Volunteer

For the most up-to-date volunteer listings for our center and other organizations in the greater Portland area, visit www.handsonportland.org. If you'd like to join the center's volunteer team, please email or call Catherine West at cwest@ttsd.k12.or.us or (503) 603-1588. There are many ways to get involved throughout the year. Volunteer applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

English Class Teacher

You could make the difference! A wise person once said that the world is a house and every language you learn opens the door to another room in the house. For most non-native English speakers living in the United States, acquiring the English language makes a huge difference in their lives, from helping them feel more confident doing everyday tasks like going to the grocery store or answering the telephone to getting more involved in their children’s education to greatly improving their employment situation. There aren’t many English classes out there and what does exist is often too expensive for many people who are on a tight budget.

Would you like to assist in an adult English Language Learner (ELL) classroom? If you have a couple hours once a week, we could use your help. You could make a major difference in people’s lives, helping them to learn English and opening up a world of opportunities.

Volunteer teachers are required to make a minimum commitment of one full quarter (three months). There are materials for classes here at the center available for use in the classroom. However, teachers’ own expertise, games, ideas, and knowledge are always welcome. Resources and students are waiting for you. The classes follow Portland Community College’s quarterly schedule, so be sure to contact the center before the beginning of the quarter if you are interested in pursuing volunteer teaching opportunities.

Spanish-speaking Women’s Arts & Crafts Group Leader

Many women who have adapted to the U.S. lifestyle from other places in the world have expressed feelings of isolation and loneliness. That’s one of the reasons why the center's women’s social group has been so popular. It has served not only as a way for women to share their expertise in sewing and crafts with each other, but also as a powerful community-building tool. The social group is currently looking for a new leader. Could that person be you? All you need is a sense of humor, a knack for arts and crafts, and fluency in Spanish.

It’s the little things you do…

Don’t have the time to commit to a weekly or bi-weekly volunteer position? Maybe you could fit one of these opportunities into your busy schedule:

• Place a donation container in your community center, church, or apartment complex. Request a different type of donation each week or month (toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss; school supplies; toilet paper). Make fliers, collect donations, and deliver them to the resource center.

• Run a fundraiser and purchase hygiene products, furniture, or gas or food vouchers with the donations.

• Write local companies requesting donations for families that come to the center (coupons for sandwiches, gasoline vouchers, holiday meal coupons).

• Sponsor a Dental Van to provide emergency dental care to uninsured children and families in your community.

• Make a cash donation to the center.

• Take center brochures and fliers to various locations in the community (doctors’ offices, hospitals, churches, apartment complexes).

• Join the center's Steering Committee and share your expertise and opinions regarding community needs, program goals and objectives, and the day-to-day functions of the resource center. The Steering Committee meets once every other month.

• Tour the resource center and come up with your own creative ideas.