I honestly think kindness is good for the soul, and if you fancy getting a bit more hands-on in worthy projects and associations, Portland offers a wide variety of volunteering opportunities. From people experiencing homelessness to animal shelters, several nonprofit organizations in the city require volunteers’ help to accomplish everyday tasks. Here is my collection of fantastic volunteering opportunities in Portland, Oregon…
Top 3 Best Places to Volunteer in Portland
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Best For Community Nourishment
Best For Community Nourishment Feed The Mass
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Feed The Mass
Feed The Mass is a nonprofit organization that provides high-quality nutrition to needy people. The FED program delivered by Feed The Mass is designed to combat food insecurity and waste by bringing food that would otherwise go unused to those in need. The program has saved 115 thousand pounds of food from being wasted and served 170 thousand meals to people in need.
You can contribute to this fantastic food empowerment initiative by volunteering to prep, cook, and box the food. All volunteers must wear appropriate clothing and bring comfortable work shoes to cook in. Each shift is about three hours, but volunteers can stay longer and I think it’s a great way to give back to the community.
Pros
Great cause
Positive community impact
Flexible volunteer hours
Cons
Limited volunteer attire specifics
Three-hour commitment
Nearby Attractions
Mill Ends Park
Steel Bridge
Must Do Things
Volunteer to prep and cook meals.
Help box food for those in need.
Facilities
Meal Preparation
Food Donation Distribution
Animal Aid PDX
Animal Aid PDX is one of my favorite nonprofit organizations that runs a free-roam animal shelter for cats and several animal care programs. The organization is committed to improving the welfare of companion animals through rescue and adoption, education, resources, and individualized careers.
It Takes a Pack is a community supply-sharing initiative by Animal Aid that makes essential animal care supplies available to more people and their pets.
The Animal Aid Cares Fund by Animal Aid is a partnership with local veterinarians, trainers, and behavior whereby urgent medical or behavioral care is provided to animals. You can volunteer to assist in administrative work, caregiving, socializing, fostering, and rescue.
Pros
Meaningful animal welfare work.
Diverse volunteer opportunities.
Supportive community engagement.
Caring colleagues
Cons
Limited opportunities for non-local volunteers
Emotionally challenging.
Nearby Attractions
Titos Taquitos
Steeplejack Pizza and Beer
Must Do Things
Help with essential supply distribution.
Join the Animal Aid Cares Fund support team.
Facilities
Animal Shelter Care
Veterinary Assistance
Educational Resources
Blanchet House of Hospitality
Blanchet House of Hospitality is a nonprofit organization offering food, shelter, clothing, and aid to all those in need. They run four programs: Residential Program, Blanchet Farm, Meal Program, and Clothing Program.
The Residential Program is designed to help people struggling with mental health, addiction, unemployment, and other challenges. Residents of the Blanchet House must perform modern work duties such as preparing and serving food for the public.
The Meal Program serves those in need with breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The Clothing Program provides clean clothing to people in need on a first-come, first-serve basis.
You can join the noble efforts of the organization by volunteering in any of these programs. Volunteers must make care kits for people experiencing homelessness, make fresh meals for their needy neighbors, or donate clothing.
Pros
Meaningful volunteering opportunities.
A diverse range of programs.
Addresses homelessness holistically.
Involves residents in community service.
Cons
Busy shifts
Nearby Attractions
Ground Kontrol Classic Arcade and Bar
Steel Bridge
Must Do Things
Assemble care kits for the homeless with essential items.
Volunteer to cook and serve meals for the homeless.
Facilities
Clothing Distribution
Meal Service
Oregon Humane Society
Oregon Humane Society is a nonprofit animal shelter supporting more than 11,000 animals annually. They have no time limit on how long animals can stay at the top.
They are committed to finding the best matches between pets and adopters.
You can contribute in many ways to help the shelter save animal lives. They offer many volunteering opportunities for adults, youngsters, and groups.
Pros
Long-term animal care.
Pet and adopter matchmaking.
Diverse volunteer opportunities.
Supports over 11
000 animals annually.
Cons
Can be emotionally tough
Nearby Attractions
Roake's
Troy Clayton Outdoor Spaces
Must Do Things
Dedicate your support by becoming a volunteer.
Find your perfect furry companion for a lifetime.
Facilities
Animal Shelter
Volunteer Opportunities
On The Move
A nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They run several programs to help such individuals access their community through meaningful, environmentally responsible, and enriching activities.
All programs are designed to promote social inclusion and social justice by helping people with intellectual development fully participate in community activities.
You can join this community integration initiative by volunteering for the organization.
Cons
Limited geographic reach.
Some specific skills needed
Nearby Attractions
Evermore Guesthouse
Studio One Theaters
Must Do Things
Volunteer to support community integration.
Engage in enriching activities with individuals with disabilities.
Facilities
Community inclusion programs.
Volunteer opportunities.
The Arc Portland Metro
The Arc Portland Metro is a donation center providing advocacy, support, and services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The organization offers training and assistance to such individuals through community inclusion activities.
They run three well-designed programs to help adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) build a good life for themselves.
The Community Support Services train them to perform activities like writing out grocery lists, grocery shopping, and preparing nutritious meals.
The Recreation Club provides individuals above 15 with IDDs a safe place for in-person gatherings. The self-directed club helps promote self-confidence and self-determination among such individuals.
The center welcomes virtual volunteers throughout the meetings and engages with participants positively
Pros
Empowers self-determination.
Engages virtual volunteers.
Promotes self-confidence.
It helps build independent lives.
Cons
Requires virtual participation.
May lack a physical presence
Nearby Attractions
Juvenile Justice Complex
Rose City Golf Course
Must Do Things
Encourage self-confidence and self-determination in a safe environment.
Help individuals learn essential life skills.
Facilities
Advocacy Support
Community Inclusion Training
Recreation Club for Social Interaction
Paw Team
Paw Team offers veterinary services for the pets of families facing financial hardship. It aids people living on the streets through government housing and transitional shelters.
They run a robust medical program providing veterinary care to over 1,000 families in Portland annually.
The services offered by Paw Team include weekday appointments and vaccination at their facility in northeast Portland, medication, management of specific chronic conduction, food, and animal supplies.
You can help the Paw Team sustain these services by volunteering for them.
Pros
Supports pet owners in need.
Provides vital veterinary care.
Aids homeless pet owners.
Offers a range of services.
Cons
Sometimes wait times for volunteer placements
Nearby Attractions
Rose City Golf Course
Happy Dragon Chinese Restaurant
Must Do Things
Donate funds or pet supplies to aid their mission.
Offer your time and skills to help pets and families in need.
Facilities
Volunteer Opportunities
Veterinary Services
Guardian Partners
A nonprofit organization providing education, case monitoring, and resources to court-appointed guardians and other fiduciaries in Oregon on behalf of the court system.
They are committed to protecting the dignity and safety of people under guardianship, including minors and adults with cognitive disabilities.
Volunteers work closely with guardians and observe individuals under guardianship. They conduct a wellness assessment by interviewing people under control and presenting their findings to the county court.
Pros
Support for cognitive disabilities
Extensive volunteer training
Promotes dignity and safety
Guardianship wellness assessments
Cons
Volunteer commitment is required
Limited geographical focus
Nearby Attractions
Emerald Empire Gun Club
Pine Ridge Golf Club
Must Do Things
Attend workshops or training sessions to better understand guardianship and the legal responsibilities involved
Join as a volunteer and advocate for the rights and well-being of individuals with cognitive disabilities
Facilities
Education
Wellness assessment
House of Dreams
House of Dreams is a free-roam shelter that rescues and cares for homeless and abandoned cats. They are committed to providing permanent homes to cats in their facility. Cats living there have their own private space where they can explore, circulate, and curl up.
They also offer cats for adoption to loving families looking for companion animals. All healthy or treatable cats are welcome at this no-kill shelter.
You can safely engage with House of Dreams by completing the volunteer application on their website.
Volunteers must clean the shelter, groom animals, fundraising help, community outreach, and volunteer coordination.
Pros
Cats have space to explore and relax.
Provides a caring haven for abandoned cats.
Commitment to the well-being of all cats.
Cons
Must love cats!
Nearby Attractions
Luuwit Skate Spot
Luuwit View Dog Park
Burgerville
Must Do Things
Attend or organize events to help raise funds for the shelter.
Find your companion among the cats available for adoption.
Contribute your time to care for and engage with rescued cats.
Facilities
Adoption Services
Free-roam Shelter
Rose Haven
Rose Haven is a community center and one-day shelter on Glisan Street in northwest Portland. They are committed to providing day shelter, resources, community connections, and emotional support to women, children, and gender-diverse people affected by poverty, homelessness, and abuse.
They specifically focus their efforts on the marginalized people of Portland.
You can make a valuable contribution to this initiative through volunteering or donations. All you have to do is fill out an application on their website.
After that, you will receive an invitation to an in-person volunteer orientation via email.
Pros
Empowers marginalized communities.
Holistic support services.
Welcoming day shelter.
Focused local impact
Cons
Dependency on donations.
Application process required
Nearby Attractions
Irving Street Tapas
Beau Thai Restaurant
Providence Park
Must Do Things
Make a difference through contributions to empower marginalized individuals.
Join the community by offering your time and skills.
Facilities
Day Shelter
Volunteer Opportunities
Community Connections
The Pixie Project
The Pixie Project is an animal adoption center offering various services, including pet adoption, pet owner education, free spay and neuter, and veterinary care for low-income pet owners.
They rescue animals from different places and provide them with an urban outlet where animals have maximum exposure to potential adopters. They also offer veterinary and training support to all rescued animals.
You can help The Pixie Project provide animals with a safe and clean living environment by volunteering for them.
They have many volunteering opportunities, including dog walking, shelter cleaning, event organization, fundraising, and animal transportation.
Pros
Maximize adoption opportunities for animals
Vet care and training for rescues
Promotes a clean and safe environment
Cons
May face resource constraints
Nearby Attractions
Buckman Field Park
Voodoo Doughnut - Davis
Must Do Things
Help transport rescued animals to and from veterinary appointments
Support the cause by participating in or organizing fundraising activities
Facilities
Pet Adoption Services
Low-Income Veterinary Care
Easterseals Oregon
Easterseals is a nonprofit organization providing disability services, workforce development, and housing to veterans of the U.S. military and their families, children and adults with disabilities and special needs, individuals with language and literacy barriers, and seniors affected by financial hardship or homelessness.
You can volunteer for Easterseals Oregon by completing an application form on their website. They’ll’ seek opportunities for you to engage in different activities at their offices, camps, and events.
Pros
Inclusive Support Services
Diverse Community Impact
Veteran-Focused Initiatives
Holistic Approach to Well-being
Cons
Limited Geographic Reach
Volunteer Availability Dependencies
Funding Challenges
Nearby Attractions
Hilltop Cafe
Oregon Camp Cedarbrook
Must Do Things
Learn about diverse programs aiding children
veterans
and individuals
Attend and contribute to Easterseals events for community support
Facilities
Housing for Veterans
Disability Services
Cat Adoption Team
Cat Adoption Team is the largest cat-only animal shelter in the Pacific Northwest. They offer adoption, foster care, veterinary services to homeless cats, and low-cost spay and neuter services to owned cats.
The Sherwood shelter and retail store connects homeless cats with loving families. They run an on-site veterinary hospital, a thrift store, a spay and neuter clinic, and animal care programs like CAT Food Bank, the Nine Lives Transfer Program, and the Animal Shelter Alliance of Portland (ASAP).
You can become a part of the CAT community by volunteering to perform duties like socializing with cats, raising awareness at outreach events, and fundraising,.
Pros
Specialized cat care
Connects cats with loving families
Shelter with a thrift store
Cons
Exclusively cat-focused
Nearby Attractions
US Interior Department
Mazatlan Restaurant Sherwood
Must Do Things
Make a difference by aiding in cat care or outreach efforts
Find your perfect companion among the diverse cat personalities
Facilities
Community Outreach
Veterinary Care
Legacy Hospice Services
Legacy Hospice Services provides care for terminally ill individuals and those struggling with life-limiting illnesses.
They offer many services, including medical care, pain management, therapies, family counseling, financial guidance, spiritual services, and bereavement support.
Each patient gets individualized care from the highly skilled hospice team, including a doctor, nurse, bereavement counselor, social worker, chaplain, and volunteer.
Volunteers work with the team to provide patient care and emotional support.
Pros
Compassionate End-of-Life Support
Comprehensive Multidisciplinary Team
Tailored Individualized Patient Care
Opportunities for Meaningful Volunteerism
Cons
Emotional Nature of Volunteer Work
Nearby Attractions
Portland Rock Gym
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Portland
Must Do Things
Engage in family counselling to provide emotional support and understanding
Support terminally ill patients by donating your time and compassion
Facilities
Bereavement Support
Medical Care
Store-to-Door Volunteering
Store-to-Door of Oregon is a nonprofit organization supporting independent living in the Portland area for seniors and people with disabilities by providing an affordable, personal, volunteer-based grocery shopping and delivery service.
The organization has a 34-year history of delivering nourishment and social connections for our community’s’ most vulnerable citizens.
They constantly seek like-minded people in our community to help support our organization.
They have five volunteer opportunities: Order Takers, Grocery Shoppers, Delivery Drivers, Food Box Packers, and Friday Friendly Callers.
Order Takers and Friday Friendly Callers can volunteer remotely from home.
Pros
Empowers independence for seniors
34 years of reliable support for grocery shopping
Allows remote volunteering for convenience
Supports both seniors and people with disabilities
Cons
Limited to the Portland area
Not all roles allow remote participation
Nearby Attractions
Spring Garden Park
Multnomah Arts Center
Must Do Things
Assist remotely by taking grocery orders from seniors and disabled individuals
Make a difference by delivering groceries to those in need
Facilities
Diverse Volunteer Roles
Remote Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteer-Based Grocery Shopping
Portland Homeless Family Solutions
Portland Homeless Family Solutions is a nonprofit organization that helps homeless families with children move back into safe housing as soon as possible.
They help families sustain their housing long-term by providing rent assistance and case management for up to a year.
They prevent homelessness by paying security deposits, moving costs, and back rent for families. Homeless families get a safe place to sleep with all basic amenities, including food, laundry, showers, clothing, and computers.
They rely on hundreds of volunteers to provide these support services to families.
Pros
Alleviates homelessness directly
Provides up to a year of rent assistance
Engages volunteers for widespread impact
Cons
Emotional impact
Nearby Attractions
Glenwood City Park
Kalberer Frame & Line-Up
Must Do Things
Join campaigns to raise awareness and prevent homelessness in Portland
Engage in events to raise funds for rent assistance programs
Assist families with housing
offering support and basic amenities
Facilities
Volunteer Opportunities
Rent Assistance
Score Portland
Score Portland is a business management consultancy firm that provides education and training to entrepreneurs.
They conduct no-cost or low-cost small business workshops to promote startup formation, growth, and success in the Portland community.
You can also support small businesses as a volunteer at Score.
You can volunteer based on your qualifications as a business mentor, local workshop presenter, subject matter expert, and project manager for marketing, community outreach, and chapter support.
Pros
Matching skills for effective support
Fosters local business growth
Low-cost workshops for startups
Empower entrepreneurs through training
Cons
Primarily serves Portland
Nearby Attractions
Massage & Yoga with Em
Tom's Pancake House
Must Do Things
Attend no-cost workshops for startup success
Volunteer as a business mentor or workshop presenter
Facilities
Business Volunteer Opportunities
Entrepreneurial Workshops
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Beth Pinches – writer and photographer
Beth was born under a wandering star, with drama in her veins and ink in her pen. After stints studying theatre in Dublin and Utrecht she used her creative streak to see as much of the world as she could on as little money. She toured Italian Schools with a children’s theatre troop, lived as an au pair in both Rome and Washington DC, explored the British countryside, worked her way through much of Europe, Salsa danced in Cuba and road-tripped down America’s west coast where she discovered her spiritual home; Portland, Oregon. Other places she loves include Croatia, Finland, Japan and India. In between adventures, travel writing and performing she resides peacefully with her family, cats and ukulele. Find Beth on Linkedin or Facebook.
Hotel Reviewing Experience – Asked by many tourist boards and many high-profile travel brands to formally review hotels including Visit Jersey, Visit Sweden, and Israel Tourist Board. Also travelled around the world scouting out and reviewing all the most unique hotels in the world, check out our Instagram page for photos. Listed as a top UK travel journalist.
Portland Reviewing Experience – Lived in Portland for 6 months and spent many months scouting out all the coolest spots.
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