Looking to get involved in your community? There are volunteer opportunities all around Lane Country for you to get involved with! Below you will find organizations in the Eugene/Springfield area who are looking for volunteers of all ages, including high school students. This page will be updating regularly as we discover more opportunities for you, so check back in frequently.

Positive Community Kitchen 

Positive Community Kitchen is a youth-led organization that grows, cooks, and delivers free, organic food to members of our community experiencing a health crisis. PCK also runs a teaching kitchen that allows youths and adults in our community learn how to prepare, cook, and package healthy meals. PCK knows that young people are the seed of our future and provides local teens with the opportunities and skills to develop an abiding trust in their own abilities to shape a healthier tomorrow. PCK accepts general volunteer applications year round as well as hosting several events throughout the year which often require additional volunteer assistance. 

Upcoming Events

After School Snacks: A Cook Off for a Cause

  • April 23rd,  2024
  • Openings for competing cooks, artists, set up and breakdown, and crowd work.

Eugene Science Center

The Eugene Science Center has volunteer opportunities for anyone with a flair for teaching or a passion for science. Help the Science Center run their exhibits, host special events, present at the planetarium, or run one of their summer camps. 

A 90-minute orientation is provided to all volunteers and must be completed before you can begin volunteering your time with us.  In addition, all volunteers will be asked to fill out a criminal background check. Volunteers under the age of 18 will be asked to provide a reference in place of a background check.

Eugene Public Library

The Eugene Public Library offers multiple volunteer opportunities for community members over the age of 14. There are currently positions open for information desk workers, members of the holds team, shelf-readers, and storytime assistants. The Eugene Public Library ask that volunteers commit to give two hours of their time each week for six months when signing up for a volunteer position. Hours and placement are based off your schedule.

15th Night

Youth who are new to the streets are more likely to become chronically homeless if there is no intervention within 15 nights. Aptly named, 15th Night is a youth-informed community movement to end youth homelessness by connecting existing resources and finding innovative ways to keep youth in school and off the streets.

Get involved by being a community responder and agree to get text message and email alerts for unmet needs for youths in the community. You can also help support or be a part of the Youth Action Council and help serve, prepare, and deliver meals to youth experiencing homelessness every week. 

Toolbox Library Eugene

The Toolbox Library is a community run lending service for tools for all kinds of projects. Become a Toolbox librarian and help check in and check out tools to community members while helping maintain the shop. The Toolbox Library is open from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm Tuesdays and Thursdays as well as Saturdays from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Volunteer shifts typically start 15 minutes before opening and end 15 minutes after closing.

Greenhill Humane Society

Greenhill is looking for volunteers 16+ to help them take care of their animals and keep their facilities running smoothly. Greenhill is dedicated to reducing animal overpopulation and is looking for reliable, compassionate volunteers support that mission. Shifts are typically 2 hours once a week starting from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm depending on your schedule. Greenhill asks that, if possible, you keep a consistent schedule to keep things running as smoothly as possible.

Oregon Food Bank

The Oregon Food Bank is an Oregon institution dedicated to ending hunger at its root causes. They are looking for people of all ages who believe that food is a human right to help with food distribution programs, outreach, and participate in their grassroot movement through activism and civic participation. There are multiple online and in person opportunities to get involved with Oregon Food Bank with new events being announced regularly.

Willamalane

Willamalane offers a variety of volunteer opportunities that are updated frequently. You can choose from options that suit your schedule and interests, such as beautifying local parks and natural areas, serving coffee at the Willamalane Adult Activity Center, and participating in special events. Volunteers under age 16 and/or parents of youth volunteers, contact Volunteer Coordinator maggie.odriscoll@willamalane.org or 541-852-8766 to respond to this opportunity as volunteers under age 16 may be approved on an individual basis.

Current Programs

  • Park Ice Storm Cleanup (recurring)
  • Woodland Wednesday (recurring)
  • 2024 MEGGA Hunt (event)

Maude Kerns Art Center 

The Maude Kerns Art Center is a non-profit community center for the visual arts. Their goal is to promote and advocate appreciation and creation of the visual arts by offering a wide variety of exhibition programs, educational programs for all ages, facilities for artists, public events, and support for community artists. The Maude Kerns Art Center is always looking for new volunteers to help with their programs whether that be assisting with classes, setting up events, or helping host the galeries. 

S.A.R.A.’s Treasures: Gift, Thrift, & Cat Adoption Center

Shelter Animal Resource Alliance (S.A.R.A.) is a nonprofit organization located in Eugene, OR, dedicated to removing animals from shelters where they might otherwise face euthanasia. While in their care, S.A.R.A. provides these cats and dogs with a safe and comfortable environment to live in. S.A.R.A.’S main fundraising source is through their thrift shop where they sell gently used clothes, collectables, jewelry, books, and more! S.A.R.A’s is looking for volunteers to help run the store and care for their resident cats.