Holiday Volunteering

Get involved this holiday season!

As the clouds roll in and the skies darken earlier, nonprofits across the Greater Portland area are looking for volunteers like you to brighten the day by lending a hand!
 

► Have a few hours?

Check out our Project Calendar to find a variety of "done-in-a-day" volunteer opportunities.

  • Look for *Hands On* in the title to find projects managed by us. You can sign up in two clicks to join a group of volunteers on a 2-4 hour project, lead by a trained volunteer leader; no experience or ongoing commitment required!

  • Look for "Referral" in the title to find projects managed directly by our many wonderful nonprofit partners. Express interest in one of these opportunities, and you'll hear back from the managing organization with next steps.


► Deepen your impact...

Search all of our volunteer opportunities to find longer-term or skills-based opportunities with our 300+ non-profit partners. You can hone your search by keyword, zipcode, availability & more! In the search results, look for opportunities with the time listed as "Open" to find opportunities that could use your help for more than a single shift.


► Seeking assistance?

If you are seeking food or gift assistance during the holidays, please visit 211info to get connected with programs that can help.


► Have items to donate?

Here at Hands On, we have many amazing nonprofit partners with holiday programs that couldn’t happen without in-kind donations from generous individuals like you. From unwrapped gifts to books to hygiene kits to hats, take a look at the list below to find something you could give!

For general donations of “stuff”, check out DonorsResource.org, a local organization whose mission it is to connect individuals and corporate donors who want to give in-kind donations (non-monetary) to nonprofit organizations that need them.

Volunteers of America: Giving to Seniors

Give frail elderly the gift of community this holiday season by showing they are remembered and special! They love comfy socks, hats, fancy bars of soap, boxes of candy, snow globes, small jewelry for ladies, ball caps for the fellas. VOA would also love a group or individual to prepare / purchase and deliver a warm holiday meal ready for serving to 40+ participants for our Holiday Party (date TBD).
To donate, please contact Nancy Loso, Volunteer Services Manager, at nloso@voaor.org / 503-595-2009.

Northwest Children's Outreach: Comfort for the Kids

Donations sought include:
● Disposable diapers, including pull ups - all sizes, partial/open bags ok.
● Baby blankets and buntings for 9 mo and under.
● Children's GENTLY used shoes, socks, winter coats, underwear, hats.
● GENTLY used stuffed animals and Children's books.
● Intact toys, games and puzzles.
● New hygiene products-shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap-are also appreciated.
Each month the Pearl District Center gives away hundreds of these items. For more information on how to donate visit www.northwestchildrensoutreach.org

Salvation Army: Gifts for Kids & Teens

The Salvation Army's Angel Tree program partners with folks and businesses in the community who are willing to donate unwrapped gifts for kids and teens of all ages across the metro area. The program serves about 16,000 individuals over Christmas, and anything helps!
If you're interested in donating, contact Rhona Brant at rhona.brant@usw.salvationarmy.org or 503-793-3245.

Domestic Violence Resource Center: Gift Cards for Domestic Violence Survivors

Empower domestic violence survivors to get what they need, when they need it, by donating gift cards in small increments ($10-$50) to Fred Meyer, Target, WinCo, and Walgreens. All gift cards become a part of our Survivor Empowerment Fund, created to support survivors and their families not only during the holidays, but throughout the entire year.
To donate gift cards, please contact Christie Costello at 503-926-3245 or christiec@dvrc-or.org.

Outside In: Wishlist Gifts for Homeless Youth

Each year Outside In seeks support from the community for its Giving Tree program so that each homeless youth who spends the holidays with us has a gift to open and feels included. Businesses, churches, families, and other groups may choose items from our wish list, or Outside In can provide gift tags. To learn more, contact Lauren Chandler, Volunteer Manager at laurenc@outsidein.org or 503.535.3840.

Powerhouse Mentoring Program: Gift Cards for Teens in Foster Care

Powerhouse Mentoring Program provides caring mentors for teens in foster care and we can really use gift cards to Starbucks, Jamba Juice, ice cream/frozen yogurt shops, etc. so our mentors and mentees can have a treat now and then without it costing the mentor a lot of money. Call them at 503-234-8757 x24 to coordinate donation details.

The Giving Tree: Support Low-Income Families

The Giving Tree's clients have 3 major needs this holiday season:
1. Gift cards to Fred Meyer, Trader Joe's, or Whole Foods
2. Trimet tickets (packs of 10: 2 zone or all zone for adults or youth)
3. Hygiene items: quality razors and shaving cream, soap and washcloths/bath poofs
Please contact The Giving Tree at (503) 200-5528 or info@thegivingtreenw.org to arrange a time to drop off donations at our NE location. For corporate or large volume donations, pickup can be arranged.

Northwest Portland Ministries: Hygiene Goody Bags for Individuals Facing Homelessness

Northwest Portland Ministries holds an annual Christmas Party, hosted at Congregation Beth Israel and attended by 600 people. Each guest receives a goody bag with hygiene items such as a toothbrush and paste, hand sanitizer, shampoo, deodorant, and a pair of socks or mittens. To assemble and donate hygiene goodie bags, contact Darr Durham at darr@nwpm.org.

City of Hillsboro -- Donate Old Cell phones to Domestic Violence Survivors

Hillsboro Police Department provides 911 cell phones for victims of domestic violence. As victims work to leave their agressors personal freedom may be restricted by the person they are trying to leave. Cell phones that dial 911 provide victims and their children an invaluable resource in the event they need help. Victims are provided multiple phones that they can hide so that if one is found they still have options. Please donate your old cell phone and charger to this important community cause. You can mail it or drop it off:

Hillsboro Police Department
Attn Susie Serres,
20795 NW Cornell Rd
Hillsboro, OR. 97124.

Questions? Call Susie at 503-681-6474.

Children's Book Bank: Kids Books (in Spanish, a plus!) for Headstart Children

Over 40% of the children served by The Children's Book Bank speak Spanish at home, so books in Spanish are particularly appreciated. New books, along with used books, are also helpfu; one new book is included in each backpack of books distributed by The Children's Book Bank to kids in low-income households. Books may be donated at The Children's Book Bank, 1728 NE Glisan St., Portland OR 97232.

Bienestar: Holiday Wreaths to Benefit Struggling Farmworkers

Bienestar works to build housing, hope, and futures for the well-being of working families. Bienestar believes that all work is honorable and champions those who provide essential labor to the community. We work in the midst of the poorest neighborhoods to unleash the potential of people to improve the quality of life for themselves, their children, their families, and the community. This holiday season, purchase a holiday wreath to benefit our programs for struggling farmworker families. Great as gifts--can be shifted anywhere in the U.S. All wreaths are produced by a local-family-owned business in Oregon. Wreaths are 20" in outside diameter. Fresh, fragrant handcrafted Oregon evergreens - Noble Fir, Berried Juniper, Incense Cedar, and pine cones. $42 includes free shipping anywhere in the US. To order, visit: www.bienestar-or.org
 

Café au Play: Durable Toys Needed!

Café au Play is a nonprofit community center coffeehouse in SE Portland. The mission of Café au Play is to provide support for children and families by nurturing connections among caregivers and empowering people of all ages to exchange resources. Cafe au Play has a play area for infants, toddlers and preschool-age children. We are always in need of durable toys (wooden toys work well) that do not have many pieces. We accommodate so many children each day that we need new toys every couple months. Toys wear out very quickly! We would also appreciate children's books! Please contact Kristin Heying at 503.231.2707 or kheying@gmail.com if you would like to donate toys. Thank you!

Need us to answer a question that is not included on this page?

Please e-mail info@handsonportland.org.