Volunteers are a Vital Part of the Garden Partners Community!

Therapeutic gardening programs are stronger and more enriching when volunteers give the gift of time. Please fill out the Online Volunteer Application and we will add you to our On-Line Volunteer list. From there both Garden Partners, and our Partnering Facilities, can contact you with specific openings.

What can a Volunteer do to support a Therapeutic Gardening Program?:

• Program Assistant

• Garden Maintenance - Ongoing or One-Time Events

• Construction

• Food Harvester/Distributor

• Materials Procurement

• Volunteer Program Assistant

• Graphic Design Assistant

• General Office Help

Program Assistants share meaningful interaction with elders and work with plants and garden materials year-round. At one of our partnering facilities you can assist elders during indoor and outdoor therapeutic gardening activities. Your role may include:

• Handing out tools and materials to residents;
• Positioning wheelchairs so residents can participate in activities;
• Assisting residents as they touch, smell and observe (as directed by staff);
• Loading/unloading plants, tools and supplies for activity sessions; and,
• Set-up/clean-up participant work areas; wipe tables, sweep floors, collect and clean tools.

Qualifications: Some gardening experience is helpful but not required. A background or interest in working with older adult populations is highly desirable. Compassion, patience and flexibility are a must! All Activity Assistant volunteers must pass a background check.

Commitment: Ongoing, weekly schedule — two hours per week preferred. This includes travel time to and from facility and some preparation and cleanup with Garden Partners’ staff.

Gardening Assistants have an ongoing opportunity with flexible hours and seasonal variety. Assist one of Garden Partners' Partnering Facilities with ongoing Gardening Assistance to help keep therapeutic gardens looking their best by helping with watering, planting, weeding, moving pots, loading/unloading plants, tools and supplies for planting, and special projects. One-Time Gardening Assistants can come to any scheduled work party, no experience necessary.

Qualifications: Some gardening experience is helpful but not required. Interest in working on gardening projects in collaboration with Garden Partners and/or Facility Staff. Able to lift 5-10 pounds.

Commitment: Open and flexible — schedule to be set with Garden Partners’ Program Specialist.

Construction Assistants help with projects such as building planters, garden structures, trellises and stands for raised planter boxes.

Qualifications: Constructions skills, tools and access to a workshop. Able to lift 5-10 pounds.

Commitment: Open and flexible

Food Harvesters help us make the most of our growing space. We do end up with an abundance of edibles that at times has no kitchen to go to. We work with local organizations who are focused on eliminating hunger to distribute our organic edibles. You can help organize and distribute our excess harvest.

The Procurement Team assists in maintaining the supportive relationships that we have earned from local businesses. Our programs could not be offered to so many people without the gifts-in-kind received. You can help with requests for, and delivery of these generous gifts.

Graphic Design Assistant helps with the layout of our bi-monthly activity guides, our Children's Garden Newsletter, and other printed communication. Experience in In-Design, Photoshop, and Illustrator will be needed.

General Office Help will assist with various administrative tasks

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P.O. Box 13280 Portland, Oregon 97213-0280	503-288-1280 info@gardenpartners.org
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