Below you will find a list of our current volunteer opportunities. If you see something you like, feel free to contact me directly with any questions at 503-235-8655 or email at dwhipple@voaor.org.

You also may contact the program representative for more information. And of course we always welcome your ideas for new volunteer opportunities. We could not touch the lives of so many children, families, adults and seniors without your help.
Thank you!
Doran Whipple, Volunteer Coordinator

Download a copy of our Volunteer Application.

ADMINISTRATIVE & DEVELOPMENT

PROGRAM: ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE
There are currently no volunteer opportunities with this program.

PROGRAM: DEVELOPMENT
Contact: Alexa Heinicke at 503-595-2017
Location: 3910 SE Stark Street, Portland, OR 97214

Position: Volunteer Development Associate
Duties: Support the organizational & execution efforts for program tours, table host recruitment, breakfast fundraising events, and donor cultivation. 
Comments: This is a great opportunity to learn the highly-successful, best-practices Benevon model for cultivating donors and develop Raiser’s Edge database skills!  We are implementing the Benevon model for three programs concurrently (Home Free, Family Relief Nursery, Adult Day Centers) and have a number of activities scheduled on an ongoing basis throughout the year.  Please send resume and availability via email.
Qualifications: Strong communication & interpersonal skills; proficient computer skills; organized & attentive to detail. Prior experience with fundraising and events is helpful.
Day/Hour: Flexible.
Commitment: 10-20 hours/week on a regular schedule, with a minimum commitment of 6 months. 

PROGRAM: THRIFT STORE
Contact: Robyn Anderson at 503-328-0090
Location: 2330 SE 182nd, Portland, OR 97233

Donations Sorter
Duties: Volunteers will be in the donation room accepting donations and sorting them.  Also, watching the restrooms to make sure only patrons are using them.
Qualifications: Must be 18 or older.  Volunteers must have a pleasant personality working with donors.
Day/Hour: Hours of operation are 10-8 M-Sat., 11-5 Sun
Commitment: No minimum requirement.

Tagger/Measurer/Clothes Hanger
Duties: Volunteer will be helping with the production lines, filling in wherever necessary tagging, measuring and hanging clothes. 
Qualifications: Must be 18 or older.  Able to work with a team in order to have fast turnaround with donations.
Day/Hour: Hours of production are 8am – 5pm M-F.
Commitment:No minimum requirement.

Call Center Donation Solicitor
Duties: Solicits the public for household donations to support Volunteers of America Oregon Thrift Store.
Qualifications: Use of the English language sufficient to communicate with customers, co-workers and supervisor.  Must be able to meet performance standards as established by the organization and have a clear, professional, polite voice on the phone. Must be age 18 or older.
Day/Hour: Monday through Friday 8:00am-1: 00pm and 3:00pm-8: 00pm
Commitment: No minimum requirement

Return to top

PROGRAM: FAMILY RELIEF NURSERY
Contact: Emilie Schulhoff (503) 236-8492
Location: 234 SE 7th Ave, Portland, OR 97214
Comments: Criminal background check required.

Classroom Assistant – Multiple Positions Available
Duties: Assist Family Relief Nursery teachers by using developmentally appropriate methods for small groups of children aged 6 weeks to 5 years.
Qualifications: Ability to model interactions of teachers.  Some lifting with children under 2 ½ years.  Must love children and be able to interact positively.  Must be age 18 or older.
Day/Hour: M, W, Th, F 9:00am-12:00pm
Commitment: We ask for a 3-month commitment, with at least 2 hours a week

Administrative Assistant/ Office Support
Duties: Occupy front desk, answering and routing calls, taking messages as necessary, greeting public, filing, and other office duties as assigned.
Qualifications: Must have a clear, professional, polite phone voice and strong attention to detail. General office or clerical experience is helpful.
Day/Hour: M-F, 7:30am – 12:30 pm
Commitment: We ask for a 3 month commitment with a minimum of 3 hours per week.

