   
Volunteers – vital to Oregon Food Bank
Foreclosures, layoffs and rising prices are forcing more and more families to seek emergency food. Between July and December 2008, the Oregon Food Bank Network saw a 15 percent increase in requests for emergency food statewide, as compared to the same period last year.
The good news is that OFB's volunteers are responding at record levels, filling most of our evening and weekend volunteer shifts.
While you may find it difficult to sign up to volunteer, OFB still needs your help. Below you will find information on current volunteer needs and the many other ways that you can get involved in fighting hunger.
Thank you for donating your time to help fight hunger. We appreciate your continued support ... because no one should be hungry.
Current volunteer needs
OFB needs volunteers who can commit to regular shifts on weekdays for the following programs:
Fresh Alliance
Help OFB provide nutritious, perishable food to people who are hungry. Volunteers (must be ages 16 and up) sort and inspect perishable foods on weekdays. Contact Amy to sign up.
Office
Are you good with computers? Do you enjoy photocopying, scanning and making phone calls? Do you have any special skills, like graphic design, photography or software expertise? OFB sometimes needs help in its northeast Portland office. If you'd like to learn about opportunities, please fill out the office volunteer application.
Drivers
Hundreds of community groups organize food drives each year. If you have your own vehicle and a clean driving record, we could use your help picking up and delivering food collected during food drives. Register to be a volunteer driver.
Special projects
Are you a carpenter? An experienced writer? Do you speak a foreign language? We are looking for volunteers with special skills to work on a variety of projects. Contact Jeff to sign up.
Interested in volunteering at OFB?
Below, you’ll find descriptions of our volunteer opportunities and programs. To sign up, please click on the appropriate link under the "Register to volunteer" heading.
Questions? Contact 503-972-2993 or volunteer@oregonfoodbank.org.
For information about volunteer opportunities, click the links below.
Register to volunteer
Other ways to help
Donate funds
Did you know that for every $10 donation, OFB can collect and distribute enough food to fill an emergency food box for a family?
There are many ways to donate:
Donate funds online.
Attend a community fund-raising event.
Donate food
Help OFB increase the supply of food available for hungry families.
You can donate nonperishable food at OFB's two Portland-area warehouses:
N.E. Portland: 7900 N.E. 33rd Drive
8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays
Hillsboro: 21485 N.W. Mauzey Road
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays
See other food drop off sites.
See our list of most wanted foods.
Learn about running a food drive.
Advocate
Help fight hunger's root causes by working to change public policy. Volunteers write letters, make phone calls and organize their friends and neighbors to help make a difference. OFB's advocacy team provides volunteer training. Contact David to sign up.
Your story can also make a difference.
Have you recently accessed emergency food? Have you recently lost your job? Are medical bills hitting you hard? Do you have trouble paying for housing? Have you experienced hunger in your past? Please call (971) 230-1637 to share your voice and make a change.
Learn more about OFB's advocacy program >
Questions about volunteering?
Do I need to sign up in advance? How do I schedule a group? Can children participate? Find the answers to these and other questions.
Sign up for OFB's volunteer e-newsletter.
Learn about the latest volunteer program news and be the first to hear about new opportunities and events.
Check out OFB's Hunger Buster Curriculum.
Oregon Food Bank has put together an exciting curiculum to teach children about hunger using the best ideas from other food banks and a bit of our own ingenuity. The program can be tailored for large and small groups.
|
