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Opportunity Details
TeamWorks: Discover Portland! (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.
Portland, OR is home to all sorts of historic parks, buildings, and other landmarks. Its culture is rich with coffeehouses, bookstores, and bike shops, do-it-yourself projects around every corner, outdoor activities to keep you busy all year, and progressive ideas about transportation, sustainability, and food accessibility. Examples of these pillars of Portland culture are everywhere, but less visible are all the organizations working to put those ideas into action. Are you new in town and looking to meet other recent transplants? Or are you just aching to get to know the city a little bit better? Then this is the volunteer team for you!
During this TeamWorks, we will get to know Portland through the eyes of volunteerism, exploring a variety of neighborhoods and social issues through the eyes of some of the vibrant nonprofits that call this city home. We'll refurbish bikes at the Community Cycling Center, spruce up the historic Mt Tabor park, salvage building materials at the ReBuilding Center, serve a meal at Potluck in the Park, and create packages of clothing, toys, and hygiene items for low income and foster children in Portland. Also included will be a stop at some tasty Portland food carts for a little culinary adventure, as well as a historic walking tour of downtown Portland, where each of us will bring a bit of the history to share!
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.
Please note: All TeamWorks members are asked to pay a commitment fee of $10 at the first project to confirm your participation on the team. Scholarships are available upon request.
Team Schedule:
Saturday, March 23, 11:45am - 4:00pm: Team Kick-Off & Refurbish Bikes at the Community Cycling Center (NE Portland)
Meet up with your fellow team members to get to know one another a tasty food cart lunch before we head over to the Community Cycling Center for our first project. The Community Cycling Center is an innovative non-profit bike shop that works to make bicycling accessible to people of all ages, abilities, and incomes. We’ll be helping tear down and clean (or recycle) donated bikes and bike parts. The Center mechanics then use their magic to turn these reclaimed parts into "new" bikes for kids and commuters of all ages - saving the parts from the landfill, helping to keep kids fit, helping to connect people and jobs, and helping to keep our air a bit cleaner!
Saturday, March 30, 9am-12:30pm: Spruce Up Mt. Tabor Park (SE Portland) Spend the morning outside at Mt Tabor, an extinct volcano in SE Portland, and help maintain this unique park. We'll be removing invasive species, and possibly working on trails. Bring work gloves if you have them; leather gloves are recommended. It is also highly suggested that volunteers wear pants with thick fabric (such as jeans or canvas carhardts) and long sleeves to protect themselves from any run-ins with nettles, poison oak, etc. Water will be provided, but you might want to bring your own water bottle.
Wednesday, April 3, 6:00-8:00pm: Salvage Building Materials at the Rebuilding Center (N Portland)
Reduce, recycle, reuse! Help reduce the flow of useable building materials into the waste stream by volunteering at the Rebuilding Center's non-profit store for used building materials. We'll be doing a hands-on project, so come ready to work and have fun! Closed toe shoes required and bring work gloves if you have them. Wear warm clothes as the building is chilly. Some tasks may involve medium to heavy lifting.
Wednesday, April 10, 6:00-8:30pm: Portland History Walking Tour & Dinner Discussion
Round out your discovery of Portland by taking a walking tour in Downtown/Old Town, during which we'll all learn from each other about the history of many downtown landmarks and by-gone eras. Each team member will bring an interesting article, fact, or historical story to share based on themes handed out the week before. We'll end up at a local area restaurant and continue our discussion of Portland's rich (and sometimes devisive) history, as well as current issues, highlights, and community initiatives in the greater Portland area.
Sunday, April 14, 2:00pm - 6:00pm: Potluck in the Park (Downtown Portland)
Potluck in the Park has been serving a free hot meal to anyone in need - no questions asked - since 1991. Every Sunday, rain or shine, 52 weeks a year, dozens of volunteers provide a hot meal in downtown Portland, turning a public park into a community of those wishing to serve anyone in need. We'll join in the meal serving experience and
Tuesday, April 23, 7:00pm - 9:30pm: Create Care Packages for Kids (NW Portland)
For our final project, we'll join Northwest Children's Outreach to aid them in their mission to help families in the Portland area provide for their children. Create packages of clothing, toys, and hygiene items for low income and foster children in Portland. Our presence makes a huge difference, and it'll be a lot of fun! After the shift ends, we'll head to a quintessential Portland dessert spot to wrap-up the TeamWorks experience with a tasty treat and a final reflection.
Click "Sign Up" below to reserve your spot on the team! Need help signing up? Call 503-200-3355.
Civic & Community
Families, Homeless
Cleaning,Food Preparation & Meal Services,Gardening/Planting
Age Minimum (with Adult): 18+, Minimum Age:18+
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