Get Involved. Problem Solved! Volunteering with Impact NW

Program Size: 2,700 volunteers

Participants: Businesses, individuals, families, schools, faith groups, community groups and more.

Impact: Volunteers contributed 39,000 hours last year.

Impact NW welcomes volunteers seeking enriching experiences benefiting the lives of low-income youth, families seniors, and adults with disabilities. Begin the process by completing a volunteer application. Impact NW performs background checks on all applicants volunteering on an ongoing basis.

Download a Volunteer Application

We have many opportunities available for individuals and groups. Below you’ll find ways you can be involved. If you are interested, please contact Jill Morrow at 503-988-4996 x265 or jmorrow@impactnw.org.

Current Volunteer Needs

(Last updated: January 12, 2010)

Meal Servers & Activity Hosts for Congregate Housing Services Program
The Congregate Housing Services Program (CHSP) is a program designed to assist seniors and adults with disabilities to live independently in their own apartments. It provides services and assistance including meals, housekeeping, personal care, companionship, and case management. We are looking for volunteers to assist with daily meal services, making food deliveries and socializing with the residents by hosting group games or activities such bingo, crafts, Tai Chi, writing and nutrition.
Location: We have several locations throughout the Portland area
Commitment: Dinner is served every evening and Saturday lunch is provided at every CHSP location. Volunteers are needed between 3-5pm, Monday-Friday and 11-1pm on Saturdays. Volunteers can sign up for one day a week/month.

Kids on the Block Awareness Program Puppeteers
Join the Kids on the Block Awareness Program to help bring important messages of understanding and acceptance to children, and skills for coping with life’s challenges. We are looking for volunteer puppeteers perform scripted shows in teams and speak directly to school-age youth by modeling problem solving behaviors, answering questions, and teaching skills that will help children stay safe, healthy and happy. We provide full instruction and ongoing support, helping you develop performance and puppeteering skills, and you use these skills to bring critical messages to children in a meaningful way.
Location: Performances are held throughout the Portland area.
Commitment: Complete 25 - 40 hours of training, practice, observation and rehearsal during the first year. Puppeteer show commitments vary.

Senior Money Management Program Coordinator
Impact Northwest’s Money Management Program is seeking a volunteer with strong leadership, organizational and team-building skills to fill a part-time volunteer Program Coordinator position. This is an exciting opportunity help build a team of volunteers and provide a much needed service that protects vulnerable individuals from fraud, and financial abuse. The AARP Money Management Program helps low-income seniors and people with disabilities maintain financial stability thorough one-on-one service provided by trained volunteers. Training and on-going operational support is provided by Impact NW and Easter Seals Oregon.
Location: Positions available in Vancover, WA and Multnomah County
Commitment: 20 hours a week, days flexible Monday-Friday

Data Entry & Administrative Support
Gain work experience while volunteering for our Quality Assurance program. We need someone with previous data base, administrative and computer experience help with data entry and filing.
Location: Dancing Tree Family Center, 10055 E. Burnside, Portland, OR 97216
Commitment: 20 hours a week, days flexible Monday-Friday

Classroom Assistants in SUN Community Schools
SUN (Schools Uniting Neighborhoods) Community Schools are located in Multnomah and Washington Counties and are designed to transform schools into community learning centers and promote student achievement and enrichment through greater neighborhood involvement. They provide educational, recreational, social and health services, serving a wide age group from preschoolers to seniors in high school. We are looking for groups or individual volunteers to help students with homework, teach a class or assist with after school activities or events.
Location: several schools throughout Multnomah County
Commitment: After school programming occurs Monday-Thursday, 2:30pm-6pm. Commitment is flexible depending on need at each school

Parent Child Development Classroom Assistant
Impact NW’s Parent Child Development Services and Healthy Start programs are founded on the fundamental principle that parents are their children’s first and most influential teachers. The programs work with parents of children ages 0-5 in support of developing strong, nurturing families and healthy, thriving children through intensive home visiting services, parenting education, assessment and referral. Support the happy, healthy development of at-risk children ages 0-5 by assisting with a fun Parent Child Interactive Playgroups or by providing childcare during parent support groups. Spanish-English bilingual skills preferred.
Location: Dancing Tree Family Center, 10055 E. Burnside, Portland, 97216 OR Brentwood-Darlington Community Center, 7211 SE 62nd, Portland, 97206
Commitment: Mondays 9:30am-11:30am, 6-month commitment required

Drivers Needed for Healthy Start Dad’s Group
Impact NW’s Healthy Start program recognizes that being a parent is not easy and provides services in Multnomah County to support first-time parents to be the best parents they can be. Play groups are being organized in order to help parents network with each other. They provide a space where socialization skills for the children are being learned, and support systems for the parents are being strengthened. The Healthy Start program at Impact NW is searching for volunteers to help families get to their Father-Child Interaction Groups to support Early Childhood Education. We would like 2 drivers for each group to help transport families to and from classes.
Location: Dad’s groups are located at the Brentwood-Darlington Community Center, 7211 SE 62nd Ave, Portland, OR 97206
Commitment: 1st Monday of each month (class is from 6-7pm) or 3rd Monday of each month (class is from 6-7:30pm). Volunteers will be processed through a DMV screening through Impact NW.

Graphic Design Guru
Help the Community Involvement office of Impact Northwest re-design their outreach display board with pictures and information about our programs. Previous graphic design experience required and creative computer software preferred.
Location: Dancing Tree Family Center, 10055 E. Burnside, Portland, OR 97216
Commitment: Short-term project to be completed the first week of February.

More Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities

Click here to learn more about long-term and ongoing volunteer opportunities such as mentoring a school age youth and providing companionship for homebound seniors.