Volunteer Opportunities

Are you looking for a great idea for a group project? Perhaps you're part of a club, looking for team-building opportunities or a way for your company to become more active in your community. Perhaps you want to volunteer with your family or friends, or come on your own.

MOER GREEN TEAM volunteers have been helping their community for nearly 6 ears in a wide variety of ways. In a single afternoon a community weatherization team can weatherize the home of a senior citizen or person with a disability, or teach a group of new parents how to protect their family from lead poisoning, and more.

Fall/Winter (Aug-Feb): Busy season - opportunities include weatherization teams, leading workshops, answering phones, or assisting at community fairs.

• Spring (Mar-May): Leading workshops, conducting follow-up surveys on the phone

• Summer (Jun-Aug): Community events (tabling) and inventory

• Year-Round: Office help and professional services

If you would like to do "on the ground" work, take pride in doing a job right, and are familiar with basic tools, this is a great position. Using energy saving materials such as silicone-acrylic and rope caulk, interior vinyl storm windows, and door weatherstripping, individuals and teams of volunteers weatherize the homes of 230 seniors and people with disabilities every year. We provide training for all of our volunteers before heading out to the homes. Minimum age: 14. (typically 4-6 hours each time) Most weekdays, and Saturdays during the weatherization season (Sep-Feb).

After 25 hours or more of experience weatherizing, a volunteer can lead weatherization teams. We often have events with multiple new volunteers who need support from an experienced individual. Help staff provide this support by becoming a Weatherization Team Leader.

Develop your skills as a public speaker while delivering multi-sensory, hands-on workshops in the Boston area. Opportunities to Lead Poisoning Prevention Workshops are year round, Weatherization Workshops are September-March. Volunteer workshop leaders give presentations, facilitated by MOER staff. Workshop Leaders are required to attend the volunteer orientation, observe 3 workshops given by at least 2 different experienced instructors, and conduct 2 observed workshops before becoming a full workshop leader.

After a client has attended a Weatherization Workshop or Lead Poisoning Prevention Workshop, we like to follow up with them. This gives folks a chance to provide feedback and helps us to improve our programs. In addition, our findings are used in our reports to our funders. Minimum age: 18. (2-4 hours each time)

Volunteers and staff representing MOER Green Team and distribute information about our programs at various community events throughout Portland and the surrounding area. A good way to meet other fantastic people in the non-profit community. (2-4 hours each time)

We have three programs that give away a lot of free materials with workshops. It takes a lot of time and effort to assemble kits for 850 Weatherization participants, 540 Lead Poisoning Prevention participants, and 20 Water Conservation participants. This can include some heavy lifting. (Opportunity varies)

In the busy season we have opportunities to answer phones, enter data, and help clients process their paperwork.

As an individual. After an interview and orientation you can volunteer on your own time. (Minors must be accompanied by an adult, those under 14, a parent or guardian.)

• In a group. Whether through your employer, high school, or church group - we can accommodate up to 15 people in a day during the winter.

• Through an internship program. Established programs such as Federal Work Study and other service-learning/work experience programs partner with MOER to provide opportunities for placement.

Begin by scheduling an appointment for a volunteer interview/meeting to discuss your interests and available opportunities. All volunteers participate in an orientation and receive relevant training. Oftentimes orientation and training can occur on the first day of service. Volunteer Coordinator at email: Volunteermoer@gmail.com

• Program Organizer: The volunteer coordinators must provide a valid driver's license, and must sign and return MOER Foundation Participation Agreement.