Volunteer and Service Opportunities
Learn more about volunteering opportunities with C3 and other local organizations to build skills and community connection.
Students considering different career areas can find businesses and organizations in their community-- the local hospital, animal shelter, library, and beyond-- to contact and work with. Because jobs can be from a wide area of interest, the best choice is often to work with the student and look into local volunteering and community service.
Search this website for a list of volunteer options based on location and provided keywords.
Volunteer Match.org
Start Local
Volunteer in Your Community
● Serve on a “board” as the youth voice (i.e. apartment complex, church group, neighborhood organization)
● Play board games at local senior center
● Volunteer coach for local youth athletic team
● Plant trees
● Organize a neighborhood clean up
● Grow food to donate to local food bank
● Referee athletic games
● Clear local parks and trials
● Host a fundraiser for a cause you care about
● Trail maintenance work at your local park
● Help with a project at church
● Participate in church-led community programs
● Join your church youth group
● Become active with a cultural center
●Connect with your local Parks and Rec Department
Support Your Neighborhood
● Helping elderly neighbors with landscaping
● Shovel walkways when it snows
● Pick up trash when you go on a walk
● Coordinate summer reading with neighborhood kids
● Start a pet sitting service
● Check in on senior or disabled neighbors
● Collect cans and donate money to a nonprofit
● Create a community garden
● Host a food drive
Support Your Family
● Earn money to contribute to your family
● Take siblings to school and pick up
● Lead younger siblings and their friends in games in the summer
● Pet care
Opportunities at School
● Tutor ELD students
● Cleaning campus and classrooms
● School policy advocacy
●Organize a Voter Registration Event
● Volunteer at an elementary school event
● Tutor at elementary school
● Volunteer in summer reading programs
● Create or work with a school food pantry and clothing closet
Additional Volunteer Opportunities
Local and national opportunities to volunteer with communities.
● Hands on Greater Portland
● Friends of Trees
● Humane Society/Animal Shelter
● Blood Drive
● Soup Kitchen/Food Pantry
● Blanchet House
● Guide Dogs for the Blind
● Hospital Volunteer
● Meals on Wheels
● Oregon Humane Society
● Veterinary Assistant
● Homeless shelter
● Special Olympics
A federal program that places volunteers within communities to assist with populations in need.
A national organization that mobilizes projects in local communities.
Information for teens interested in volunteering in the greater Portland area.
A database of volunteer opportunities, hosted by US News.
A statewide database of nonprofit organizations who offer volunteer opportunities.
Compiled by Donorbox, this is an excellent list of other ideas to help students find volunteer work based on their interests.
A teen-to-teen mental health support.
A national organization that offered educational and cultural support for youth in need.
A Portland-based nonprofit with events to support local communities.
S.O.L.V (Stop Oregon Litter and Vandalism) works to remove trash and litter from natural areas.
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Tutoring: Many organizations, including Tutoring Chicago, offer opportunities to tutor students in various subjects.
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Training service animals: Some organizations rely on volunteers to train service animals.
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Virtual volunteering: Students can volunteer remotely, especially during times when in-person volunteering may be limited.
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Community events: Helping with local events like 5Ks or fundraising events.
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Local charities: Supporting local charities through fundraising, donation drives, or other activities.
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School clubs and activities: Many schools have clubs and activities that involve volunteering and community service.
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VolunteerMatch: A website that lists local volunteer opportunities, including those in Eugene.
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American Red Cross: Needs volunteers for blood drives, disaster relief, and other support roles.
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Food Banks: Offers opportunities to package and deliver meals, serve lunches to children, and help with food rescue.
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Shift Community Cycles: Fixes and refurbishes bikes, and has a free bikes for kids program.
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Local libraries: Offer opportunities for shelving, storytime preparation, and special events.
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Animal shelters: Provide opportunities to walk dogs, clean cages, and help with adoption events.
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Hospice centers: Need volunteers to help with patient care.