Intern/Practicum Student (Early Childhood Education)
Duties: Assist classroom teachers in providing daily care, education and recreation of children, providing emergent, child-directed, developmentally appropriate lessons and activities for children, and fostering positive guidance and behavior management practices for children. Opportunities may also be available for the intern/practicum student to assist teachers with the assessment of children using various tools in order to determine developmental needs and interests.
Qualifications: This position requires the ability to work sensitively and non-judgmentally with parents and children at risk for abuse and neglect, strong interpersonal skills, basic knowledge of child development, basic knowledge of child abuse indicators, beginning classroom management skills, and good problem solving skills.  This intern/practicum position is best suited for a student in their second year of early childhood education training. 
Day/Hour: M, W, Th, F 9:00am-12:00pm
Commitment: We ask for a 3 month commitment with a minimum of 2 hours per week.

PROGRAM: HOME FREE - Domestic Violence Intervention Services
Contact: Samantha at 503.802.0501
Comments: All volunteers must complete 40 hours of training and undergo a criminal history check. Home Free is located in a confidential location.

Kids Group Facilitator
Duties: Kids' Group is a time for children to gain support and information about the violence in their lives and in their homes. Volunteers are trained to facilitate playgroups for children surviving violent homes. Children get to spend time with consistent, trusted adults, and play in a safe, relaxed environment. Children's self-esteem is strengthened as they learn positive ways of relating to others and safe ways to solve problems. You can be the person to bring this experience to the life of a child surviving domestic violence.
Qualifications: Awareness of issues of domestic violence, homelessness, and diversity a plus.  Must be 17 or older. 
Day/Hour: Kids' Groups happen during the week in the evenings.
Commitment: 6 months-1 year at roughly 2-3 hours per week (one kids group per week)

Restraining Order Room Advocate
Duties: Volunteers are trained to assist petitioners with the necessary paperwork to file for a Temporary Restraining Order at the Multnomah County Courthouse. In addition to assisting survivors with the petition, volunteers also provide information and referrals, make safety plans with survivors, share information about navigating the civil legal system, and provide emotional support. Restraining Order Advocates are often the first contact with domestic violence services that survivors have had, and are a critical source of information, safety planning, and support.
Qualifications: Awareness of issues of domestic violence, homelessness, and diversity a plus.  Must be 17 years or older.
Day/Hour: Monday-Friday, 10am-1pm
Commitment: 6 months-1 year at roughly 3-4 hours per week (one shift per week)

Women’s Support Group Facilitator
Duties: Volunteers are trained to co-facilitate support groups for survivors of domestic violence. In groups women can find emotional support, information, develop new skills, connect with other women, and begin healing.
Qualifications: Awareness of issues of domestic violence, homelessness, and diversity a plus.  Must be 17 or older.  Must volunteer for 4-6 months with survivors of domestic or sexual violence (either hotline shifts, restraining order advocacy shifts, etc) and complete a support group facilitators training before co-facilitating support groups.
Day/Hour: Varied
Commitment: 1 year at roughly 3-4 hours per week

Children’s Support Group Facilitator Duties: Volunteers are trained to co-facilitate support groups for children surviving violent homes.  The group provides a safe place for children to begin to identify the difficult experiences that have had to endure and start their healing process.<
Qualifications: Awareness of domestic violence, homelessness, and diversity a plus.  Must be 17 or older.  Must volunteer for 4-6 months as Kids Group Facilitator before starting as a children’s support group facilitator.
Day/Hour: Varied
Commitment: 1 year at roughly 3-4 hours per week

REHABILITATION SERVICES

PROGRAM: COMMUNITY PARTNERS REINVESTMENT PROJECT
Contact: Beth Melville at (503) 595.3477 x228
Location: 537 SE Alder St, Portland, OR 97214 (3rd Floor)

Group Therapy Program Assistant
Duties: Assist counselors by providing building admittance to program participants – men between the ages of 18 and 25 – attending evening group therapy sessions. May also be needed to provide general assistance to family members, i.e., other adults, young children, etc. attending group. Escorting participants to the third-floor meeting location is also required.
Qualifications: Ability to interact positively with a diverse group of people. Must be age 18 or older. An interest in the fields of alcohol and drug treatment or corrections and rehabilitation is helpful. Must be able to climb a lengthy set of stairs.
Day/Hour: M and Th 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Commitment: We ask for a 6-month commitment for 4 hours a week.

