Opportunities From: Willamalane Park and Recreation District

Put your green thumbs to work for a good cause helping to plant, maintain, and harvest a large garden at Lively Park that supports Willamalane's food pantry. Early in the season, volunteers help around the garden and clear, fertilize, and plant the 40x40-foot plot. Then, we’ll maintain the plot and clear weeds until harvest time. Join us for one shift or respond multiple shifts throughout the season. To sign up, "respond" to each date below you plan to attend.

If the spots are full, you are encouraged to click on "waitlist" to secure a volunteer spot if one opens up.

Be sure to click "next" in the bottom right corner of the shift schedule below to see the full schedule of available shifts.

Please bring:

We’ll provide:

Getting here:

The community garden is located at Lively Park. Drive in the park entry and head around toward the back of the Splash! building. Park near the play structure and dog park. Then walk along the path north of the dog park and meet us at the community garden.

Schedule:

We plan to spend Tuesday mornings in the garden during the early season. In mid-summer we will add Thursday's to the schedule for harvesting. The schedule is subject to change based on seasonal needs and weather conditions. Volunteers should be sure to check your email for important volunteer information and will be notified via email in the event of cancelation.

Youth Volunteers:

Volunteers under age 16 and/or parents of youth volunteers, contact Volunteer Coordinator to respond to this opportunity and make arrangements. Volunteers under age 16 may be approved to volunteer independently on an individual basis. Youth volunteers may volunteer with parent/guardian supervision and prior arrangement with Volunteer Coordinator is needed. 

How to contact the Volunteer Coordinator:

Email maggie.odriscoll@willamalane.org or call 541-852-8766.

The winter solstice signifies the shortest day of the year and the longest night. Join an all-ages celebration of light with a campfire, storytelling, sweet treats, craft making, and a luminary walk through the Dorris Ranch orchards. Volunteer support is needed with running the craft activities, food set-up, helping with set up and take down, and more!

Please "respond" to the opportunity and Willamalane program staff will follow up with you.
If the spots are full, you are encouraged to click on "waitlist" to secure a volunteer spot if one opens up.

The Holiday Tea event offers a break from the bustle of the holiday season with a relaxing afternoon tea. The Event Assistant will help with set up, crafts, holiday themed decorating, serving sweet and savory treats and cleanup of event.

Don't you just love pumpkins this time of year? Each year we carve over 400 pumpkins for Willamalane's annual Haunted Hayride event, and we would be glad to have your help! Your pumpkins will contribute to the holiday spirit and be on display when they line the trails for the event!

The volunteer shifts are 9:30am - 1:00pm and 12:30pm - 4:00pm with lunch time included for both shifts at 12:30pm. Lunch, carving tools and pumpkins are provided.

To sign up, click "Respond" to the volunteer shift below and Willamalane staff will follow up with you. In your response notes, please indicate your dietary needs so that we may provide lunch accordingly (if blank, we will assume you don't have any dietary needs).

Youth Volunteers: Volunteers under age 16 and/or parents of youth volunteers, contact Volunteer Coordinator to respond to this opportunity and make arrangements. Volunteers under age 16 may be approved to volunteer independently on an individual basis. Youth volunteers may volunteer with parent/guardian supervision and prior arrangement with Volunteer Coordinator is needed.

How to contact the Volunteer Coordinator: Email maggie.odriscoll@willamalane.org or call 541-852-8766.

Halloween Carnival is a fun, family friendly event held at the Bob Keefer Center the Sunday before Halloween with music, games, community organizations, and candy. We are looking for energetic, engaging volunteers to help run small carnival games and interact with participants.

To sign up, click "Respond" and Willamalane staff will follow up with you. If you have any dietary needs, be sure to specify in your response notes.

Costumes are encouraged but not required. Volunteers provide their own costumes. When selecting a costume to wear, keep in mind that it must be family friendly, safe and with mobility.

