Volunteer or Donate: Center for Development and Civic Engagement (CDCE)

Volunteer or Donate

VA Portland Health Care System depends on the goodwill of our benefactors and volunteers who wish to give something back to America's heroes.

(See online donation details at the bottom of this web page)

Volunteer

Volunteers provide many important functions throughout the Medical Center and help make our patients' stay more enjoyable. Volunteers can perform a number of services, and a volunteer's talents are closely matched with one of our many assignments including;

Volunteer Van Drivers 

Help pick-up outpatients receiving chemotherapy, dialysis, radiation therapy, and other outpatient appointments. To fill this role, you must have a current drivers license and automobile insurance and pass a physical exam. Hours: 7 a.m. to noon, or noon to 5 p.m.
 

Guest Shuttle Drivers (Vancouver Campus)

Help outpatients in our large parking areas with access to the Vancouver Campus. To fill this role, you must have a current driver's license. Hours: 8 a.m. to noon, or noon to 3:30 p.m.
 

Office Assistant Volunteer 

Help different medical or administrative offices in the medical center. Duties include filing, answering phones, and greeting and directing patients. Hours: 8 a.m. to noon, or noon to 4 p.m.

To volunteer, call or visit the VAPORHCS Voluntary Service Office. We will be happy to receive your application or discuss how you can help us in our mission to provide comfort and care to America's Veterans.
 

Red Coat Ambassadors 

What Do Ambassadors Do? 

• Ambassadors are staffed at each main entrance during the core business hours. 

• Key Responsibilities: 

   - Wear a uniform consisting of a red coat or vest to be easily identified o Positioned near front entrances to provide easy access to information and assistance.
   - Greet everyone entering the building with a big smile
   - Offer information and assistance with navigation
   - Give directions or personally escort Veterans to appointments, based on preference
   - Contact escort/wheelchair service, if a wheelchair is needed
   - Provide a listening ear along with compassion and respect
 

Patient Visitors 

• Socialization with identified residents who may not have family or other visitors in the area.

Pleasant personality, excellent social skills

• Awareness of patient/visitor boundaries in establishing relationships with patients and works within those boundaries
• Enjoy working and interacting with the frail, elderly population
• Ability to read patient cues regarding fatigue, pain, etc. levels
   

Coffee Carts Program 

• Prepare coffee and treats (if any/ if necessary) .for distribution in the clinic waiting areas. 
• Ensure coffee carts are stocked with sugar, creamer, cups, etc.
• Deliver carts to their assigned areas (see additional instruction sheet). 
• Deliver The Oregonian newspaper throughout the hospital 
• Replenish book shelves in the waiting areas.
• Replenish kitchen cabinet stocks of coffee, filters, sugar, creamer, etc. from the coffee locker. 
• Keep the kitchen and Workroom area clean
   

Donation Needs

(As of November 2024)

Please call Voluntary Service to arrange the delivery/receipt of donated items.

Voluntary Service Donation Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Donations can also be mailed directly to Voluntary Service.

Voluntary Service at the Portland and Vancouver Campuses will continue accepting monetary donations thru mail, or e-donate.

Thank you in advance for your contributions and we appreciate all you do in supporting our Veterans.

Current Needs:

Clothing

• New sweats and shirts/t-shirts up to size 4XL
• Coats/gloves | Seasonal Oct-March
• Men’s new sweatpants all sizes
• Men’s new boxer briefs in all sizes up to 3XL
• Women's sports bras (Med - 3XL)
• Wet weather gear - raincoats, umbrellas, boots
• Backpacks
• Sleeping bags
• Croc style, closed toe type slip on shoes, men's & women's popular sizes

Other items

• Tri-met & C-Tran passes
• Coffee (regular & decaffeinated)
• Lap robes/Quilts
• Word find/puzzle books
• Back Scratchers
• Reading Glasses (variety of strengths)
• Lap robes 50”x60”/Quilts
• Bereavement Quilts – red, white and blue fabric, size 5’x7’ or 6’x7’, must have batting, quilted or hand tied
• Neck Pillows horseshoe or bone shaped accepted
• Gently used paperback books
• Magazines less than 6 months old- any year Readers Digest or National Geographic 
• Baby items for Operation Diaper Bag (please call for current need)

Where to donate:

Please mail to:        

VA Portland Health Care System
Attn: Center for Development & Civic Engagement  (P4VOL)
3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Road
Portland, OR 97239

Or in Vancouver:

VA Portland Health Care System
Attn: Center for Development & Civic Engagement  (P4VOL)
1610 East Fourth Plain Blvd
Vancouver WA 98661

Contact Us

Center for Development and Civic Engagement (CDCE)  (formerly Voluntary Service)

Portland:
Building 101, ground floor, room 115
Portland:

Vancouver:
Building 11, Room D360
Vancouver:

Outside Portland/Vancouver Metro Area: