
The Volunteer Program seeks to integrate a dynamic team of individuals in all aspects of our organization: vendor, editorial, advocacy and Rose City resource programs. There are also volunteers who assist with development and operations.
Scott Jackson
503-228-5657
Bradley Angle
How we help Portland? At Bradley Angle, we believe cycles of domestic violence can be broken. Every year, more than 800 adults, teens and kids walk through the doors at Bradley Angle for emergency shelter, housing assistance, financial education, healthy relationships classes, and more. We are devoted to building communities free from domestic violence and oppression, where loving, compassionate and equitable relationships exist for all people.
How can Portland help us? Bradley Angle regularly receives large deliveries of donations and we rely on volunteers to help open, identify and sort these NEW items. Because of our amazing volunteers, the families we serve will be able to get much-needed supplies year-round! To learn more or sign up, visit: BradleyAngle.org/Volunteer.
Rebecca Alexander
503-232-1528, ext. 206
Neighborhood House
How we help Portland? A leading area anti-poverty organization, Neighborhood House provides a range of education and social services to more than 18,000 low-income children, families and seniors annually across the metro area; its Emergency Food Box Program serves 1,200 to 1,500 people each month.
How can Portland help us? Volunteer opportunities range from visiting with a senior and helping distribute emergency food boxes to weeding our community garden. Volunteers serve as tutors in our after-school Homework Clubs, work in our Emergency Food pantry, assist seniors with activities, and more. Visitnhpdx.org/SupportOurWork/volunteer or call 503-246-1663, ext. 2117 for more information.
Jimmy DeBiasi
503-246-1663, ext. 2117
REACH Community Development, Inc.
How we help Portland? REACH is one of the oldest, largest and most successful community development corporations in Oregon. We have developed and preserved 1,852 units of affordable housing, all of which involved public/ private partnerships, often with multiple entities.
Over the last several years, REACH has made concerted efforts to focus on sustainability both in our housing developments and throughout our organizational operations. We believe strongly that livability and sustainability are closely aligned, and by focusing our efforts, we are promoting greater environmental and social health for our communities.
How can Portland help us? Volunteers assist REACH in our efforts to build community and create opportunities to help our residents realize personal success. Volunteers get hands-on experience by working one-on-one with our residents and homeowners, leading workshops in buildings, executing events, completing office projects, and performing home repairs for senior citizens.
Cynthia Luckett
971-277-7067
Urban Farm Collective
How we help Portland? As a collective, we accept donated land and bring neighbors together to transform vacant lots into neighborhood food gardens for the purposes of education, community building and improving food security. We offer free garden-based workshops, garden apprentice positions and have created a unique barter system for our weekly harvest market. We donate fresh produce to St. Andrews Church food pantry and Sisters of the Road to help feed the homeless.
How can Portland help us? Volunteers are highly needed for garden work parties, garden apprentices, garden managers, working the barter market and transporting produce. We also have many administrative needs, such as planning-team members, volunteer coordinator and events planner.
Holli Prohaska
503-320-4288
Community Cycling Center
How we help Portland? We offer community programs that get more of our neighbors feeling the freedom of two wheels. We teach kids and adults how to ride safely, be their own bike mechanics, and get more confident behind the handlebars. Volunteers play a huge role in everything we do. Last year, 805 volunteers contributed 9,117 hours, equivalent to the time of four full-time employees!
How can Portland help us? You don't need bicycle mechanic skills to begin wrenching; you'll have a chance to become a Certified Volunteer Mechanic! If wrenching isn't your thing, volunteers lead rides and safety clinics. Plus, we rely on volunteer support for communications and marketing, interpreting, recycling bike parts and much more.
Patrick Loftus
volunteer@communitycyclingcenter.org
503-288-8864
Transition Projects
How we help Portland? Through respect of diversity and differences, Transition Projects advocates and provides supporting skills and resources that ultimately lead hundreds of homeless participants to permanent housing and jobs each year. From meeting the immediate needs of individuals currently living on the streets to assisting those who have recently achieved permanent housing, we help more than 10,000 people per year throughout the Portland area.
How can Portland help us? Transition Projects needs volunteers more than ever! Hundreds of volunteers annually help through one-time projects and ongoing opportunities. Volunteers can support Transition Projects by forming a group to provide meals for program participants; sorting in-kind donations; computer lab assistance; workshop facilitation; reception/light administrative; helping at events, and lots more!
