Opportunities From: Willamalane Park and Recreation District

Halloween Carnival is a fun, family friendly event held at the Bob Keefer Center the Sunday before Halloween with music, games, community organizations, a haunted house 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.

The Low-Income Housing Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps keep adults aged 60 and older healthy through initiatives that assist with energy costs. LIHEAP volunteers provide clerical support for energy assistance programs within the Adult Activity Center. Clerical duties include reviewing and editing intake applications, scanning and copying financial documents and utility bills, preparing mailouts or stuffing receipt envelopes.

The ongoing volunteer shift for LIHEAP is for 2 days a week for generally 4-6 hours/week.

Shifts are Mon & Wed, and/or Tues & Thurs from 10am - 12pm. 

Be a Willamalane Mascot or Handler! We need mascot volunteers for our upcoming events.

Springs is a very curious and bouncy Douglas squirrel. He is always moving around looking for something to do.  He likes playing with kids: high-fives, hugs, fist bumps, and hide and seek. 

Springs has a specific bouncy walk and a few signature dance moves.  He also does not talk so he relies heavily on his handler/friend to help him out and communicate for him. 

Volunteers should:

The handler is responsible for maintaining safety with Mascots. Volunteers must use a good, friendly tone to guide the public’s interactions with mascots.  

The December 6th shift listed below is for the Christmas Parade to be Springs (no handler role available).

Be a Willamalane Mascot or Handler! We need mascot volunteers for our upcoming events, the Haunted Hayride at Dorris Ranch October 16-18 and the Halloween Carnival at the Bob Keefer Center on October 26.

Springs is a very curious and bouncy Douglas squirrel. He is always moving around looking for something to do.  He likes playing with kids: high-fives, hugs, fist bumps, and hide and seek. 

Springs has a specific bouncy walk and a few signature dance moves.  He also does not talk so he relies heavily on his handler/friend to help him out and communicate for him. 

Volunteers should:

The handler is responsible for maintaining safety with Mascots. Volunteers must use a good, friendly tone to guide the public’s interactions with mascots.

Please "respond" and in the notes you may indicate your preference, handler or mascot, and Willamalane staff will follow up with additional information on what to expect and prepare and event volunteer information.

Help with the Holiday Marketplace at Willamalane! The Holiday Marketplace features vintage, handcrafted holiday items, food, and more available from community artisans and vendors. Have lunch and shop for gifts and décor at this unique marketplace. It is a one-stop holiday shopping experience that will make the holiday gift search easy and fun. Holiday Marketplace volunteers will help with tasks like set up, decor, checking in vendors, food service and assisting entertainment set up.

Join a memorable afternoon in the historic Dorris Ranch barn, settled amongst the autumn leaves. The Harvest Tea event offers a relaxing afternoon tea inspired by the flavors of the season. The Event Assistant will help with set up, crafts, holiday themed decorating, serving sweet and savory treats and cleanup of event. Assistant may also help take photos for participants at photo booth.

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. Assistant may also help take photos for participants at photo booth.

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.

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

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 scenic park with spectacular views. Instruction and tools will be provided. 

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.

Willamette Heights Park is located at 508 Valley View Avenue, Springfield, OR. For the exact location, follow this link for a pin location.

Are you fun and social? Enjoy leading our Game Time (Get-Together-Pass) group where the community meets in the afternoon to play a variety of games in break out groups. We are looking for a volunteer who is lively and encouraging who can keep our game cabinet up to date as well as share interests for new games! Game Time meets on the 2nd and 4th Friday of each month from 1-3:30pm. 

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 supervision/participation 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 Fitness Expo will take place on Saturday, February 7th!

Volunteer to support the Fitness Expo! Volunteer responsibilities include supporting event set up and take down, prep and serve food (food handlers card preferred) and engaging with the community. Volunteers should anticipate standing for long periods of time and light duties. Volunteers should wear comfortable shoes for standing and bring a reusable water bottle to stay hydrated. Volunteers are welcome to attend the complimentary fitness classes as well.

The Friday shift is for helping with setup, and the Saturday shift roles include event setup, preparing and serving food, and event breakdown.

To volunteer, "respond" to the shift below that you plan to help with and include any additional information in the response notes section 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.

Toddler Time is a fun event where kids ages 1-6 enjoy various activities including a mobility circuit, arts and crafts, a dance party, social time, and healthy snacks.

Volunteers should be patient, kind, encouraging and have a fun attitude with children. Volunteers will help in the following roles: food preparation/serving (one volunteer, food handlers card preferred) and room support, floating between the baby play zone and toddler imagination play space, helping to keep things toys managed and organized (2 volunteers). All volunteers will help set-up and break-down the space including lifting items like small tables, chairs and toys.

To volunteer, "respond" to the shift below that you plan to help with and please indicate your role preference in the response. 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.

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 welcome to sign up for multiple and back-to-back shifts.

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

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 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.

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.