We encourage you to join our 1,400 skilled and caring volunteers who contribute 160,000 hours in the Greater Portland, Oregon region. MFS makes connections that strengthen the lives of 30,000 low-income individuals and families each year.

Most, but not all of our positions are on the east side. Our volunteers work with children, families, and older adults. A list of many of our positions can be found by following the links below.

Volunteer Opportunities with Children and Families

Volunteer Opportunities with Older Adults

Volunteer Opportunities at Events

Volunteer Opportunities for Groups



If you would you like us to help you find an MFS volunteer position in Portland, Oregon that matches your skills, interests, and available time you can register online.



Volunteer Opportunities with Children and Families

After School Activity Leader. Volunteer as a SUN instructor for an after school class at 1 of 11 elementary and middle schools (mostly in East Multnomah County). Hours vary, between 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. Volunteers may teach anything that they are interested in including recreation, enrichment, art, music, academic tutoring, and homework. If you have a special skill or interest and you want to share it with youth in the community contact Tricia Harding at triciah@metfamily.org or 503.232.0007, ext. 150. For a list of schools, visit MFS SUN Community Schools.

Assistant After School Activity Leader. Assist a SUN activity leader in leading after school classes for students in elementary or middle school. Classes are designed to build academic, inter-personal, or life skills to students attending SUN Community Schools. Contact Tricia Harding at triciah@metfamily.org or 503.232.0007, ext. 150. For a list of schools, visit MFS SUN Community Schools.

Car Mechanic. Volunteer as a Ways to Work Car Mechanic. Ways to Work helps low-income working parents purchase or repair a car. If you are a certified mechanic you can help parents by 1. Inspecting cars prior to purchase 2. Providing diagnosis/consultations for car repairs and/or 3. Providing car care classes to our loan recipients (approximately once per month). Total volunteer time is flexible, but averages about 5 – 10 hours per month. If you have special talents with cars and would like to share them, contact Shana Sturtz at shanas@metfamily.org or 503.232.0007, ext 303.

Car Shopper. Ways to Work, a program assisting working parents purchase a car, is looking for someone who is knowledgeable about buying used cars and wants to share that information with car shoppers. Our clients are looking for cars in the $2,000 to $4,000 range, and would greatly appreciate any advice you have to share. Time commitment is flexible, average five hours a month. Contact Shana Sturtz at shanas@metfamily.org or 503.232.0007, ext 303.

Experience Corps. Experience Corps volunteers work one-on-one with elementary school students as academic mentors and tutors. Several volunteers are placed at one of ten schools located in Portland, Beaverton, and Forest Grove. Volunteers commit to serving 450 hours over a 10-month period (12 – 15 hours a week), and they may receive a monthly taxable stipend of about $250. Upon completion of the 450 hours, an Education Award of about $1,200 is also available. You can view a job description, complete an application, or contact Beth Jacobs at bethj@metfamily.org or 503.249.8215, ext. 22.

Foster Grandparent. Foster Grandparent volunteers help special-needs children by acting as positive role models in public schools, childcare programs, and hospitals. Foster Grandparent provides opportunities for adults age 60 and older to remain active and serve the communities in which they live. Volunteers may be eligible for a modest stipend for serving 15 – 40 hours a week. You can view a job description, complete an application, or contact Beth Jacobs at bethj@metfamily.org or 503.249.8215, ext. 22.

RSVP– volunteer with all ages. RSVP volunteers share their expertise in rewarding jobs with people of all ages in schools, hospitals, museums, the arts, the environment, and other non-profit agencies throughout Multnomah County. Volunteers are eligible to receive mileage reimbursement and supplemental liability/accident insurance. The time commitment varies according to site placement; however, volunteers contribute an average of 16 hours of service each week and work both as individuals and on team projects. You can view a job description, complete an application, or contact Beth Jacobs at bethj@metfamily.org or 503.249.8215, ext. 22.


For additional information about volunteering, contact MFS at volunteer@metfamily.org or 503.232.0007, ext. 105.