Volunteering is an invaluable way for homeschool students to gain experience and skills. They will have the opportunity to use their strengths and develop weak areas as they help others around them. Volunteering can also help students explore their passions, preparing them for a bright future ahead.
Looking for volunteer opportunities for homeschool students in Oregon? We’ve put together a helpful list to get you started!
OCEANetwork
OCEANetwork needs volunteers in many different areas, including helping with social media, volunteering at Apple Pie Day and other events, proofreading, and working on the publications team. Volunteering with OCEANetwork is a great way to help continue the mission of protecting homeschool freedoms in Oregon. Additionally, homeschooled high school juniors and seniors are invited to apply for the internship to learn more about and help with the work of OCEANetwork.
Farms
Many farms are grateful for help, and they provide excellent work experience. Many different types of farms offer volunteering opportunities, including fruit and berry farms, dairy farms, and flower farms. Helping local farmers is meaningful work and a great way to learn practical skills. Encourage your student to reach out to local farmers and learn about ways they can volunteer.
Church
Volunteering at church is a great way to serve while gaining useful skills. Usually, there are many needs to be filled. Specific ministry areas include nursery helpers, Sunday school leaders, production, worship team, and janitorial work. Serving at church is one of the most important ways to volunteer.
Summer Camps
In general, summer camps are always looking for more volunteers, and students have the opportunity to greatly impact the kids they work with. There are day camps as well as overnight camps throughout Oregon, and many provide some compensation for their volunteers. Summer camps are an excellent way to grow and can be a great experience for volunteers.
Pregnancy Resource Centers
Volunteering with pregnancy resource centers is a meaningful way to help protect the lives of babies and their struggling parents. Whether it’s by doing maintenance and janitorial work, organizing a diaper or clothing drive, or fundraising, students can help make the work that pregnancy resource centers do possible and serve the people who come into them.
Nursing Homes
Nursing homes provide an opportunity to serve and bless the elderly in the community. Serving in a nursing home is a great way to have a direct and substantial impact on people who may not have many opportunities to interact with others. Students can consider doing something such as leading activities, a Bible study, or helping put on other meaningful events. If your child has gifting in an area such as music, they can use that to bless nursing home residents as well.
Operation Christmas Child
Around Christmas every year, Operation Christmas Child sends shoe boxes packed with toys and goodies to children around the world who may not receive gifts otherwise. Students can purchase and pack items for shoe boxes or encourage and help their friends, family, and church pack boxes. Sending a shoe box of toys, school supplies, and other things is a wonderful way to bless kids in an impactful way.
Union Gospel Mission
With locations in Beaverton, Tigard, and Portland, Union Gospel Mission offers many different volunteer opportunities. They have people who volunteer short-term as well as more consistently. The kind of work available varies based on age, but UGM has multiple areas for people to volunteer including working at the homeless shelter, helping with donations, and doing food service or yard work.
Portland Rescue Mission
Portland Rescue Mission offers resources, shelter, and help to people who are homeless around the Portland area. Students can volunteer with a group at the shelter in needed areas such as meals and service projects or lead an item drive in their neighborhood or at their church to collect needed items to bring to the Portland Rescue Mission shelter.
Cannon Beach Conference Center
Cannon Beach Conference Center provides a facility for Christian groups and churches to hold retreats as well as hosting year-round conferences. CBCC needs volunteers for many areas including grounds upkeep and housekeeping, meals, and painting or construction projects.
Northwest Children’s Outreach
Providing for the basic needs of children from impoverished families, Northwest Children’s Outreach collects and distributes items for families in Oregon and Washington. Students can organize donation drives or volunteer to prepare items to be sent to resource centers and families in need.
First Image
First Image provides resources and support for mothers and fathers with unplanned pregnancies. Get involved by organizing a donation drive of needed items for the moms and babies that First Image helps. Additionally, First Image welcomes volunteers who help with their events throughout the year or who prepare items to give to the mothers.
Oregon Right to Life (ORTL)
ORTL provides many ways to get involved and help protect human life in Oregon. Some areas include helping with outreach by organizing events or helping at booths, or working in any number of areas through their political action committee, which helps to elect pro-life candidates, as well as volunteering in the ORTL office.
Volunteers are essential for many organizations, and there are countless opportunities throughout Oregon for students to get involved! The experience and lessons learned through serving others will be an excellent foundation for your child’s future.
Do you have any suggestions for volunteer opportunities for homeschool students in Oregon? Let us know in the comments!
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Why Homeschool Through High School
This article is written by OCEANetwork Intern Adelyn Schrenk. She is a senior in high school who has been homeschooled her whole life and is thankful for the flexibility homeschooling has given her. She enjoys art and drawing, and designing stationery for her small business. Additionally, she enjoys knitting, sewing, and crochet, and reading various types of non-fiction books, especially about history.