Volunteer in Portland, OR

Help sort, repack, and label donated food in the Oregon Food Bank warehouse. Shifts run year-round and are great for individuals, families with kids 6+, and corporate groups. No experience needed; closed-toe shoes required.

Join a neighborhood crew planting trees in Portland yards and street strips. Tools and training provided. Great for first-time volunteers; rain or shine.

Help remove litter from Oregon beaches, rivers, and parks. Hundreds of events statewide each year, including many in the Portland metro. Bags, gloves, and grabbers provided.

Walk shelter dogs, help with enrichment, or assist staff at adoption events. Must be 18+; orientation required. Dog-walking shifts fill fast on weekends.

Drive a route delivering hot meals and a friendly check-in to homebound older adults across Multnomah County. Use your own car; mileage reimbursed. Routes are weekday mid-day.

Help frame, paint, install flooring, and finish homes alongside future Habitat homeowners. All tools and training provided. Must be 16+ (some tasks 18+).

Help maintain 80+ miles of trails in one of the largest urban forests in the U.S. Brushing, drainage, tread repair. Tools and training provided; physical work in all weather.

Help assemble and distribute emergency food and clothing boxes for families in need. Sunshine Division is one of Portland's oldest food relief programs, founded in 1923 alongside the Portland Police Bureau.

Pull invasive species, plant natives, and help maintain trails and wildlife habitat at Bird Alliance of Oregon's NW Portland sanctuary. The org rebranded from Portland Audubon in 2024 to drop the Audubon name.

Cook and serve meals, sort donations, or organize the resource center at Transition Projects shelters across Portland. Major operator of shelter beds in Oregon. Family- and group-friendly options for ages 8+ with adult; 18+ for cooking roles.

Long-term volunteer roles supporting Portland's largest health clinic and youth services for street-involved young people. Background check required; 100-hour commitment; basic CPR maintained.

Help prep, plate, and serve breakfast, lunch, or dinner in Blanchet House's free-meal cafe in Old Town Portland. Volunteers stay to eat with residents and other volunteers afterward. Six days a week.

Build a one-on-one mentoring relationship with a youth in the Portland metro or SW Washington. One-year minimum commitment; fingerprint background check, driving record check, and pre-match training required.

Help run community events, support classes, or assist senior programs at Friendly House, NW Portland's neighborhood community center serving since 1930. Background check may be required for adults.

Help guests engage with art as a gallery educator, greeter, or coat-check helper at Portland's flagship art museum. The docent program was recently restructured into a museum-wide volunteer program.

Welcome visitors and share the history, design, and cultural meaning of Lan Su Chinese Garden in Portland's Old Town. 100+ volunteers support garden tours, cultural programs, horticulture, and upkeep.

Support HIV testing, social services, special events, and reception roles for Oregon and SW Washington's largest HIV/AIDS service organization. Volunteer orientation required.

Respond to local disasters such as home fires by providing immediate assistance to affected families. Disaster response training provided; ability to respond on short notice required.

Help take apart, sort, test, and refurbish donated computers and electronics. Free Geek diverts thousands of devices from landfills. Earn a free refurbished computer after 24 hours of volunteering. Orientation required.

Walk shelter dogs, work in the cattery, or support events at this NE Portland adoption org. Orientation required; 3-month commitment minimum.

Read one-on-one with K-3 students at a local elementary school or preschool for one hour per week during the school year. Builds literacy and confidence in early readers; minors can apply with parental consent.

Provide ongoing support to newly arrived refugee families with English skills, community orientation, and connection to local resources. Helps families navigate their first year in Oregon.