Lauren Holt
Habitat for Humanity ReStores
How we help Portland? You don't have to swing a hammer to build a house. We keep tons of reusable materials out of landfills every year while building affordable homes in partnership with low-income families. We're a great resource for affordable building materials, furniture and appliances. We provide opportunities for skill-building, knowledge-sharing and job development within our volunteer community.
How can Portland help us? Volunteers play a crucial role in the success of our ReStores. Their experience and enthusiasm make the ReStore a fun place to be. No matter what you're interested in or which skills you bring, there's a place for you: DIY, woodworking, metal recycling, customer service, merchandising, repair and more.
Colleen O'Toole
503-517-0720
PDX Pop Now!
How we help Portland? PDX Pop Now! is dedicated to stimulating and expanding participation in Portland music. As an all-volunteer organization committed to being accessible, current and local, we provide and support live performances and recorded materials. We aspire to advance a sustainable community that values inclusivity and a high caliber of artistry to enable a creative dialogue between artist and audience.
How can Portland help us? PDX Pop Now! is an entirely volunteer-run festival and nonprofit organization. From the bands that play to the booking committee to the festival volunteers, everyone donates their time. We have several volunteer opportunities throughout the year where we would love to have your help!
Hands On Greater Portland
How We help Portland? Tutor a child. Clean books for low-income kids. Spruce up a school or a park. Hands On Greater Portland makes it easy to volunteer. We connect you with volunteer opportunities that fit your schedule and interests – and that empower you to make a meaningful, rewarding change in the Portland area. A program of United Way of the Columbia-Willamette.
How can Portland help us? Check our online calendar to find a one-time project, or dive deep and explore an issue that shapes our region. Most projects require no special experience and many are family-friendly. Find YOUR project at handsonportland.org.
Téjara Brown
503-200-3373
Education
Zenger Farm
How we help Portland? Zenger Farm is an urban educational farm located in SE Portland. Through experiential and science-based programs, we teach youth and adults the importance of healthy food, farming, and environmental stewardship.
How Portland can help us?
Volunteers have multiple opportunities to engage in Zenger Farm's education, farming, and community development programs. Opportunities included aiding in farm field trips and community cooking workshops as well as helping farmers maintain our land in support of our Community Supported Agriculture programs.
Rob Cato
503-282-4245 ext. 105
Village Home Education Resource Center
How we help Portland? We empower learners to take charge of their education, and foster the natural drive to learn in an innovative community setting without grading and testing. We serve 450 learners in Portland and their families: most of our learners are homeschoolers who want to learn in a inclusive community setting. We offer a catalog of over 200 classes per week in all subjects for ages 4 and up.
How Portland can help us?
Share your passion and expertise in the classroom as a facilitator of a ten-week course that meets once a week for an hour a day; create a class of your dreams with a focus on hands-on, collaborative class experiences without a bunch of administrative burden. Experience teaching (formally or informally) is preferred, but not required.
Or, volunteer as a classroom helper.
Lori Walker
503-597-9100
Marathon Scholars
How we help Portland? By providing long-term, ongoing mentorship and college scholarships to promising low-income students, Marathon Scholars promotes equitable access to higher education.
How can Portland help us? As a Scholar Coach, volunteers can mentor a low-income student to provide social & recreational development and emotional support, while serving as a role model with the goal of college attendance & success.
Molli Mitchell
503-235-2500
SMART (Start Making a Reader Today)
How we help Portland?
We strive to foster a love of reading in PreK through third grade children, while providing essential early childhood literacy encouragement. Reading is fundamental to building a bright and successful future. With the help of volunteer readers, SMART reaches hundreds of Portland children with vital one-on-one reading support, and books for those who need them most.
How Portland can help us?
Volunteers can share their enthusiasm for books with children by joining us as reading mentors. They will need to be available to read for one hour per week during public school hours from now until mid-May.
Staci Sutton
971-634-1628
Rewild Portland?
How we help Portland? Rewild Portland connects citizens to nature through teaching ancestral technology. We remind humans where we came from, as tool-making mammals. We offer free, public programs every month, as well as summer camps, and adult workshops. Teaching people to create things from nature with their hands builds resilience and confidence. It is a holistic approach to health, community building, and self-reliance.
How Portland can help us?
We are a mostly volunteer run organization. Our volunteers help us with fundraising, outreach, teaching, facilitation of our free skills series, social media, and more. We are currently gearing up for our spring fundraiser and silent auction, as well as remodeling a workshop space in Northwest Portland.
Peter Michael Bauer
503-863-8462
Oregon Maritime Museum
How we help Portland? Oregon Maritime Museum (OMM) is the only museum in the Portland area which tells the diverse story of maritime activities on the Willamette River. OMM educates visitors from all over the world, with a complete tour of the Steamer PORTLAND – a fully restored and operational steam sternwheel tug. We welcome the public aboard, for a small admission fee, to learn about steamboats, tugboats, the importance of WW II shipbuilding in the region, discover more about the Battleship OREGON, see historic photos and models, and hear a few sea stories. Children enjoy some hands-features, and have a chance to sit in the Captain's chair in the Pilot house! This is a small museum with a big story about our local river.
How Portland can help us?
Volunteers at OMM are our best ambassadors to visitors from all over the world. Volunteer docents (tour guides) receive training so they can lead tours of the Steamer PORTLAND, and explain how it works, and tell about its history. Docents also explain all exhibits. Other volunteers assist with researching or archiving photos, objects, and stories, in the museum's library and collection – we also train you to do this. Specialized skills and licenses are best put to use to help maintain the vessel, and some volunteers even assist in operating the Steamer PORTLAND when it goes out on cruises in the summer.
Susan Spitzer
503.224.7724
"I Have a Dream" Oregon
How we help Portland? We empower students from Portland's far-east county neighborhood of Rockwood to thrive in school, college and career. Our core theory of change is that communities must take primary responsibility for decreasing low-income student and family barriers, so that educators can focus on teacher effectiveness and classroom outcomes. We recruit 'best in class' non-profits, volunteers, and corporate partners to give Dreamer students the best shot at success.
How can Portland help us? We attempt to match talents, interests, and time availability with a Dreamer student that would best benefit. Volunteers are placed as classroom aides, one-on-one mentors, and tutors in literacy and math. Opportunities are available to volunteer alongside elementary, middle and high school age students. There also one-time opportunities available throughout the year.
Emily Gaither
804-513-6586
Environment
Audubon Society of Portland
How we help Portland? The mission of the Audubon Society of Portland is to inspire people to love and protect nature. Our amazing volunteers do a lot to achieve that mission through their efforts in our Wildlife Care Center, by leading sanctuary school children through our nature sanctuary, and in 100 other ways where they engage the public.
How can Portland help us?
Audubon's volunteer opportunities are designed to meet a lot of different schedules and interests so there's something for everyone. Some opportunities, like the Wildlife Care Center, are a four-hour shift every week. Others, like helping with special events, are more seasonal in nature. Information about Audubon's volunteer opportunities can be found on our website.
Deanna Sawtelle, Volunteer Manager
503-292-6855, ext. 108
Tualatin Riverkeepers
How we help Portland? Tualatin Riverkeepers is a community-based organization working to protect and restore Oregon's Tualatin River system. TRK builds watershed stewardship through education, public restoration, access to nature and advocacy.
How can Portland help us?
Volunteer naturalists lead students on environmental education field trips. Volunteer trip leaders guide paddlers on river trips. Restoration volunteer crew leaders direct teams as they plant natives and pull invasive species. Office volunteers ensure organizational duties are completed. Advocacy committee members steer the organization through environmental issues affecting the watershed.
Margot Fervia-Neamtzu
margot@tualatinriverkeepers.org
503-218-2580
Friends of Trees
How we help Portland? Friends of Trees is a 501(c)3 nonprofit whose mission is to bring people together to plant and care for city trees and green spaces in Pacific Northwest communities. We strive to bring the health, financial and environmental benefits of trees to everyone in our communities!
How can Portland help us?
We need help planting trees! We plant every Saturday (9 am-1 pm) from November to April across the Portland metro region. Volunteers are asked to dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes. Gloves, tools and expert planting guidance are provided, as well as breakfast treats and hot coffee.
This and other roles can be found on our website: friendsoftrees.org/volunteering.
Jenny & Randi
503-595-0213
ReClaim It!
