United Way MLK Weekend of Service

Join a Service Project in Washington County

Thank you for considering joining us for the 5th annual United Way MLK Weekend of Service 2012 in Washington County. We look forward to seeing you in January!

* Note: Some projects have more than one volunteer day or time to choose from.

Friday, January 13, 2012

Oust With The Ivy!

Volunteers join us for a restoration project at the Howard Terpenning Complex, the Administrative site for the Tualatin Hills parks and Recreation district.

Volunteers will assist with habitat restoration activities such as ivy removal, in an area where several trails provide a peaceful refuge for park patrons. Management of these invasive species will improve native wildlife habitat and forage, increase biodiversity of native species and in the end improve water quality in the watershed.

This project is great for groups and families! No expereince necessary.

Recycle and Refurbish Bicycles

Volunteers will get to learn to and expereince how to dismantle a bicycle to salvage reusable parts and recycle the metal, rubber and plastic parts! Sometimes we strip down old rusty wrecks for recylcing and othertimes we work on bikes that can be resold or given to someone in need. Join us for four hours of fun! This is great for families and friends.

Please wear clothing that can get dirty/greasy and no open toes shoes. We will provide all of the tools necessary, as well as latex free gloves.

*Stock the Pantry at Oregon Food Bank

Join Oregon Food Bank and help them in their mission to eliminate hunger and its root causes. Unpack and sort donated food destined for agencies that directly serve low income people in Oregon. Your presence makes a huge difference, and, it's a lot of fun! Please wear closed-toed, closed-heeled shoes, and clothing you wouldn't mind getting just a little dirty.

Saturday, January 14, 2012

*Stock the Pantry at Oregon Food Bank

Join Oregon Food Bank and help them in their mission to eliminate hunger and its root causes. Unpack and sort donated food destined for agencies that directly serve low income people in Oregon. Your presence makes a huge difference, and, it's a lot of fun! Please wear closed-toed, closed-heeled shoes, and clothing you wouldn't mind getting just a little dirty.

Restore Chantal Village Park

Help Us Make a Shiny, Happy Clinic!

Volunteers are needed to help us spruce up the clinic with some spackle and a coat of paint, and to hang bulletin boards in the exam rooms. This is our patients home, help us keep the clinic looking nice so they have a clean and tidy place to live!

No experience necessary. Wear comfortable clothes that can get dirty. Bring your family and friends!

Bink-A-Thon Prep: Cut Fabric for Blankets

Binky Patrol is an all volunteer, national, non-profit organization making and distributing homemade blankets to vulnerable children and teens through local shelters and youth-serving agencies. A “binky” is a homemade blanket that can be sewn, knitted, crocheted or quilted. They range in size from 3 feet square up to twin bed size.

In preparation for our MLK Day Bink-A-Thon, we need volunteers to bring good scissors or rotary cutters/mats and help us cut a whole lot of fabric into 4 and 6 inch strips, which will then be used to make blankets to be donated to Washington County Homeless Connect, where they will find there way to families with children in need of comfort and warmth.

*Stock the Pantry at Oregon Food Bank

Join Oregon Food Bank and help them in their mission to eliminate hunger and its root causes. Unpack and sort donated food destined for agencies that directly serve low income people in Oregon. Your presence makes a huge difference, and, it's a lot of fun! Please wear closed-toed, closed-heeled shoes, and clothing you wouldn't mind getting just a little dirty.

Sunday, January 15, 2012

*Spruce Up Tigard Library!

We're celebrating MLK's Birthday with a weekend of service! Join us on Sunday or Monday for shelving, sorting, searching and shifting. This burst of volunteer energy will propel us into the New Year! Library volunteers also see the best books!

Monday, January 16, 2012

Plant Native Trees with Friends of Trees

Friends of Trees restores green spaces and natural areas in the Portland metro region by planting native trees, plants and shrubs. Help improve wildlife habitat, improve water quality and beautify these public places by planting with us this season!

