6 Best Volunteer Opportunities in Portland

Volunteer opportunities in Portland are one of the most sought because of the benefits them. If you are looking for the best volunteer opportunities in Portland? You’ve come to the right place.

Portland is a city in the Northwest of Oregon, one of the most populous cities in Oregon, a region in the United States where you can volunteer. People all over the world are seeking ways to make a valuable impact in their society, and most times this cannot be single-handedly done. Thus, through volunteering, people can make a meaningful impact on someone’s life and their community. 

It is important to note that volunteering is no longer as limited as it was before now. Volunteering is not restricted to only adults, to a particular gender, or only the prominent people in society. There are countless volunteer opportunities in Portland available in various ways and areas depending on the Volunteer. There are volunteer opportunities that are suitable for just women, while some are for just men or both genders. 

There are volunteer opportunities suitable for young people, while some are for older people of both ages, there are some that only the rich ones can afford to volunteer and there are some anyone can help. 

There are many areas to volunteer depending on what kind of volunteer you are, the best way to choose is to know what kind of volunteering best suits you, either outdoor activities or indoor.

There are several Volunteering opportunities in portland available for whomever and any kind of volunteer. Keep reading to know what is volunteering, who is a volunteer, the types of volunteers, and the benefits of volunteering.

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What is Volunteering?

Volunteering can be described as carrying out an unpaid activity that involves time, effort, and resources to help an underprivileged individual, a non-profit organization, or a community.

Volunteering involves making a meaningful impact on people’s lives through different mediums, either through helping an orphan, tutoring children, taking care of old people, or assisting in an organization. It often helps develop the society by bringing a connection through awareness and consciousness of the people to their environment, the people, the plants, and the animals around them. Valuable skills, experience, as well as connections, and so on are gained through volunteering. 

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Who is a Volunteer?

A volunteer is someone willing and capable of taking up a task for the benefit of someone else without the intention of getting any reward in return. A volunteer is a person who carries out a selfless service to ensure a comfortable life for an individual, an organization, or a community.

Volunteers offer assistance through their skills, their time, their efforts, and resources. Volunteers are motivated by their passion and usually carry out objectives with zeal even when circumstances are unpleasant. 

Types of Volunteers

There are several kinds of volunteers depending on what they are passionate about. What makes a volunteer is the ability to love what you do and to do it without compulsion. Some types of Volunteers are:

1. Animal Volunteers

Some people have a love for animals and would love to foster these animals. Animal Volunteers usually volunteer in places like the zoo, a park, animal reserves, and veterinary hospitals. Animal Volunteers also have the skills in taking care of animals. They have to provide support for the animals to keep them from suffering and euthanasia.

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2. Transport Volunteers

 Transport Volunteers are typically people who love and have a skill in driving. They would volunteer in car factories, motor dealers’ shops, and automobile industries. Also, they can volunteer to take other volunteers to different volunteering locations. Transport volunteers either have to assist in fixing automobiles, selling them, or in transportation.

3. Environmental Volunteers

Environmental Volunteers are mostly environmental advocates, they are those who propose the protection of the plants, the animals, and human beings either for the environment itself or for the human beings living in it. These Volunteers frequently hold programs to raise awareness for proper ways to dispose of refuse and sewage, and renewable energy, and to enlighten people on the benefits of a healthy environment and the consequences such as climate change, erosion, air pollution, and various other environmental degradation.

4. Childcare Volunteers

Childcare Volunteers have a lot to do with training children and taking care of their basic needs. They are people who love children and always want to be around them. There are children whose parents have busy schedules and their children are kept in the hands of others to take care of. These types of Volunteers work in daycares, orphanages, homes, and schools to serve as babysitters to take care of children and train them up. 

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Educational Volunteers

Educational Volunteers are those who dedicate their time to teaching people, both young and old skills and imbibing knowledge in their field of study to prepare them for their future and make them eligible citizens and responsible individuals in society. Volunteers in this area serve as tutors, teachers, mentors, and counselors. 

Health care Volunteers

Many people are suffering from several health challenges beyond their control. Most of the troops into hospitals, pharmacies, and other health centers to find a solution. It is a great opportunity for volunteers who have an interest in taking care of sick people. Volunteers in this area proffer health tips to patients, assist doctors, encourage sick people and help them get well.

Organization Volunteers

Organization Volunteers are those who set out their time, effort, and skill to assist a manager in an organization. Volunteering in an organization is mostly restricted to persons who meet the specifications of the company, sometimes they have to be of a certain age, have a particular type of skill that suits the work, and have a pleasant attitude.

Benefits of Volunteering

There are more than enough reasons why people will volunteer. The benefits of volunteering are two-sided, the beneficiary, as well as the volunteer, can benefit from the act of Volunteering. Although a volunteer carries out their activities without the intention of being paid or getting any reward, there are a lot of things a volunteer can gain from volunteering. They are;

1. It helps strengthens relationships as activities are shared

2. It helps broaden your network and open you to people with common interests.

3. It helps you stay active and happy as you engage in fun-filled activities.

4. It increases your knowledge, adds to your skill, and helps you gain experience in your field of study.

5. It helps you stay hopeful, keeps you motivated, and allows you to live a purposeful life.

6. It allows you to create a meaningful impact ie society since you can be part of a team through volunteering instead of single-handedly.