Youth Volunteers: Volunteers under age 16 and/or parents of youth volunteers, contact Volunteer Coordinator to respond to this opportunity and make arrangements. Volunteers under age 16 may be approved to volunteer independently on an individual basis. Youth volunteers may volunteer with parent/guardian supervision and prior arrangement with Volunteer Coordinator is needed. 

How to contact the Volunteer Coordinator: Email maggie.odriscoll@willamalane.org or call 541-852-8766.

Join us and members of the Springfield Twin Rivers Rotary for the fall service project to beautify the garden beds and help with landscaping around the Bob Keefer Center on Saturday, September 26 from 9:00 – 11:00am. This seasonal effort helps the facility grounds look beautiful for the community to enjoy in autumn!

The project will involve activities like weeding or mulching and more around focal areas around the facility grounds.

We will provide the tools, work gloves as well as light refreshments. Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own gardening gloves if you have them, a refillable water bottle for drinking water and to dress comfortably for outdoors/gardening activity.

It wouldn’t be summer without outdoor concerts and Willamalane has a full calendar of entertainment perfect for warm evenings.

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.

Help create a welcoming and engaging experience for Springfield's adaptive community. Volunteers support individuals with physical or intellectual disabilities by participating in activities, encouraging social interaction, and creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels like they belong. Activities vary throughout the season and include crafts, games, movies, holiday celebrations, and other social events. The activity includes time to eat lunch (volunteers and program participants bring your own food).

Volunteers should be outgoing, patient, compassionate, and comfortable interacting with individuals of varying abilities.  Experience working with individuals with disabilities is preferred but not required.

A required training will take place on Tuesday, August 25 at 12:00pm for one hour to prepare volunteers for engaging with people with disabilities and other important information.

This recurring opportunity will take place on the first and third Tuesdays of each month from September through December from 10:30am - 2:00pm at the Adult Activity Center. The schedule is listed below, and shifts include a brief time for set up and clean up. Be sure to bring your own lunch (program participants bring their own lunch).

To sign up to volunteer, "respond" to the shift (listed below) you want to help with, and Willamalane staff will follow up with you. Volunteers are strongly encouraged to sign up for multiple shifts, and all volunteers should participate in the first shift on August 25, as it is the training. If the spots are full, you are encouraged to click on "waitlist" to secure a volunteer spot if one opens up.

Assist with loading and setting up for Ghostly Golf, which transforms Camp Putt miniature golf course into full Halloween decoration for nightly mini golf for the spooky season. The loading and set up will take place the week of September 22 - 24 at 10:00am - 3:30pm and lunch will be provided. Please include any dietary needs in the note section of your response. We have shift flexibility to meet your needs and are happy to have help for any amount of time. 

Join our upcoming Snowshoe Trip! 

Volunteers will act as the "Sweep".

The last person in the line to assist any stragglers,

or if bindings loosen or snowshoes fall off.

Assist staff with check in and loading equipment.

 
Please "respond" to the opportunity and Willamalane program staff will follow up with you.
If the spots are full, you are encouraged to click on "waitlist" to secure a volunteer spot if one opens up.

Calling all hiking enthusiasts! Join us in introducing the community to hiking in Oregon's wonderful outdoors. Hike volunteer leaders will assist Willamalane staff on moderate to strenuous hikes with check in, help "sweep" the hiking group, and may also contribute to choosing hike locations. All hikes will meet in the Bob Keefer lobby and depart and return from there.

Multiple hikes are offered over May - August. To volunteer, "respond" to the hiking shift below that you plan to help with and Willamalane program staff will follow up with you. If the spots are full, you are encouraged to click on "waitlist" to secure a volunteer spot if one opens up.

The hike locations are as follows: 

Note: Hike locations are subject to change based on air quality. 

