Pay it Forward: Volunteer

William Temple House volunteers are integral to the continued success of the agency which has helped the working poor in Portland since 1965. More than 200 volunteers each year selflessly commit their time, energy and skills.


Volunteer of the Year Bert Carlson

Volunteer opportunities are extended to those committed to serving others with respect and dignity. Whether you’re a student, seeking valuable experience, or a retired professional who wants to remain active, William Temple House welcomes your help. Your talents and passions can help serve the working poor in the Portland area.

Positions with direct client contact require a complete background check including fingerprinting and may require special training.

Typical volunteer openings are listed below. Not all positions will have openings at all times. If the position you are interested in is full, please consider another opening.

Thrift Store Assistant

Sort, hang, and tag merchandise. Stock shelves. Assist customers and perform variety of retail sales tasks. Retail sales or customer service experience welcome but not required.

The Thrift Store is open seven days a week and hours are flexible.

Food Pantry Assistant

Welcome and assist clients, load and unload cases of food. Sort food and stock shelves and freezers, fill hygiene needs, lift and carry 25 pounds, clean, vacuum, take out trash, and other miscellaneous tasks.

Pastoral Visitor

Visit hospitalized staff, volunteers, and clients as requested by counselors. Visits may include persons in care and rehab centers. Follow established procedures in reporting to supervisor or to those making the request for such a visit.

Must be certified by one’s faith community to be a pastoral visitor. In the Episcopal Church, for example, certification includes training by one’s pastor and licensure by the bishop. Must have transportation or make use of public transportation. Must maintain confidentiality.

Clothing Closet Assistant / Personal Shopper

Do you have an eye for kids fashion? Enjoy working with children and experiencing their joy? Our Children’s Clothing Closet needs friendly, reliable volunteers like you. The reward for volunteers is in the reactions of the children, some who have never “shopped” for new clothes before. New school clothes and shoes results in greater dignity and self-respect for many of the children served.

Volunteers assist children and their parents in selecting new school clothes in a store-like setting at William Temple House in northwest Portland. Volunteers may also assist in ordering and shopping for clothes, stocking shelves and racks, and scheduling appointments for families.

Volunteers must enjoy and communicate well with children and adults and be reliable. Applicants for volunteer positions in the Children’s Clothing Closet undergo a background check and fingerprinting. Training is provided.

Social Services Intake Counselor

Inform clients about services available, certify eligibility for services, make referrals to other service providers. Attend monthly volunteer meetings. Comfortable working with low-income and homeless people, ability to deal sensitively with mentally ill people. Must be patient and accepting of differences.

Food Pantry / Supply Center Coordinator

This position is ideal for a person with inventory management skills and experience working compassionately with individuals and families in need and coordinating the work of a group of volunteers. Familiarity with inventory management is a big plus.

The food pantry is open to clients Tuesday and Wednesday although duties not requiring client contact can be performed on Thursdays. The weekly time commitment is 4-6 hours.

The Volunteer Food Pantry Coordinator(s) performs the following duties:

• Order food and other supplies using Oregon Food Bank’s online ordering system.
• Manage backroom and freezer food inventory and hygiene item inventory.
• Manage a system that insures stock is properly stored and rotated.
• Stock food pantry and supply center shelves with the assistance of other volunteers.
• Maintain cleanliness and neatness of pantry area with the assistance of other volunteers.
• Supervise food pantry volunteers in the performance of a variety of duties.
• Assist in the distribution of emergency food, hygiene items and other supplies to a diverse client population as needed.

Qualifications

• Ability to communicate clearly and respectfully with fellow volunteers, staff, and occasionally challenging clients.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail are a must.
• Familiarity with online ordering and software such as Microsoft Word and Excel are a big plus.

Special Requirements

• Pass a criminal record check.
• Have Oregon Food Handlers card or acquire within 30 days of beginning volunteer position. (William Temple House to pay $10 fee.)