While volunteering may seem like just another way to earn hours for your college application, it offers so much more. From forming unexpected friendships to seeing your community benefit from your hard work, volunteering expands your worldview and encourages students to see others’ perspectives.
Around Portland, the options are endless for places to volunteer. One of the more prominent volunteering opportunities in the Portland area is Schnitzer Cares. The main goal of the Schnitzer Cares Organization is to provide a year-long education opportunity for high school students as they give thousands of dollars away to local non-profits. The students select their interests in the community, and then evaluate non-profits and grant proposals. In the end, the students are the ones to decide where the money goes. This program is known to push students to become active in their community through public speaking and grant writing.
Another close opportunity is Packed with Pride. Located in Tigard, their mission is to provide food to students in the Tigard-Tualatin School District who need food assistance. This is a relatively new program that started after the COVID-19 shutdown to help families in need. If you’re interested in volunteering with Packed with Pride, you have to be at least 15 years old and need to attend a food bank training service that is approximately 40 minutes long.
If you want something even more local, the Tualatin Library hosts Homework Helpers.
“Homework Helpers is a program we started after COVID, in response to the need for additional support to students in 2nd – 5th grade at Bridgeport Elementary,” coordinator Margaret Gunther said.
“In collaboration with administrators at Bridgeport, we determined that sending volunteers directly to the classrooms was the most equitable and effective way to give them that extra support in basic math, reading and writing. We started with five volunteers, some with educational experience, some without, but each one has the heart and the skills to work with young students one afternoon a week for 90 minutes. Our core Homework Helpers are so dedicated, and they have built relationships with their students over the last three years. It’s a wonderful program, and I couldn’t be more grateful to our Homework Helpers!”
If you’re looking for a summer option, try applying for TEAM Tualatin, which stands for Together,
Everyone Achieves More. TEAM Tualatin’s promotional materials ask, “Like the great outdoors? Want to improve Tualatin’s urban forests and green spaces? Want to make a BIG impact in a week?” If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, this may be the volunteering opportunity for you. The program starts in late June and goes into early August. The age range is 12-18, perfect for high school students. Specifically, some of the tasks they do can be very helpful for the community, including watering and mulching plants, planting gardens, painting fire hydrants and washing city cars and vehicles.
Freshman Nestor Sanchez has done TEAM Tualatin for two years.
“The memories and experiences that come from TEAM make the hours of working in the sun and difficult labor always worth it,” he said. I wouldn’t trade anything for all that TEAM has done for me.”
So, if you’re looking for a way to help your community, learn new skills and push yourself, then these programs might be for you. Volunteering isn’t always the easy choice, but by doing so, you’re not just gaining college application hours; you’re also gaining once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
“Our core Homework Helpers are so dedicated, and they have built relationships with their students over the last three years.”
– Margaret Gunther, coordinator