PROGRAM: PARENTING PROGRAM
Contact: Colleen Eller at (503) 236-3033
Location: Various locations: Lloyd Center/Benson High area, SE Powell and 122nd, Eastman and Main in Gresham, and NE Alberta and Vancouver

POSITION: Childcare Assistant
Duties:Volunteer provides care for children while their parents attend parenting classes.
Qualifications: Must be 16 or older. Have compassion for children of varied economic/cultural backgrounds
Day/Hour: M, W, F mornings and M, W evenings.
Commitment: Minimum of 2-1/2 hours a week

Return to top

PROGRAM: ADULT DAY SERVICE PROGRAMS
Contact: Karen Crusich RN at (503) 335-9980 or (503) 760-2075
Location: Adult Day Center’s: Marie Smith and Lambert House (See below listings for addresses)

POSITION: Volunteer Registered Nurse
Duties: Monitor the health and well being of our senior day care participants.
Qualifications: Current Oregon license and ability and desire to work with the elderly, physically and mentally challenged and seniors who are affected with dementia.
Commmitment: Minimum of 10 hours/month, prefer a minimum of a 2-month commitment.

Return to top

PROGRAM: LAMBERT HOUSE ADULT DAY CENTER
Contact:David Gruber at (503) 760-2075, (503) 760-2075
Location: 2600 SE 170th, Portland, OR

POSITION: Activities Assistant
Duties: Volunteer would assist frail elderly participating in various activities. The volunteer can have the opportunity to facilitate if he/she chooses. Arts and crafts, exercises, and cognitive enhancement exercise are some of the activities the program needs assistance with. Other duties may include serving meals and helping seniors with everyday tasks
Qualifications: Compassion for the elderly, willingness to be patient, and creative and upbeat personality.
Day/Hour: Hours of operation are M-F 7:30-5:30
Commitment: 2 hours a week preferred, but a minimum of 4 hours a month for 3 months.

POSITION: Dance, Musical or Drama Performance
Duties: Do you dance, play an instrument, sing? Are you in a drama group? Come share your talents!
Qualifications: Any talents that mature adults would enjoy.
Day/Hour: M-F 10:00am-3:00pm.
Commitment: Minimum one to two performances/year.

Return to top

PROGRAM: MARIE SMITH ADULT DAY CENTER
Contact: Tiffany McKenna at (503) 335-9980
Location: 4616 N Albina, Portland, OR 97217

POSITION: Activities Assistant, Exercise Leaders, Meal/Kitchen Prep 
Duties: Volunteer would assist frail elderly participating in various activities. The volunteer can have the opportunity to facilitate if he/she chooses. Arts and crafts, exercises, and cognitive enhancement exercise are some of the activities the program needs assistance with. Other duties may include serving meals and helping seniors with everyday tasks
Qualifications: Compassion for the elderly, willingness to be patient, and creative and upbeat personality.
Day/Hour: Hours of operation are M-F 7:30-5:30
Commitment: 2 hours a week preferred, but a minimum of 4 hours a month for 3 months.

POSITION: Dance, Musical or Drama Performance
Duties: Do you dance, play an instrument, sing? Are you in a drama group? Come share your talents!
Qualifications: Any talents that mature adults would enjoy.
Day/Hour: M-F 10:00am-3:00pm.
Commitment: Minimum one to two performances/year.

POSITION: Muralists
Duties: Volunteer would assist frail elderly participating in a mural project for our outdoor patio area. The volunteer will facilitate the project. 
Qualifications: Compassion for the elderly, willingness to be patient, creative and upbeat personality.  Experience i leading out a group art project, Day/Hour: Hours of operation are M-F 7:30-5:30
Commitment: Flexible

Position: Volunteer Coordinator/Monthly Newsletter assistant  
Duties: Volunteer would help in acquiring, tracking, coordinating community volunteers for the center. Assist in creating the activities schedule of the day center with staff and participant input.
Qualifications: Compassion for the elderly, willingness to be patient, creative and upbeat personality.  Experience using most Microsoft programs, engaging community members in service projects, and recruiting volunteers.
Day/Hour: Hours of operation are M-F 7:30-5:30
Commitment: Flexible

Return to top

NOTE: Some positions may require a criminal history check. You will be notified if this is the case.