How we help Portland
ReClaim It! reduces the waste stream by salvaging materials directly from the "dump" for reuse by the general public, artists and DIYers. We encourage people to see items that were trash/garbage with new eyes, imagining the creative possibilities. We have salvaged over 200,000 pounds of usable items, including furniture, containers, lumber, art supplies, vintage, collectibles and curious, and wonderful materials.
How can Portland help us?
Join us to glean, clean, sort, repair, display, talk with customers, and work weekends in the ReClaim It! resale store at 1 N. Killingsworth St. at Williams Avenue. Volunteer shifts generally are available from Friday to Sunday from 10:30 am to 6:30 pm, and work parties are Mondays from 10 am to 2 pm.
Kelly Caldwell
503-432-7712
Metro's Native Plant Center
How we help Portland? Thanks to voters in the region, Metro has protected more than 17,000 acres of natural areas, trails and parks for generations to come. These lands require ongoing maintenance and hundreds of thousands of native plants. Metro's Native Plant Center provides rare seeds, bulbs and plants that restore wildlife habitat and protect water quality in regional parks and natural areas.
How can Portland help us?
Volunteers assist with collecting, cleaning and planting seeds, preparing and maintaining flower beds, transplanting seedlings and collecting data. Community volunteers participate at the Native Plant Center two Saturdays per month from 9 am to 1 pm. Additional opportunities are available on weekdays. Gloves, tools, water and snacks are provided.
To register, visit oregonmetro.gov/volunteer.
Jennifer Wilson, Metro Native Plant Center Assistant
Jennifer.Wilson@oregonmetro.gov
503-319-8292
Friends of Tryon Creek
How we help Portland? The mission of Friends of Tryon Creek, in partnership with Oregon State Parks, is to inspire and nurture relationships with nature in our unique urban forest. We offer programs for youth and adults that foster environmental education and stewardship.
How can Portland help us?
Volunteers support and lead our programs, both in environmental education and park stewardship. Volunteers lead guided hikes in our Field Trip Program and with the Oregon State Parks' interpretive programs. Volunteers also lead work parties, removing invasive species and building trails in our Stewardship Program. Youth volunteers support camp counselors in our Nature Day Camps.
Lizzy Miskell
503-636-4398
Forest Park Conservancy
How we help Portland? The Forest Park Conservancy protects and restores Forest Park. We maintain and enhance the park's extensive trails network, restore wildlife habitat, and inspire community appreciation and stewardship of one of the largest urban forests in the United States.
How can Portland help us?
Volunteers play a central role in our efforts to restore Forest Park. Volunteers help us repair and maintain trails, build bridges, plant trees, and pull ivy and other invasive plants. For volunteers who don't like working outside, we always need help around the office.
Guy Maguire, Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator
503-223-5449, ext. 106
Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership
How we help Portland?
The Estuary Partnership protects and preserves the lower Columbia River for current and future generations of fish, wildlife and people. Together with partners, students and volunteers, we restore habitat to bring back salmon, improve water quality and provide a wide range of opportunities for the community to explore and connect with local natural areas.
How can Portland help us?
Volunteers help restore salmon habitat by planting trees or removing invasive species and litter in natural areas near streams and rivers in the metro region. Volunteer events are generally on Saturday mornings and occur year-round. All ages and abilities are welcome!
Samantha Dumont
sdumont@estuarypartnership.org
503-226-1565, ext. 245
SOLVE
How we help Portland?
SOLVE involves thousands of Portland residents in projects to keep our natural areas, parks, rivers and neighborhoods clean and healthy. Our volunteer projects help protect and preserve the natural areas that make Portland unique, while connecting community members to each other and to our environment through service. Projects provide a fun, easy way to get outdoors and make a difference!
How can Portland help us?
Join your community and improve our environment at an upcoming litter cleanup, community planting or invasive plant removal near you! Bring your family and friends to a Saturday project or host an event of your own. No experience is needed; supplies are provided. Get in touch today at solveoregon.org
Kaleen Boyle
503-844-9571, ext. 332
350PDX
How we help Portland?
We are building a grassroots climate justice movement that is volunteer-led to help solve the climate crisis, increasing public awareness and engagement through educational and arts events, trainings, actions and partnerships with similarly aligned groups. Recent wins include a fossil-fuel infrastructure ban, the Shell Oil blockade, and divestment of Portland and Multnomah County's fossil-fuel holdings.
How can Portland help us?