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6 Best Volunteer Opportunities in Portland

Below are the 6 best volunteer opportunities in Portland for volunteers and anyone looking for a volunteering opportunity. 

1. Gallery Volunteer

ORGANIZATION: PORTLAND ART MUSEUM

This gallery serves as a commercial gallery space.  The Gallery provides a warm atmosphere for fun and the opportunity to undertake different duties and learn new skills. Volunteers are needed to serve in different roles and support as the Gallery requires. 

The duties of Volunteers are to ensure that the artworks are displayed beautifully and engagingly in the Gallery, to assist clients in choosing, renting, or purchasing artworks, to help deliver outstanding visitor experience, to support Gallery events, to assist in the administration of gallery and to assist the Gallery Manager for duties required and requested.

Volunteers must not have prior experience in working with fine arts, they are required to be flexible and willing to engage in the different duties required of the gallery, which vary from day to day. Volunteers must be 18 years of age and above and should be able to work to have the ability to lift and move artworks of different weights and sizes with ease and with the help of other volunteers for pieces that cannot be easily moved or hung. The course area is Arts and Culture and Community, the time is based on your schedule, there are two shifts, 11:00 AM to 02:00 PM, 02:00 PM to 05:00 PM. It is located at 1219 SW Park Avenue, Portland, OR 97205

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2. Business Mentor: Share your knowledge with a small business owner!

ORGANIZATION: SCORE PORTLAND

Volunteers in this Organization are to be a Score Mentor, someone who will help clients solve problems, assist to develop long-term business plans and make businesses more efficient. A Volunteer asking as a mentor is someone who loves connecting with people has good communication skills and can talk to people a few hours a week. 

People who know the business, accounting, technology, management, marketing, finance, strategy, etc. can apply. Volunteers must be 18 years old and above and possess skills like strategic planning, mentoring, verbal/written communication, business analysis, relationship building, and people skills. The course area is Community, Education & Literacy and Employment, time is based on your schedule at 620 SW Main, Portland, OR 97205

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3. Tuesday Night Bike Drive Volunteering

ORGANIZATION: COMMUNITY CYCLING CENTER

This organization is seeking people who are interested in fixing up kids’ bikes to be given at bike giveaways. Through the help of volunteers, the Cycling Center has been able to give away thousands of bikes for over 25 years they have been hosting a Holiday Bike Drive. 

Volunteers are not required to have prior knowledge of repairing bikes, they can learn while working. Volunteers are required to attend the Volunteer Orientation to get started. Volunteers must be at least 14 years old, and have skills in bicycling, outdoor recreation, and bike Mechanics and repair. 

The Course areas are Children & Youth, Community, sports, and, recreation. There is only one shift which is from 07:00 PM to 09:15 PM, it is based on your schedule at the Community Cycling Center, 1700 NE Alberta St. Portland, OR 97211

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4. Café Assistant at Outside In – preparing and serving meals for homeless youth

ORGANIZATION: OUTSIDE IN

This organization provides help to homeless and marginalized people to improve their health and self-sufficiency. They seek volunteers who can assist the organization to provide nutrition to homeless, at-risk youth, to help build the foundation for their clients’ health, development, and self-sufficiency through education, employment, housing, training, and healthcare services. 

Volunteers in this organization are to commit to 6 months or 100 hours of volunteering and choose one regular, weekly meal.  This opportunity yields a lot of benefits for the volunteer; They will learn about nutrition and food instability in Portland and across a variety of communities. They will learn about factors leading to homelessness and the challenges homeless youth face every day. They will learn to cook or improve their skills together with the Outside In’s Culinary-trained chefs. They will also make connections with other participants to inspire compassion and understanding.

Volunteers must be 21 years of age or older, they are required to wear a mask and to practice physically standing while on site. The course areas are Children & Youth, Homeless & Housing, and Hunger. 

The shift is Sunday through Friday with the Lunch shift from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm and a Dinner shift from 3:30 pm-6:30 pm. The time is based on your schedule at the Outside In’s Café is located at our main building in downtown Portland (1132 SW 13th Ave., Portland, OR 97205).

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6. Meals from the Heart: Make meals for our guest families (Portland South Waterfront House)

ORGANIZATION: RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES® OF OREGON & SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON

This organization needs volunteers who can help to cook a meal for families whose children are critically ill and injured. Volunteers are encouraged to bring their families, friends, or co-workers to feed and support those families who travel more than 30 miles from home. 

Volunteers are to give suggestions on what to cook, provide the ingredients, cook for about 50 guests and serve in a buffet style. 

Volunteers must be 13 years or older and fully vaccinated, the skill required is cooking/catering, the requirements are training and orientation which would be given at arrival, it is a one-time shift, between 04:00 PM to 07:00 PM.  

Volunteers can bring up to 5 persons to join in cooking, the time is based on your schedule at 3410 S Bond Ave, Rood Family Pavilion Portland, OR 9723.

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Conclusion

There are numerous volunteer opportunities in Portland. Organizations need assistance in organizing events and programs, community needs development and even the volunteers need some sought of self-worth. 

Engaging in volunteering activities yields a lot of benefits for everyone involved, both the giver of help and the receiver as well. A person can either volunteer on his own or be a channel to other volunteers, all to help others.

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