Bend Park and Recreation District manages Bend's parks, trails, and recreation facilities, including Juniper Swim & Fitness Center, Larkspur Community Center, and the Deschutes River Trail, and offers year-round sports, fitness, youth, and senior programs for residents of all ages and abilities.
Volunteering looks likeVolunteers coach youth sports, help care for parks and trails through project days (weeding, litter cleanup, trail maintenance), and support recreation programs — including teen-specific roles like Cougar Camp counselors, Junior Lifeguard and Swim Instructor Aides. Read more ›
Who can volunteerPreteens (10–12)Adolescents (13–18)Adults (19+)Older adults (65+)
Bend Fire & Rescue is the City of Bend's fire and emergency medical service, answering fire, rescue, and ambulance calls from stations across Bend and the surrounding rural fire district. Read more ›
Volunteering looks likeSupport volunteers visit seniors' homes to check for fire and fall hazards through Safety Outreach for Seniors, teach prevention programs like smoke alarm and car seat safety, staff the Community Engine and Sparky at… Read more ›
Who can volunteerAdults (19+)Older adults (65+)
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+)
The Oregon Long-Term Care Ombudsman program advocates for residents of nursing facilities, assisted living, and adult foster homes, protecting their rights, dignity, and quality of care through trained volunteer ombudsmen who visit facilities and help resolve residents' concerns.
Volunteering looks likeCertified volunteer ombudsmen are assigned to local nursing homes and care facilities, visiting residents regularly, listening to concerns, and advocating for their rights and quality of care. 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+)
Honor Flight of Central Oregon flies local veterans to Washington, D.C., at no cost to them, to visit the memorials built in their honor. Founded in 2018 as one of about 140 hubs in the National Honor Flight Network, it gives priority to World War II, Korea, and Vietnam-era veterans and those with terminal illnesses from Central and Eastern Oregon. Read more ›
Volunteering looks likeHonor Flight is run entirely by volunteers. More than 200 volunteer Guardians have escorted veterans one-on-one on the trip to Washington, D.C. Read more ›
Who can volunteerGroupsCorporate / Workplace GroupsAdults (19+)Older adults (65+)
A nonprofit senior center in Madras serving Jefferson County from Culver and Metolius to the edge of Warm Springs. It provides congregate meals, Meals on Wheels, and transportation for older adults, and it is a Council on Aging of Central Oregon community dining site.
Volunteering looks likeMeals on Wheels delivery drivers, including rural routes, meal loading, and help running the center and its wellness activities. Contact the center about current needs.
Who can volunteerAdults (19+)Older adults (65+)Oregon Health Plan Hours
Sisters Transportation and Ride Share (STARS) provides free, curb-to-curb rides to non-emergency medical appointments for Sisters Country residents who can't drive themselves, including doctor, dental, lab, and physical therapy visits in Sisters, Bend, and Redmond. Read more ›
Volunteering looks likeVolunteer drivers use their own cars to take neighbors to medical appointments, picking up rides that fit their schedule on weekdays between 8 am and 5 pm; STARS provides training and the rides go to Sisters, Bend, and Redmond. Read more ›
Who can volunteerAdults (19+)Older adults (65+)
The Redmond Senior Center, a nonprofit gathering place for older adults for about 75 years, helps seniors engage, connect, and thrive. It serves weekday community lunches, runs activities from yoga and tai chi to cards, bingo, and movie nights, and operates Meals on Wheels, cooking and delivering 150 or more meals a day to homebound seniors in the Redmond area, plus pet food for seniors' animals. Read more ›
Volunteering looks likeMeals on Wheels drivers are the heart of the center, delivering 150 or more hot meals each weekday to homebound seniors and often a daily moment of connection, sometimes with flowers. Read more ›
Who can volunteerGroupsAdults (19+)Older adults (65+)Oregon Health Plan Hours
AARP Foundation Tax-Aide offers free, in-person tax preparation for older adults and low- to moderate-income taxpayers, with no AARP membership or age requirement. Read more ›
Volunteering looks likeTax-Aide is all-volunteer. Volunteers are trained and IRS-certified as tax preparers, or serve as greeters, schedulers, and site coordinators, at sites in Bend (Council on Aging and the Downtown Library), Redmond, La Pine, and Warm Springs from February to April. Read more ›
Who can volunteerAdults (19+)Older adults (65+)
SAGE (Senior Advocates for Generational Equity) helps people over 50 give forward so that younger and future generations can thrive. SAGE members in central Deschutes County volunteer their time and experience with local youth-serving programs and advocate for policies that support children and families.
Volunteering looks likeSAGE offers a range of ways to give forward, including leading or joining discussion groups and workshops, mentoring younger generations, event support, and contributing to special projects. Read more ›
Who can volunteerAdults (19+)Older adults (65+)
Parkinson's Resources of Oregon supports people with Parkinson's disease and their families statewide, including Central Oregon, through support groups, exercise and wellness programs, education, and a help line.
Volunteering looks likeVolunteers facilitate local support groups, help with exercise classes and education events, and support fundraising events like the Parkinson's walk.
Who can volunteerAdults (19+)Older adults (65+)