Volunteering in Portland
We can probably all agree that Portland is a pretty incredible city. But that didn’t just happen magically. Portland is the city it is because of strong civic engagement. Not only are Portlanders inclined to stand up for what they believe in, they also love to get involved, help and give back.
Oh how we love this about the Rose City!
If you are curious how to get involved, here are some starting suggestions.
Hands on Greater Portland
If you don’t already have a list of organizations you want to support, Hands on Greater Portland is the perfect way to get started. This clearinghouse organization makes it easy for individuals, families, friend groups and business teams to volunteer for projects that make a difference.
You can browse the Hands on Greater Portland website for a list of activities that are available, or contact them to schedule a group volunteer day. More and more, businesses are hosting group volunteer days, a chance for company team building while giving back. How cool is that?!?
Portland Food Bank
This past year, a team of Urban Nest agents spent a morning volunteering with the Portland Food Bank, and we had an awesome time! The work was fast paced and fun, and we had plenty of time to chat and catch up with each other. It was definitely a memorable day giving back to our community.
The Portland Food Bank thrives on the volunteer groups who come in to help portion out food items for the food boxes they donate. The work they do is so meaningful and on such a large scale that they need to break down the workload and focus on simply one food item at a time. As we did, you might be bagging just carrots for hours. Only carrots. For hours. Carrots for days. Mountains of carrots! And as simple as that may seem, it makes a huge difference. We loved every minute of our time there.
We love this volunteer project because it’s easy, great for groups and perfect for even little kiddos. No special skills required… you just better love carrots (or onions, or whatever they’re packing that day!).
Image courtesy of Friends of Trees
Friends of Trees
Ever notice how many trees there are in this city? That’s thanks, in large part, to the efforts of Friends of Trees. This cool organization works neighborhood by neighborhood to coordinate tree plantings. The homeowners select the tree they want, then a volunteer group forms to help install those trees.
Often these work parties are comprised of people who live in the same neighborhood where the trees are being planted, so it can be a rewarding way to get to know your neighbors. The work requires no advanced skills; the holes have already been expertly dug by trained professionals to ensure the proper placement.
We like this volunteer option because it’s a fun way to be outside and make a big difference, without having to know anything about trees. Bonus: it’s teen friendly so you can bring your kids along for a day of learning more about keeping our city green.
Image Courtesy of Blanchete House via @christinedong
Blanchete House
This project wins our award for giving people dignity.
Blanchet House is a nonprofit social services organization located in downtown Portland. They provide food, clothing and housing programs to people in need because they believe that it is their responsibility to offer assistance in whatever way they can.
Blanchete House is perhaps best known for is their meal program. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner six days a week in their Founders Cafe. These nutritious meals are compassionately served to guests by volunteers. All are welcome to enjoy meals there, no questions asked. Each year, Blanchete House provides approximately 300,000 meals to people without access to food.
What we love about this program is the way in which the food is served. Guests arrive, are greeted, a volunteer helps them to their seat, them someone brings them their meal. It’s compassionate and respectful, no for everyone who walks through the door. For a population of people who are going through extreme life struggles, it is scarce to encounter such moments of dignity.
As Portland faces an ever growing crisis of people who are without reliable, safe shelter, tensions among all people are palpable. Places like Blanchete House are helping de-escalate those tensions, one meal at a time.
We spoke with one woman who volunteers at Blanchete House, and she says it’s the highlight of her week. Though she’s a busy professional, she makes the time to volunteer because it is changing her life. “I sit down with people every week and listen to their stories. My time there has made me so much more compassionate toward the people I pass by every day on the street.”
The Urban Nest Team in action! We love to volunteer and give back.
Find Your Volunteer Groove in Portland
Here at Urban Nest, we believe in continually working to make Portland the great city it is. That’s why we love working closely with our clients to help them find their dream homes, and that’s why we love to volunteer. We know that when we put in a little bit of our time, incredible results happen.
No matter what your interest, there is certainly a volunteer opportunity out there for you. Enjoy your time giving back, you’re sure to be glad you did!