Volunteering is a great way to connect with your community and feel involved. It’s a way to make a difference and even learn new skills or make professional contacts. Volunteering has even been shown to reduce stress. According to some research, it creates a sense of well-being, much in the same way exercise or meditation does. Experts go on to suggest that focusing on someone other than ourselves can interrupt our normal tension producing patterns.
Now is a great time to resolve to give back to your community by volunteering. Here are just a few of the many volunteer needs currently available in Portland, Oregon.
“I Have a Dream” Foundation-Oregon
The “I Have a Dream” Foundation’s mission statement states their goal is to assure that every Oregon child graduates from high school prepared for college or meaningful employment. They provide a 10 year, year round program of mentoring, tutoring and enrichment and provide tuition assistance for higher education. Currently, “I Have a Dream” Foundation is looking for volunteers in several different areas: After school tutors, college task force, Dream Maker mentor, outreach assistant, program assistant, rock climbing instructor, and stress and anger management workshop facilitator.
Some of these opportunities requires as little as an hour a week. Some will require specific skills. You can check with their website, or contact “I Have a Dream” Foundation at 503-287-7203. They are located at 1478 NE Killingsworth Ave., Portland, OR 97211.
Portland Children’s Museum
If you enjoy working around creative and energetic children, The Children’s Museum is the place for you to volunteer. Their mission is to inspire imagination, creativity and the wonder of learning in children and adults by inviting moments of shared discovery. Currently, the Children’s Museum has openings for volunteers in the following areas: Clay glazing workshop assistant, Five friends from Japan exhibit, greeter and store keeper, painters for new exhibits, internships, office assistant, play guide, studio assistant and “world sounds”. They are also looking for volunteers to help pack up and move a traveling exhibit.
For more information, you can check the Children’s Museum’s web site, or contact them at 503-471-9906. They are located at 4015 SW Canyon Rd., Portland, OR 97221.
CASH
CASH, or Creating Assets, Savings and Hope is a community partnership focused on promoting financial stability for eligible families and individuals in Oregon by increasing the utilization of low-income tax credits, by improving financial skills, and by improving access to other government assistance programs. CASH has a few opportunities for volunteers including greeter, interpreter, tax preparer and volunteer child care provider. This is a great way to help people get back on their feet financially and get access to the millions of dollars of unclaimed tax credits designated for low to middle income families. To contact CASH, you can call them at 503-288-5528 or visit their offices at 2010 Lloyd Center, Portland, OR 97232
These are just a few of the volunteer opportunities currently available in the Portland, Oregon area. There is literally something for every interest and skill set. Volunteering is not just working in a soup kitchen or sorting clothes for a thrift store. Help is needed at many levels and in many areas. Check around and you will certainly find a great volunteer match.
