Friendly Visits

Offer friendship and support to new tenants experiencing feelings of isolation and loneliness.  You will be accompanied by JOIN’s Retention Worker for the first few visits.  Visit regularly and assist in connecting individuals with recreation and other support outside the home.  May involve neighborhood orientation, providing rides to appointments or grocery shopping, or assisting with childcare.  Access to a car is very helpful.

Hours: vary, please commit to one hour per week

Food Box Volunteers

Collect food items from local agencies, box, and deliver them to households struggling to make ends meet.  JOIN’s Volunteer Coordinator will call or email the food box volunteers once a week with the names, addresses, and availability of households in need of a food box.  Volunteers deliver the boxes within a week of the requests.  Access to a car is very helpful.  Suitable for groups

Hours: vary, please commit to 2-4 hours per week

Move-in Help

Help a formerly homeless household move-in to a new apartment.  JOIN partners with the Oregon Community Warehouse to provide household furniture which is picked-up from the warehouse and delivered to new tenants.  The volunteer will receive a phone call or email with upcoming move-ins and works with a JOIN Outreach Worker.

Hours:  Move-ins generally occur 8:00am – 5:00pm, Monday through Friday.  Time commitment for one move-in is approximately 3 hours.

Hospitality Reception Desk

Welcome people to JOIN and assist with the provision of basic services such as showers, lockers, laundry vouchers, mail and phones. 

Hours:  JOIN’s day facility is open 10:00am – 3:00pm, Monday through Friday

Celebration Nation

Plan one of the monthly events that celebrate housing anniversaries and birthdays. The events are planned 3 months in advance and can be held either at the JOIN building or at another location.  Some previous events have included an open mic night, picnic in Washington Park, and a trip to the Oregon Zoo.  Folks attending Celebration Nation events are also often in need of transportation.  Provide a ride to or from the event.

Lead New Tenants Volunteer Groups through Hands on Portland

As part of JOIN’s efforts to facilitate formerly homeless households’ re-engagement with the community, we have organized opportunities for people to volunteer with local organizations,   partnering with Hands on Portland.  Lead one of the groups as they volunteer with SCRAP, provide after school childcare at low-income housing buildings, or sort and ship books for prisoners. 

Hours:  1 ½ hour Hands on Portland Project Leader training and monthly volunteer projects, usually after 5:00 pm

Blanket or Sock Drive

Organize your friends, community, or faith group to gather some of our most needed items: blankets and socks.  Drop the items off at our day facility or schedule a pick-up.