NAMI Central Oregon, the local affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, provides free support, education, and advocacy for people living with mental illness and their families, including peer and family support groups, classes, and community presentations that reduce stigma and help people find hope and recovery.
Volunteering looks likeVolunteer roles include support group leaders and class teachers (with NAMI training, often people with lived experience), community presentations and outreach, local advocacy, events and fundraising, grant writing, graphic design and writing, and admin help. Read more ›
Who can volunteerGroupsCorporate / Workplace GroupsAdolescents (13–18)Adults (19+)Older adults (65+)Oregon Health Plan Hours
Partners In Care is Central Oregon's only independent, nonprofit home health and hospice organization, and the state's first hospice service. Read more ›
Volunteering looks likeHospice volunteers offer companionship and support to patients and families through presence, not medical tasks, serving 2–8 hours a month (often 1–3 hours a week) for at least a year. Read more ›
Who can volunteerAdults (19+)Older adults (65+)
Assistance League of Bend is an all-volunteer nonprofit with no paid staff, bringing comfort and hope to children and adults facing hardship across Deschutes County, with every dollar raised staying local. Read more ›
Volunteering looks likeAn all-volunteer organization with no paid staff. Read more ›
Who can volunteerAdults (19+)Older adults (65+)
Sisters Habitat for Humanity partners with local families to build and repair safe, affordable homes in the Sisters area, and operates a thrift store whose proceeds support its housing work.
Volunteering looks likeVolunteers help on construction and repair projects with no experience needed, staff the Sisters Habitat thrift store, and support events, committees, and homeowner partnership.
Who can volunteerGroupsAdults (19+)Older adults (65+)Oregon Health Plan Hours
The Environmental Center works to embed sustainability into daily life in Central Oregon through environmental education, community programs, and policy advocacy. Read more ›
Volunteering looks likeVolunteer opportunities include board and committee service, hands-on help in the learning garden, and support for community programs and events, most of which are family-friendly and open to all ages.
Who can volunteerFamiliesChildren (3–9)Preteens (10–12)Adolescents (13–18)Adults (19+)Older adults (65+)
Community dispute resolution center serving Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson counties since 1998. It helps people have difficult conversations through affordable mediation for family, housing, neighbor, business, small-claims pre-trial, and foreclosure disputes, plus facilitation and conflict-resolution education.
Volunteering looks likeMost volunteers serve as community mediators: after the Basic Mediation Training they're mentored through observing, co-mediating, and coached mediations, then take cases such as neighbor, landlord-tenant, small-claims, and family disputes. Read more ›
Who can volunteerAdults (19+)Older adults (65+)Oregon Health Plan Hours
Ruckus: A Children's Science Museum (formerly the Children's Museum of Central Oregon) creates hands-on, play-based STEAM learning experiences for young children and families through its Mobile Museum, pop-ups and community events, as it builds Central Oregon's first permanent children's science museum in Bend's Central District. Read more ›
Volunteering looks likeVolunteers help at the museum's family events and pop-up play programs, assist with exhibit building and upkeep, and support fundraising and outreach.
Who can volunteerAdults (19+)Older adults (65+)
Family Kitchen serves free, nutritious hot meals to anyone who needs one, no questions asked, in a safe and caring environment. Powered largely by volunteers, it serves dine-in and to-go meals and delivers meals to shelters and camps in Bend, Redmond, and Sisters.
Volunteering looks likeVolunteer shifts include cooking, serving meals, washing dishes, prepping to-go boxes, and delivering meals to shelters and camps. Individual and group shifts are available across Bend, Redmond, and Sisters locations.
Who can volunteerGroupsAdolescents (13–18)Adults (19+)Older adults (65+)
Central Oregon's only accredited Children's Advocacy Center, providing free child abuse evaluations, forensic interviews, family advocacy, and mental health services for children and families across Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson counties.
Volunteering looks likeVolunteers help with the Cork & Barrel fundraiser and other events like Giving Tuesday donation drives, plus general event and administrative support for this Children's Advocacy Center. Read more ›
Who can volunteerAdults (19+)Older adults (65+)
City Club of Central Oregon is a nonpartisan civic organization that hosts monthly forums and conversations on the issues shaping the region, from housing and growth to education and public health, bringing together diverse perspectives so residents can learn, connect, and engage in civic life.
Volunteering looks likeMembers and friends volunteer on program committees that choose topics and speakers, help staff forums and events, and support outreach and membership.
Who can volunteerAdults (19+)Older adults (65+)
BrightSide Animal Center is a high-save animal shelter in Redmond that cares for displaced dogs and cats, rehabilitates them, and places them in responsible, loving homes. Read more ›
Volunteering looks likeVolunteers walk dogs, socialize cats, staff the BrightSide thrift store, and help at adoption and community events; foster volunteers care for animals at home, including senior and ill pets in the fospice program. Read more ›
Who can volunteerFamiliesCourt-Ordered / Community ServicePreteens (10–12)Adolescents (13–18)Adults (19+)Older adults (65+)Oregon Health Plan Hours
Central Oregon's first nonprofit cannery, launched in 2025 to reduce farm food waste and fight food insecurity. It collects surplus produce from area farms that markets can't absorb and turns it into healthy, shelf-stable jams, sauces, pickled vegetables, and soups, supporting local growers while getting local food to families year-round.
Volunteering looks likeVolunteers help glean and collect surplus produce from local farms, prep and process fruits and vegetables in canning sessions, label and package finished goods, and support distribution to food access partners, plus outreach and fundraising events.
Who can volunteerAdults (19+)Older adults (65+)