We'll provide gloves, tools, skilled guidance - as well as free coffee and breakfast treats. All we ask is that you dress appropriately for the weather and wear sturdy shoes. This is a great project for families! Kids from age 6 and older are welcome to join in the fun if accompanied by an adult.

Kids! Spruce Up Tualatin Library

Join us at the Tualatin Public Library where you can make a difference to library users; by sprucing up the library. This event is a good time to explore the library in a new way.

Tasks will include preparing projects, cleaning books, shelving books, checking shelf order, and beautifying the Library. We'll have projects for all ages, we encourage families to come and serve together. Give the library a little TLC and see what treasures are hidden in Tualatin’s Library. No prior library training is required. Wear comfortable clothing.

Polish the Hillsboro Library

We'll be sprucing up the library--really making it shine! Projects include cleaning books and shelves, and shelving books and other materials. If you enjoy books, libraries, and doing good this is the project for you!
The Hillsboro Public Library connects the Hillsboro community and Washington County with information and resources.

Stock the Pantry at Oregon Food Bank

Join Oregon Food Bank and help them in their mission to eliminate hunger and its root causes. Unpack and sort donated food destined for agencies that directly serve low income people in Oregon. Your presence makes a huge difference, and, it's a lot of fun! Please wear closed-toed, closed-heeled shoes, and clothing you wouldn't mind getting just a little dirty.

Put Down Roots in Tualatin

Tree planting is one of the most enjoyable volunteer opportunities. You can get dirty, breathe some fresh air, have numerous conversations, meet lots of new people and get a great sense of achievement at the end of the day as you look back over the next generation of trees. By putting down roots in Tualatin you will have a direct impact on the health of our environment. Get your hands dirty at community tree planting events October through April. Our goal is to plant 10,000 trees!

Bink-A-Thon: Sewing Machine Blanket Brigade

Join us in celebrating Martin Luther King Day of Service as we work towards a goal of making as many blankets as possible in half a day! The blankets we make will find their way to families with children in need of comfort and warmth. We'll be working together to sew, pin, trim, tie-off, and decorate scores of blankets. 

Bink-A-Thon: Make Blankets for Children!

Join us in celebrating Martin Luther King Day of Service as we work towards a goal of making as many blankets as possible in half a day! The blankets we make will find their way to families with children in need of comfort and warmth. We'll be working together to sew, pin, trim, tie-off, and decorate scores of blankets. 

Spruce Up Good Neighbor Center

The Good Neighbor Center is a homeless shelter for families with children.  The Good Neighbor Center is dedicated to providing safe emergency housing and supportive services to empower individuals and families to be self-sufficient. Since the fall season has started and with all the rain, we have been experiencing several issues with the roof. The gutters are full to the brim with leaves and debris. We are currently looking for individuals to come out and clean the moss off the roof and the clean gutters.

Giving Thanks with Homeplate

Our busy holiday season provides lots of support from area businesses and individuals. On this MLK project you will assist us in recognizing those individuals by hand-writing 'thank yous' and doing phone-calls to our recent supporters. Folks will also assist us in addressing invitations for our upcoming Farm to Plate dinner in 2012. If you have one, bring your favorite pen(s) for letter writing.

*Spruce Up Tigard Library!

We're celebrating MLK's Birthday with a weekend of service! Join us on Sunday or Monday for shelving, sorting, searching and shifting. This burst of volunteer energy will propel us into the New Year! Library volunteers also see the best books!

HomePlate Meals with Youth

HomePlate is a weekly meal program serving young people who are unstably housed in Washington County. We offer them a hot meal, a shower, a movie, games, conversation, and other resources. Together, volunteers will prepare a main dish, vegetable, 1 gallon of milk, and 1 gallon of juice. Dessert, bread, and salads are welcome but optional.

We are looking for people who enjoy hanging out with young people, providing a listening ear, and offering positive role-modeling.