350PDX is a volunteer-led organization; volunteers run all of our campaigns: divestment, fossil fuels, communications, neighborhood involvement, arts and events, and outreach, and maintain our office and website. Our first volunteer orientation of the year will be held in February—see 350pdx.org/calendar for updates.
Maya Jarrad
503-281-1485
Social Action
On-the-Move Community Integration
How we help Portland? On-the-Move supports adults with special needs in accessing the community through healthful, meaningful and environmentally responsible activities. Whether groups are volunteering, exploring neighborhoods, attending concerts in the park, or hiking nature trails, every day we engage the community by modeling inclusive practices, inviting them to celebrate the diverse expressions of the people we support, while empowering participants toward goals of greater independence and self-determination.
How can Portland help us? We're seeking community builders who have a passion for social justice and equity. Our primary focus is creating a path to friendship and acceptance between non-disabled community members and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We welcome volunteers to tutor in our Free Reading Class, facilitate community activities, and help On-the-Move expand community partnerships.
Monika Weitzel
503-287-0346
Assistance League® of Greater Portland
How we help Portland? Assistance League's member volunteers serve the local community with four programs. Operation School Bell® will provide 2,940 children in need with new clothes this year. Assault Survivor Kits® offer emergency outfits for victims who surrender clothing as evidence. Life Story Books are crafted for foster children. At a residential treatment facility, we support the recovery of youth with enrichment activities.
How can Portland help us?
Assistance League members put caring and commitment in action, working together to raise funds and operate community service programs. Members pay annual dues and are invited to volunteer in Assistance League Thrift and Consignment Shop and participate in one or more community-service programs. Orientation is provided. Meet new friends and discover new talents.
Debbie Coryell, Vice President Membership
503-526-9300
Oregon Food Bank
How we help Portland?
Help us create an Oregon without hunger! Join one of our fun, energetic two-to-three-hour food repack shifts. You'll be AMAZED at how much we can do! Shifts run throughout the week in Portland and Beaverton, including weeknights and weekends. Volunteer instructors are also needed for our garden and nutrition education programs.
How can Portland help us?
No special skills are required and training occurs onsite for garden and food repack shifts. Many shifts are available for ages 6 and up, and we can accommodate large groups. Passion, enthusiasm and willingness to sweat preferred! It's easy to sign up. Visit oregonfoodbank.org to learn more and see the schedule.
Laura Yeary
Returning Veterans Project
How we help Portland
Returning Veterans Project (RVP) serves post-9/11 war zone veterans and their families by providing free, confidential mental health and somatic services. A large number of our clients are in the Portland metro area, and last year we served more 360 veterans and 100 spouses for free! Our wonderful providers gave more than 4,300 treatment hours pro bono! RVP regularly provides up-to-date, free training and continuing education units to our volunteer providers, and at low cost to other clinicians.
How can Portland help us?
We welcome providers who want to work with us to help support and heal our veterans and their families. You must be insured, licensed and have a professional office space. Supervised interns working toward a license may be eligible. For more information and to apply, please go to: returningveterans.org/for-providers.
Casey Curry, Outreach Coordinator
503-954-2259, ext. 104
Human Solutions
How we help Portland? Human Solutions believes that every child in every family deserves a safe place to call home. Human Solutions helps homeless and low-income families build pathways out of poverty. Through a continuum of services, including emergency shelter, affordable housing, employment training and safety net services, Human Solutions helps families build pathways out of poverty.
How can Portland help us?
• We need individuals, groups and businesses to help prepare meals for guests staying at our shelter.
• We need volunteers to help organize and sort donations at the shelter.
• We need volunteers to provide activities for children at the shelter, (reading, homework help, board games, etc.)
Thomas Phillips
503-548-0279
Health& Wellness
Meals on Wheels People
How we help Portland? Meals on Wheels People allows frail, homebound elderly people to remain independent and living in their own homes by delivering hot meals and friendly visits.
How can Portland help us? Volunteers are needed on weekdays to help deliver meals, work in our central kitchen, or help in one of our 30 neighborhood centers. We also need volunteers to staff event committees.
Mike Buck
503-953-8101
mike.buck@mealsonwheelspeople.org
Store to Door
How we help Portland? We provide a volunteer-based grocery-shopping and delivery service for low-income seniors and people with disabilities. Our goal is to help homebound individuals maintain their independence, increase their social supports, and access additional low-cost or no-cost services that support aging in place. As the only delivery program in Oregon designed to meet the needs of low-income seniors, we serve 500-plus clients annually.
