Opportunity Details
TeamWorks: Focus on Veterans (age 18+) *Hands On*
Join a TeamWorks team of volunteers for a series of done-in-a-day projects led by a Hands On Greater Portland TeamWorks Leader. TeamWorks offers volunteers the opportunity to make a slightly longer-term commitment to volunteering, delve into a topic or issue-area, and get to know other volunteers in the process.
What is a veteran? Have you ever wondered what it’s like for the many men and women among us who have served our country and returned, with hopes of reintegrating into a life after military deployment? What are the biggest barriers facing veterans – across all eras – in our local communities?
In honor of Veterans Day, join us for this new fall TeamWorks series to learn more about the organizations and individuals working to support our local veterans in the areas of health care, social services, employment, and community reintegration. We will learn more about the important work of the Returning Veterans Project while helping them stuff envelops for their annual mailing; we’ll work to connect homeless veterans to resources at the Clackamas County Stand Down & Job fair; we’ll help serve up spaghetti at a pasta bake for the Oregon Military Support Network; and we’ll connect with veterans themselves to listen to their stories and learn more about the diverse experiences they have had, both in active duty and in their lives since then. Team members will be encouraged to attend a Veterans Day event (as a group or individually) and report back on the experience at the final group session.
Whether or not you have any connections to the military, we encourage individuals of all backgrounds to come take part in this TeamWorks experience.
What is TeamWorks? TeamWorks teams consist of approximately 10-15 individuals, led by a Hands On trained volunteer leader, who commit to volunteering for every project in the series, so please carefully check the schedule below before signing up! Signing up for the FIRST session will sign you up for the entire TeamWorks. If you know in advance you'd have to miss one of the projects, let us know and you might still be eligible to join the team. Questions can be directed to Melia Tichenor, melia@handsonportland.org or 503.200.3370.
Team Schedule:
Thursday, October 25th: TeamWorks Kick-off & Envelop-Stuffing with the Returning Veterans Project
5:30pm - 8:00pm
Returning Veterans Project Offices, SE Portland
Let's get to know our team! We'll kick off the TeamWorks by meeting one another, getting oriented to the TeamWorks experience, and diving right into a volunteer project with the Returning Veterans Project, a local organization that provides free counseling and health services to returning veterans and their families. We'll be helping them stuff envelops for an upcoming fundraiser as we learn more about the important work they do in our community.
Saturday, November 3nd: Clackamas County Veterans Stand Down & Job Fair
9:30am - 12:30pm
Clackamas County Veterans Services, Oregon City
The Clackamas County Veterans Stand Down is a free, collaborative, one-stop event for veterans looking to connect with resources, social service agencies and/or potential employers. The TeamWorks group will be helping out in a variety of roles during the day of the event, to help ensure that the event runs smoothly. Stand Downs are one part of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ efforts to provide services to veterans, especially those lacking permanent shelter. Services range from food, to shelter, clothing, health screenings, VA and Social Security benefits counseling, and referrals to a variety of other necessary services, such as housing, employment and substance abuse treatment.
Monday, November 5th: Life after War: Photography and Oral Histories of Coming Home
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Portland Center Stage Armory, NW Portland
As a group, we will take in the exhibit "Exit Wounds," a traveling exhibition of photography of and by soldiers during their deployment, with excerpts and interviews with the soliders themselves. After taking in the exhibit, we will stay for the related "Conversation Project" led by photographer Jim Lommasson: "When does a war end? Does it ever? Many returning soldiers bring wars back with them, and these wars can reach beyond the battlefield or firefight, infiltrating the very thing that defines comfort and safety: home. The trials of homecoming are vast and complex, often resonating with tales of Odysseus’ journey back to Ithaca from the Trojan War. Photographer James Lommasson has collected oral histories from returning soldiers and documented their struggles at home. In this conversation, participants will consider the wars at home faced not only by returning veterans, but also by communities at large."
Weekend of Veterans Day, November 9th - 12th: Veterans Day Celebrations (*Optional but Encouraged*)
Time of your choice
Location of Your Choice
There are many Veterans Day events happening around the Portland area over the Veterans Day weekend. All TeamWorks participants are encouraged to attend one Veterans Day event during this weekend (with fellow team members or individually) and bring your experiences and reflections to our final meeting the following weekend. Suggested Veterans Day events include:
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Traveling Vietnam Wall Visits OR: The traveling Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall will be at Skyline Memorial Gardens, 4101 SW Skyline Blvd., Portland, Nov. 9-12. Closing ceremonies for this final visit to Oregon is Nov. 12, at 2 p.m. Military honors, guest speakers, a Coast Guard flyover will honor all US servicemembers who were killed during the Vietnam War. On-site volunteers are needed.
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Ross Hollywood Veterans Day Parade: Held on Monday, November 12, 2012; the parade route will be from 40th and Hancock to 48th and Sandy, with the flag ceremonies and guest speakers at the Ross Hollywood Chapel Veterans Memorial Flag Pole. This will be the 38th year for this annual tradition in NE Portland. The parade is sponsored by Ross Hollywood Chapel and organized and promoted by a committee comprised of community volunteers. The goal of this event is to honor veterans and promote veteran organizations and causes. The theme for this years parade is “Veterans Day Is Every Day.”
*Tenative Project:* Wednesday, Nov 14th: Women Vets Share Their Stories
Evening Time TBD
Wings of Freedom Museum, Milwaulkie, OR
Spend an evening hearing the stories of women veterans, including Mae 'Betty' Pomeroy, who served in the US Army for 30 years and retired as a Colonel in 1988 and was awarded the 2012 Outstanding Oregon Woman Veteran of the Year Award on March 30th at the Women's Veteran Conference in Salem. Through her service, Pomeroy received many honors including two Legion of Merit Awards, five Meritorious Service Medals, two National Defense Awards, two Army Commendation Awards and an Army Service Ribbon. In partnership with the Wings of Freedom Project, we will listen to each veteran speak for about 15-20 minutes on their experiences as a woman serving in the military.
Saturday, November 17th: TeamWorks Wrap Up & Spaghetti Feed Fundraiser with the Oregon Military Support Network
4:00pm - 9:00pm
GracePointe Church, Milwaulkie, OR
On this final project, we'll come together from 4pm-5pm to debrief the team experience thus far, talk about our Veterans Day experiences, and enjoy a meal together before rolling up our sleeves one last time to help the Oregon Military Support Network at their Spaghetti Feed Fundraiser that evening. The Oregon Military Support Network is a veterans' resource that identifies, prioritizes and coordinates services to assist veterans and their families by guiding them to services that will help them achieve their life goals through their incredible network of caring, competent community partners.
Project Requirements:
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Volunteers must be 18 years of age or older to attend this project.
Click "Sign Up" below to reserve your spot! Need help signing up? Call 503-200-3370.
Age Minimum (with Adult): 18+, Minimum Age:18+
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