Cape Perpetua - August 22

Goodman Creek-August 29

Dee Wright Observatory and Proxy Falls-September 12

Diamond Creek Falls-September 26

Blue Pool-October 10

Would you like to help community members learn and practice new cooking skills? Culinary Volunteers will assist the instructor in preparing for the class including set-up, food preparation and clean-up as well as assisting participants during class as directed by the instructor or staff. Culinary classes have about 5 - 12 participants and prepare a variety of menu items. 

A Culinary Volunteer will:

To sign up to volunteer, "respond" to the shift (listed below) you want to help with and Willamalane staff will follow up with you. Volunteers are encouraged to sign up for multiple shifts. If the spots are full, you are encouraged to click on "waitlist" to secure a volunteer spot if one opens up.

For more information on the culinary classes including the cooking class calendar and menus, visit the Food section of our Adult Classes page.

Join us for this monthly volunteer opportunity where dedicated volunteers make a difference to save trees, protect water quality and improve habitat. No experience necessary!! 

AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2026 LOCATION UPDATE: August 12 and September 9 events will take place at Clearwater Park. Volunteers who have responded will receive an information email with specific parking instructions prior to the opportunity. Thank you!

This takes place on the 2nd Wednesday of every month 9:30am - 12pm. To sign up, "respond" to each date below you plan to attend. In your response notes, please indicate your dietary needs so that we may provide pizza accordingly (if blank, we will assume you don't have any dietary needs).

Volunteers lend a hand by using basic tools to remove invasive vegetation, especially targeting English Ivy, and protect the riparian woodland area of this natural area. Instruction and tools will be provided. Volunteers should anticipate walking and the project area includes uneven surfaces.

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.

Schedule Notes:

SHIBA is the Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance program of Oregon. Medicare beneficiaries, their family members, and representatives can call a trained SHIBA counselor to get free, unbiased help with their questions about coverage, options, appeals, and more.

As a volunteer counselor, you will receive about 40 hours of comprehensive, supporting training so you can provide one-on-one Medicare counseling and assistance. You'll answer questions about Medicare Parts A & B, Medicare supplemental insurance, Medicare Advantage plans, Medicare Part D prescription plans, and programs to help with Medicare costs. You'll also attend monthly meetings and receive ongoing training opportunities to stay on top of the latest and greatest in Medicare.

This is an incredibly satisfying opportunity where you'll provide compassionate help - and instant relief - to people navigating a complicated system.

Help support the Turkey Stuffer event!
Volunteers will assist in handing out race packets and registering participants to Turkey Stuffer 5k. 

Packet pick-up shifts are available on Tuesday, November 26th and Wednesday, November 27th. 
To sign up, click "Respond" to the volunteer shift below. 

Snacks and drinks will be provided. On Wednesday, lunch and dinner will be provided
at noon to volunteers whose shift ends or starts at that time.

The Turkey Stuffer 5K is a community tradition.

Participants run or walk a flat course that loops through a beautiful and quiet residential neighborhood.

Volunteers support as course marshals, race support, serving food for after the race, awards and more! 

Help us provide locally made crafts to the community! The Gift Shop Host assists vendors and visitors in the Adult Activity Center's gift shop, featuring handmade goods by local artisans, and maintains the appearance of the store items and displays.

Volunteers should have the ability to learn and utilize point of sale technology (Square) while providing welcoming customer service. Training will be provided.

Substitute volunteers are needed to fill in when a regularly scheduled volunteer is unavailable to work their shift. Available shifts are Monday-Thursday from 10:00am - 2:00pm. To volunteer, click "respond" and include your preferred day(s) of the week and Willamalane staff will follow up with you with next steps! Training is provided. 

Do you have an interest in local art and interacting with the community? Join in the effort to share art with the community as Island Park Art Gallery Ambassador.  The Island Park Art Gallery Ambassador will work at a variety of fun tasks, including preparing hors d’oeuvres, greeting guests, serving complimentary refreshments to attendees and creating a welcoming atmosphere.