How can Portland help us? Our volunteers act as a bridge between homebound elders and the community. We have fun, meaningful, one-time or ongoing volunteer opportunities for individuals and groups. Support local elders as an order taker, shopper, or delivery driver/friendly visitor. Volunteers can also support our program administration and special projects.
Barb McDowell
503-200-3333, ext. 008
Housecall Providers
How we help Portland? For 20 years, we have been providing primary medical care and hospice services to some of Portland's most vulnerable citizens—the elderly, homebound and disabled. Join a team that is capturing national attention by changing health care and allowing Portland's elders the opportunity to age in place without relying on the emergency room for their care.
How can Portland help us? Short weekly visits can make a huge impact in the lives of people living with disabilities and/or nearing the end of life. Skills needed include listening, compassion, patience with people who have difficulty communicating and/or dementia. Service opportunities are located throughout the Portland area—especially in Beaverton, Gresham, Hillsboro, Lake Oswego, Wilsonville and East Portland.
Todd Lawrence
971-202-5501
tlawrence@housecallproviders.org
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Oregon and Southwest Washington
How we help Portland? Every year, thousands of families travel to Portland to get the best medical care possible for their seriously ill or injured child. And for more than 30 years, our Ronald McDonald Houses® have offered these families comfort, support and a beautiful place to stay just moments away from their child's bedside. Last year, 2,073 families stayed at our Portland Houses.
How can Portland help us? Whether it's greeting guests, leading arts and crafts classes or baking cookies, volunteers create a loving "home away from home" for families. "Meals from the Heart" volunteers create delicious treats for guests, and our Children's Program volunteers lead playtime activities for children, offering respite to parents of seriously ill children.
Mary Hegel
503-943-6672
Albertina Kerr
How we help Portland? Albertina Kerr strengthens Oregon families and communities by helping children and adults with developmental disabilities and mental health challenges, empowering them to live richer lives.
How can Portland help us? Why volunteer? You can make a direct impact on crucial social issues, build life-changing relationships, and learn new skills and have fun!
—Administrative support
—Albertina's restaurant and shops: Become a cook, server, cashier, sales person and much more!
—Adult group homes
—Kerr bikes
—Speech language pathology and occupational therapy
—Bike maintenance
—Special events
—Youth & family services
—Youth group homes
Meghan Anderson
Northwest Mothers Milk Bank
How we help Portland? Breastmilk helps babies thrive—it is rich in nutrients, enzymes and protective qualities that lower the risk of disease and promote long-term health. Northwest Mothers Milk Bank ensures that babies throughout the Pacific Northwest who are born with a medical need are able to access the unique gift of donated, pasteurized breastmilk when their mother's own milk is not available.
How can Portland help us? Volunteers are needed to greet donors and outpatients, answer phones, log intake milk, and perform office tasks. Volunteers help us reduce operation costs, allowing more resources to go toward providing donor milk to more medically fragile infants. This is a great opportunity to support your community and gain professional experience.
Stephanie Glickman
503-469-0955
Keep Oregon Well
How we help Portland? Our Keep Oregon Well Street Team travels to concerts, festivals and fairs across Oregon to #FightStigma and advocate that #MentalHealthMatters. The core of what we do is help to start the conversation about mental health awareness in our communities and build a network of allies who have pledged to fight stigma within their own communities.
How can Portland help us? Join the Keep Oregon Well street team! Members receive semi-monthly emails describing upcoming volunteer opportunities. They are the first to hear about events and member-only contests. Street team is trained and supported by staff at each event and is open to anyone 16 or older.
Learn more at KeepOregonWell.com.
Heather Nichelle-Peres
503-813-7724
Central City Concern
How we help Portland? Central City Concern provides health, housing, employment and recovery services to individuals suffering from homelessness or low incomes in the Portland metro area. CCC helps individuals stabilize and contribute to their communities as volunteers, employees, friends and neighbors.
How can Portland help us? Given the programmatic diversity within CCC, we attempt to provide a variety of opportunities, both short and long-term, that match a volunteer's skill set. Whether working with those we serve or behind the scenes, our goal is to create a great fit that helps CCC do more and do better.
