“I met Mary through Friendly House, but I don’t really think of myself much as a volunteer. We’re such good friends now; it just feels like getting together for coffee with an old friend each time we meet up or chat on the phone. In fact, I may reap greater benefits than Mary does from our friendship—I’ve learned so much from her!” -a Friendly Visitor (senior companion) volunteer

Friendly House welcomes your involvement

TRADITION: A neighbor helping neighbor philosophy has been a strong tradition at Friendly House since our founding in 1930. We achieve our goals by recruiting and coordinating community members to assist staff and to work directly with children, seniors and families. Hundreds of volunteers contribute thousands of hours each year. We honor our volunteers throughout the year and at our annual awards reception each April.

OPPORTUNITY: We offer a variety of volunteer opportunities to which you can contribute your time and talents through direct service or behind-the-scenes work; seasonal or ongoing; short- or long-term. Individuals and groups are welcome.

Volunteering at Friendly House is easy…

Please see the Current Volunteer Opportunities page for the latest news.

Short-term (>1 day) & Long-term (minimum 3-month commitment)

In many circumstances, children, seniors or families are best served via on-going relationships with volunteers. Some behind-the-scenes projects also need the attention of a volunteer who can see the project through from beginning to end. Reliability and commitment can lead to greater responsibility and a more in-depth & personally rewarding volunteer experience.

How to become a short- or long-term volunteer

• Complete an online Volunteer Application Form
• Attend orientation
  • Senior Program and Gay & Grey: the last Wednesday of each month, 6-7pm
  • Preschool & After School: by appointment
• Complete a criminal history check (volunteers 18 years and older who work directly with seniors, children or families)
• Arrange your schedule & activities with program staff

One-time

One-time volunteering can be rewarding and challenging. Volunteers catch a glimpse of the daily functions of an active social service agency, and may also get to work with some of the people we serve.

How to become a one-time volunteer

• Contact the volunteer coordinator volunteer@friendlyhouseinc.org to sign up or to receive more information
• Some activities may require criminal history checks for volunteers 18 years and older.

Volunteer Groups

Volunteer groups play a vital role in our work, bringing energy, teamwork and efficiency to projects and events where time matters.

How to volunteer as a group

• Contact the volunteer coordinator volunteer@friendlyhouseinc.org, and be prepared to provide the following information:
  • # of volunteers
  • group demographics (adults, youth, etc.)
  • availability (weekends, weeknights, days, etc.)
  • commitment (how many hours are you available for a one-time project)
  • deadline (by which you may need to complete a project)
  • service requirements (does the project need to meet certain criteria; for example, does it need to be direct service with a particular population?)
  • advance notice (if a project is not immediately available, how much time to you need to organize a group when a project does appear?)

PARTNERSHIP

Recent volunteer groups include Wells Fargo Bank, OnPoint Credit Union, University of Portland, Starbucks, Cinematics, and St. Mary’s Academy.

IMPORTANT NOTES

• In most cases, individual volunteers must be at least 15 years old. There are exceptions, including special events, volunteer groups and younger teens accompanied by a parent/guardian. Please inquire.
• Due to seasonal fluctuations, program needs and current volunteers, not all volunteer positions are always available. If we cannot fulfill your needs, you may find opportunities  through www.handsonportland.org and www.volunteermatch.org.

CURRENT VOLUNTEERS

Current volunteers can confirm their schedules, record their hours, view their accumulated hours and manage their volunteer profiles here: Volunteer Information Center.