Volunteering is always a great way to give back to the community. Luckily, Portland has many easy and fun options for students looking to get involved. Volunteering is just a small way to give back, but it can change someone’s life. Volunteering helps you gain knowledge and perspective on those whose lives are different from your own. It also gives you experience that can boost your college and job applications. There are many programs that are looking for high school students to help out the community.
If you are interested in caring for animals, the Oregon Humane Society (OHS) is a great place to volunteer and learn about caring for pets. They have periodic time slots to apply for a volunteer position, and each application is reviewed by the head of the volunteer program, Monica Nash. “The youth volunteer program seeks to support OHS’ larger mission of creating a more humane society. Likewise, we seek to prepare young people for a lifetime of advocacy for animal welfare,” she says. Depending on what day your shift is, there are five two-hour shifts in a week, discounts in the in-house store, free adoption after 100 hours of volunteering, and classes on pet handling and socializing with animals. You can find much more information on their website: www.oregonhumane.org.
Medicine is a great career path, and Kaiser Permanente, one of the country’s largest healthcare companies, has an exceptional high school and college student volunteer program. They have many locations close to Portland, including locations in Beaverton, Clackamas, Gresham, Hillsboro, and Vancouver. This volunteer opportunity is year-round and requires 50 hours of work over six months and a background check for volunteers 18 years or older. The program focuses on helping students understand the medical field better and lets students tour clinics and complete service hours. After completing the online application and going through the interview process, volunteers will go through orientation and training. You can learn more on their website: www.kpnwvolunteer.org/clinic-teen-volunteer-requirements.
If you love the outdoors, ecological studies are a great field to go into. The Columbia Estuary Project focuses on making sure our wildlife and waterways are clean for future generations. They have multiple projects all around Oregon and its coastline. There is also a summer program that takes you paddling down local rivers to learn about teamwork and wildlife management. You must be at least 15 years old to volunteer without a parent or guardian present. More information can be found on their website: www.estuarypartnership.org/our-work/education-programs/summer-programs.
Multnomah Education Service District’s Outdoor School program is great if you want to work with kids. This program focuses on outdoor skills, science, and gaining experience outside of an urban setting. High school leaders are in charge of cabin groups of about 10 sixth graders, and they run field study programs that help kids learn about science and nature. “It was a super meaningful experience and made me a more understanding and patient person,” says Astrid Robin, a junior at Franklin and two-time student leader at Outdoor School. “I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys working with kids and likes going outside,” says Sydney Hoeft, another student leader. There are multiple different sites for the program that students can choose to go to. These sites usually run as summer camps; for example, Camp Collins, Camp Namanu, and Camp Westwind.
The Oregon Food Bank is also always looking for student volunteers to help out. They have an online application so students can coordinate around their schedules and needs. They host weekly food drives, which are held all over town, and volunteers can choose which ones they want to participate in. Oregon Food Bank’s whole-hearted focus is on helping people who have less access to food, aiming to eliminate hunger because no one should be hungry. More information can be found on their website: www.mobilize.us/oregonfoodbank.
Volunteering is a great way to get involved and gain new experiences throughout your community. It can give you a sense of purpose and create a lasting impact on others. Volunteering is also a great way to meet new people and build healthy relationships. It strengthens your ties to the community and exposes you to people with similar interests, while giving you the opportunity to practice and develop your social skills. If you are interested in volunteering, check out some of these programs, and start getting involved.
