Volunteering | How to Get Started

Students at Pacific undertake many different forms of service and the McCall Center for Civic Engagement works with partners throughout our community to connect students to opportunities which are meaningful and accessible.

We also work with individual students and student groups to help you find volunteer opportunities which will help you build community, find your passions, and make an impact on the world around you.

While we cannot offer a "placement service" per se, we do provide several resources to help students find the right opportunity, and are always happy to hear about your particular interests so we can help you find the best "fit".

As you get started, we suggest you check out the community partner list below, review our Community Opportunities Blog, and email our center with details of your volunteering goals so we can assist.

Ongoing Commitments and Established Partnerships

Pacific University partners with literally hundreds of organizations in the Portland Metropolitan area, region, and indeed, around the world to provide educational service opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. While we could not possibly list all of our partners in a useful way here, a sample of our partners below provides a starting point for those seeking to volunteer. These community partners are within about 30 minutes of the Forest Grove campus by car (the MCCE can help students work out transportation and other logistical issues) and have successfully hosted Pacific students on many occasions in the past.

Students are welcome to explore the opportunities these (or any) organizations offer on their own, and to give us feedback on their experiences. Please note that this list is by no means exhaustive, with new organizations or opportunities cropping up on a regular basis. We invite students to come to the MCCE for assistance with finding the right kind of opportunity, or to do their own research based on their interests and logistical situation.

Please note: If you work with a community organization that you think should be on this list, please contact us. 

This list includes organizations that:

  • Are within a 30-minute drive from the Forest Grove Campus (some are walking distance)
  • Have a variety of regular, ongoing volunteer positions
  • Align with the university mission
  • Have provided students with positive experiences with in the past

Adelante Mujeres | Adelante Mujeres “provides holistic education and empowerment opportunities to marginalized Latina women and families to ensure full participation and active leadership in the community.”

Bienestar | Bienestar “builds housing, hope, and futures for the well-being of working families and seniors.”

Centro Cultural | Centro Cultural “promotes personal growth and empowerment for Washington County communities of color and low income families.”

Forest Grove Community Alternative Learning Center (CALC) | CALC is part of Forest Grove High School, offering credits through self-paced learning. The ultimate goal is for students to return to the high school to successfully complete graduation requirements. “CALC staff and students work together to build a community founded on equity that honors learning and the growth of the whole person. We are committed to working with students to help them become confident and capable problem solvers. We value diversity, creativity, flexibility, empathy, resilience and positive, healthy relationships. We believe these are all essential for students to develop their academic, leadership and social skills.” 

Forest Grove Community School | “FGCS fosters scholarship, stewardship and citizenship through engaging, relevant and active learning to help our students become educated and caring community members. Through classroom and real-world experiences we honor individual student needs and abilities, strive to educate the whole child, and emphasize student growth.”

Forest Grove City Library | Forest Grove local public library

Forest Grove Parks & Recreation | Forest Grove local parks and recreation system

Forest Grove School District | Forest Grove School District believes “a high-quality, well-rounded educational experience is rigorous, culturally relevant, engaging and healthful. It incorporates new technology and new approaches to instruction and learning. It nurtures the whole child, with opportunities for music and world languages and hands-on learning. It requires high quality, effective teachers, administrators and support staff. It builds on strong relationships and shared responsibility with students, family and community.” 

Forest Grove Senior & Community Center | “The mission of the Forest Grove Senior and Community Center is to support our community by providing access to essential services, and opportunities for social and educational enrichment.”

Friends of Trees | Friends of Trees inspires people to improve the natural world around them through a simple solution: Planting trees. Together.

Habitat for Humanity | Habitat for Humanity “brings people together to build homes, communities and hope.”

Habitat for Humanity ReStore | Habitate for Humanity ReStore sells used donated building materials, appliances, furniture, and other assorted items. All profits after operating expenses go to fund their current house building program, currently underway in Forest Grove, OR.

HomePlate Youth Services | “HomePlate supports the positive development of young people experiencing homelessness or housing instability through community building, education, access to services and resources, and youth empowerment.”

Inukai Family Boys & Girls Club | “empower all young people, especially those who need us most, to discover their full potential as caring, engaged, responsible community members.”

Nana Cardoon | Nana Cardoon’s mission is “to empower all to grow food and community by sharing knowledge, experience and discoveries that draw upon farming” traditions and cultural heritage.

Oregon Food Bank | The Oregon Food Bank works “To eliminate hunger and its root causes…because no one should be hungry.”

SOLVE | SOLVE brings “Oregonians together to improve our environment and build a legacy of stewardship.”

Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center | The Mission of the Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center is to provide high quality, comprehensive, and culturally appropriate primary health care to the communities of Washington and Yamhill counties with a special emphasis on migrant and seasonal farmworkers and others with barriers to receiving health care.

Wildwood Farm Sanctuary | Wildwood Farm Sanctuary provides lifelong refuge and rehabilitation for abused and abandoned farm animals while lovingly protecting the property’s native plants, wetlands, woodlands, and wild animals.

Finding Other Opportunities

Similar opportunities are likely in other jurisdictions—what is listed here is the closest option to the Forest Grove Campus. If you would prefer to serve in Hillsboro, Beaverton, Portland, etc., a quick internet search or portal (e.g. Hands on Greater Portland, Volunteer Match) should get you pointed in the right direction.

Additionally, the MCCE hosts an "Opportunity Blog" which shares details of specific upcoming opportunities with these and other community partners, and Pacific's Academic and Career Advising Center partners with many companies to share their paid and volunteer opportunities on Handshake.

Please contact us if you would like to discuss your options or receive assistance finding the right fit for your needs.