Eric Reynolds
503-200-3893
Growing Gardens
How we help Portland? Growing Gardens teaches gardening skills and builds organic vegetable gardens in homes, schools and correctional facilities. We support children, adults and families with garden beds, supplies, seeds, plants, mentoring and other resources. We serve people who have limited resources and empower them to become healthier, more physically active and self-reliant—thereby contributing to a more sustainable, equitable and vibrant Portland.
How can Portland help us? Volunteers help us provide children, adults and families with the transformative experience of growing their own food. There are many opportunities: help build garden beds, teach gardening classes in correctional facilities, manage after-school garden clubs, sort and package seeds, serve fine cuisine at our fundraising dinners and lots more.
Cristy Morales
503-284-8420, ext. 100
Clackamas Volunteers in Medicine Founders Clinic
How we help Clackamas County? We are the only FREE clinic in Clackamas County for residents who don't have health insurance or access to health care. We are a safety net for anyone who needs primary care, particularly in rural areas of the county, and a resource to get the specialty care people need to get and stay healthy. We also provide amazing volunteer opportunities for anyone interested in community health—where your service changes lives and builds a healthier community. We help train the next generation of health professionals—from doctors, nurses, lab technicians and, administrators—by giving them hands-on experience working with patients.
How Clackamas County can help us? Portland's spirit of service and community ethic is what makes this free clinic possible. Individuals volunteer their time and expertise, health organizations donate needed services like labs, X-rays, dental and vision vans, and all specialty services. Donors (individual/business) keep our doors open through financial contributions and in-kind services. We are living proof that the spirit of giving is alive in our community to help our neighbors in need.
Karen Shimada
karen.shimada@clackamasvim.org
503-722-4400
Baby Blues Connection
How do we help Portland? We provide free support (phone, email, group) to mothers and families who are coping with perinatal mood disorders and wrestling with stress related to becoming new parents. We work to normalize the struggles, end isolation and create a healing environment where everyone can talk about how they truly feel.
How can Portland help us? Volunteers are the backbone of our organization and are needed in administration, outreach, marketing, technology and events. Specific help is needed in web redesign, social media, coordinating outreach events and fundraising event planning. Positions can be short or long term. Direct support positions may become available- best suited for those with direct experience with perinatal mood disorders.
Lisa Coss
800-557-8375
Youth
Trillium Family Services
How do we help Portland? Trillium Family Services helps children ages 6 to 17 who are struggling with mental illness. Our amazing clinical staff members provide therapy, psychiatry and preventative services to kids and families throughout the Portland metro area. We offer hope to families when they need it most and provide the support they need to succeed.
How can Portland help us? Trillium needs volunteers for the following:
Caddies at the LPGA Charity Pro-Am (benefits Trillium Family Services);
To help in our healing garden and with campus projects (this is perfect for groups);
Mentoring a child through the Family of Friends Program;
To help at Trillium events (registration, selling raffle tickets, etc.)
Stephanie Warneke
503-205-4347
CASA for Children of Multnomah, Washington, and Columbia Counties
How do we help Portland? Every day in Oregon, abused and neglected children are taken from their homes and placed into foster care because their parents are unable to safely care for them. CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteers provide a stable adult presence in these kids' lives, ensuring that their educational, emotional, medical and practical needs are met while they are under court protection.
How can Portland help us? Our trained volunteers get to know each child by visiting them and speaking to those involved in the child's life. CASAs monitor the case by attending meetings and hearings, provide an objective opinion to the court, and make recommendations to ensure the necessary safety, care and permanence for each child.
Susan King
503-988-6528
Hacienda CDC
How do we help Portland? Hacienda CDC is a Latino Community Development Corporation that strengthens families by providing affordable housing, homeownership support, economic advancement and educational opportunities. As Portland's Latino population has grown rapidly, Hacienda continues building capacity to offer our bicultural services to Latinos and other low-income families throughout the Portland metro area.
How can Portland help us? Volunteers can serve as tutors for our after-school program, Expresiones, which is offered to Hacienda youth in kindergarten through eighth grade. Through helping youth complete their homework and strengthen literacy, volunteers can help encourage positive life skills, such as effective problem solving, curiosity, interpersonal skills, mindfulness and perseverance.
Mariasol Johannes
503-459-7477
Girls Inc. of the Pacific Northwest
How do we help Portland? Girls Inc. of the Pacific Northwest inspires girls (ages 6 to 18) to become strong, smart and bold! Our gender-specific programs provide girls with the confidence and self-esteem to access a bright and economically independent future.
