Friendly Visitors/Senior Companions

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Friendly House is looking for volunteers interested in becoming "Friendly Visitors"--to provide weekly or bi-weekly visits and companionship to a senior in NW Portland who is looking for a friend, someone to help with simple cleaning or errends, or even just play a board game and talk to.

We will match you up with a specific senior, based on your interests & availability. We have orientation for new volunteers, to go over our program expectations and learn more about you to accurately match you with one of our clients. After that, your volunteer schedule is up to you and your senior companion!

At the moment, there is a huge need for volunteers to help with housework for a number of our older adult clients. Friendly House was recently notified that Oregon Project Independence (OPI), the funding that provides in-home services to vulnerable, low income elders, is seriously depleted. Friendly House is forced to waitlist new referrals who are desperately in need of services, and existing clients will not be able to receive additional supports, even as their needs increase. Many of NW Portland’s most vulnerable older adults will not have access to housekeeping, organizational support, errand running, the very services that can mean the difference between staying in their home and moving to a facility. Friendly House staff are working harder than ever to access emergency funding, and develop innovative strategies for serving seniors to assure that our client’s most critical needs are met during this crisis, and that any gaps or delays in service will be only temporary. We’re looking for volunteers willing to help with household chores, sweeping and mopping, changing sheets and bedding, doing dishes, dusting, organizing, errand running and a variety of other tasks. Your time will help to ensure that our older adults are able to stay in the homes and communities that they love.

Orientations are the last Wednesday of each month.