How can Portland help us? Girls Inc. seeks enthusiastic volunteer "girls guides" to facilitate after-school girls groups that take place once a week for eight to 10 weeks across the Portland metro area. Don't worry, we provide training, curriculum and supplies—you make the magic happen!
Grace Dyer
503-230-0054, ext. 4
Portland After-School Tennis & Education
How do we help Portland? Portland After School Tennis & Education (PAST&E) is a nonprofit whose mission is to create partnerships with families, schools and volunteers to help at-risk K-12 students achieve academic and athletic success. We accomplish this through one-on-one academic tutoring, tennis lessons, a nutrition/fitness curriculum, parent education, and a development program serving junior players who excel at tennis.
How can Portland help us? Volunteers play a dual role as coach and tutor. Coaches/tutors assist our certified coaches in tennis and fitness activities and help our scholar-athletes stay focused on completing their homework. Every volunteer must be willing to take initiative, respond to challenges and be positive. No tennis experience is needed.
Izzy Borris
503-823-3629
Vibe of Portland
How do we help Portland? Vibe of Portland provides quality arts and music educational opportunities and access for students throughout Portland regardless of their backgrounds. Vibe has in-school and after-school art and music classes, public children's art studio classes, workshops, camps and teacher-training programs. Vibe hires local artists and musicians who are passionate about sharing art and music with the next generation of creatives.
How can Portland help us? Vibe is currently looking for volunteers who can help with various administrative projects, fundraising and events, or assisting teaching artists and musicians in their classes. Classes typically occur during the after-school hours of 3 to 5 pm.
Laura Streib
503-560-3592
Rock 'n' Roll Camp For Girls
How do we help Portland? The Rock 'n' Roll Camp for Girls builds girls' self-esteem through music creation and performance. Providing workshops and technical training, we create leadership opportunities, cultivate a community of peers and mentors, encourage social change, and the development of life skills. We believe girls can play any kind of music they want and "girls rock" is more than just a slogan.
How can Portland help us? We need female volunteers to mentor youth bands, present workshops, and teach girls ages 8 to 17 to play guitar, bass, drums, keys and perform vocals. Musicians of all levels are encouraged to apply! Other available volunteer positions include front desk, instrument repair, kitchen crew, photography, and roadie team. Come rock with us!
Caley Murray
503-936-6869
New Avenues for Youth
How we help Portland? New Avenues for Youth takes a complete approach to addressing youth homelessness and its root causes, delivering support and resources that enable foster, at-risk and homeless youth to overcome their barriers and realize their potential. Since 1997, we have impacted the lives of more than 20,000 youth through a range of services that address basic needs and safety, provide opportunities for education and career, and help youth achieve self-sufficiency. Through direct service, community partnership and advocacy, we help youth exit street life and prevent those most at risk of homelessness from experiencing it.
How can Portland help us? Volunteers are a critical part of the solution to ending youth homelessness. We rely on volunteers to provide much-needed support to our programs for foster, at-risk and homeless youth by helping with meals in our Drop In Day Services Center, tutoring in our education program, helping youth develop interviewing and résumé-building skills in our job-training program PAVE, collaborating with youth in our Artist Mentorship Program (AMP) through music and art, volunteering with Sexual & Gender Minority Youth Resource Center (SMYRC), and providing event and administrative support. If you believe in the resiliency and potential of young people and would like to put your time, unique skills and energy into helping youth thrive—or if your group, business or organization is looking for meaningful ways to support our efforts—we'd love to hear from you!
Camp Fire Columbia
How do we help Portland? Camp Fire Columbia is dedicated to the youth of Portland. We currently run programming in 25 schools throughout Portland, and provide memorable summers at the beautiful Camp Namanu. Young people want to shape the world. Camp Fire provides the opportunity to find their spark, lift their voice, and discover who they are. In Camp Fire, it begins now.
How can Portland help us? Volunteer opportunities include talking to our middle and high-school students about your career path, coming to the beautiful Camp Namanu for one of our service weekends to ensure camp is ready for the summer, and stocking shelves and helping families shop in one of our community school food pantries.
Steven Joinson
sjoinson@campfirecolumbia.org
(971) 340-1601
campfirecolumbia.org
Willamette Week