Region
Volunteer Opportunities in Metolius, Oregon
Matching organizations, in a different order on every visit
Central Oregon Volunteer Connect
also known as COVC, Volunteer Connect, Volunteer Central Oregon
Central Oregon Volunteer Connect is a program of Connect Central Oregon representing one of their four pillars - alongside Mentoring, Innovation, and Partnership. It's a regional infrastructure, shaped and stewarded by community leaders over more than two decades connecting organizations, volunteers, emerging leaders, and community energy across Central Oregon. Along with direct partnership outreach across the region, most notably the Connect Central Oregon Volunteer & Board Fair — the in-person event connecting volunteers and organizations face to face, their Volunteer Central Oregon directory allows browsing or searching to find organizations across Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson Counties, and Warm Springs looking for volunteers, donors, and community partners.
Connect Central Oregon is always looking for leaders who want to help connect individuals, groups, and organizations to each other and strengthen our community. One of the most important roles within the entire organization, serving as a "Connector" represents the very purpose of ConnectCO and serves as the primary method of our community engagement...using very literally every resource ConnectCO and its leadership team have to offer.
Connect Central Oregon is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that strengthens communities in Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson counties (plus Warm Springs) by connecting people with volunteer opportunities, board positions, and mentorship. It promotes civic engagement, community leadership, and innovation through platforms like Central Oregon Volunteer Connect.
Volunteers help run CCO's community events, from volunteer and board fairs to robotics and drone expositions, support community media production, and help keep the Volunteer Central Oregon directory accurate by reviewing organization listings. Students and groups are welcome, and CCO can sign off on community service hours.
Think Wild is Central and Eastern Oregon's only public wildlife hospital and conservation center, located on four acres on Bend's east side. Its veterinary staff and volunteers rescue, treat, and release hundreds of injured and orphaned native animals each year, from hummingbirds and flying squirrels to bald eagles and bobcats. Think Wild also runs a wildlife hotline, humane wildlife conflict help, Beaver Works Oregon habitat restoration, and education programs and camps for youth and the community. Found injured or orphaned wildlife? Call the hotline at 541-241-8680 (8am–6pm daily).
Volunteers help in the wildlife hospital with animal care, diet prep, and enclosure upkeep; rescue and transport injured wildlife; care for ambassador animals; support education programs, camps, and community events; and assist with humane wildlife conflict projects. Youth and family volunteering is available for kids and teens, and families and groups can join habitat restoration through Beaver Works Oregon. Training is provided.
Ignite Empowerment Foundation
also known as IEF
IEF partners with people and organizations doing meaningful work and help build the structure around their vision. Through fiscal sponsorship, organizational support, strategic guidance, practical systems, and collaborative partnerships, they create the conditions for good ideas to become strong, sustainable work.
Jefferson County Historical Society and Museum, Inc
also known as Jefferson County Museum
The Jefferson County Historical Society operates the Jefferson County Museum in Madras, preserving and sharing the history of Jefferson County and its communities through exhibits, collections, and records.
Volunteers staff the museum and greet visitors, help care for artifacts and records, and support exhibits and community history events.
CASA of Central Oregon trains and supports Court Appointed Special Advocates, community volunteers who speak up for children in foster care in juvenile court. Each CASA gets to know a child, gathers information from everyone in the child's life, and advocates for the child's safety, well-being, and a safe, permanent home.
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) are trained community volunteers sworn in by a juvenile court judge to advocate one-on-one for a child or sibling group in foster care. Advocates build a relationship with the child, gather information from family, caregivers, teachers, and providers, and write recommendations to the court. It's a long-term commitment backed by training and staff support. Board service is another way to get involved.
The Rotary Club of Jefferson County brings together Madras and Jefferson County business and community leaders for fellowship and local and international service projects under Rotary's motto of Service Above Self, supported by the Jefferson County Rotary Foundation.
Rotarians volunteer together on local service projects, fundraisers, scholarships, and community grants in Madras and Jefferson County, and on international service. The main way to get involved is to visit a club meeting and join.
Jefferson County's primary Christmas gift program for kids facing hardship, run for 30+ years by the Madras Kiwanis Club and the Madras High Key Club. Working with Oregon DHS so each family is served once, Operation Rudolph brings gifts to roughly 200 families and 450–600 children a year, from Crooked River Ranch to Warm Springs. With Toys for Tots no longer operating in Central Oregon, the need has grown.
Volunteers wrap hundreds of gifts at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds in December, with drop-in wrapping open to individuals, families, school leadership classes, and groups. Businesses can host gift-tag trees or toy drop boxes, and helpers collect donations from drop sites, shop, sort, and deliver gifts to families.
Central Oregon Open Programming
also known as COOP
Central Oregon Open Programming (COOP), a program of Connect Central Oregon, promotes community engagement by amplifying local voices through open programming: community-produced media and content made by and for people across Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson Counties and Warm Springs.
Big Brothers Big Sisters Of Central Oregon
also known as BBBSCO
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon (BBBSCO) is a non-profit organization, part of J Bar J Youth Services, that creates one-to-one, life-changing mentoring relationships between adult volunteers ("Bigs") and children ("Littles") ages 6–17. Serving Bend, Redmond, Madras, Prineville, and La Pine, it aims to empower youth through consistent, 2–4 times a month friendship-based activities.
Volunteers ("Bigs") are matched one-to-one with a child ("Little") and commit to spending time together 2–4 times a month for at least a year — sharing activities like sports, hobbies, or just hanging out. Mentors must be 18+ and complete a background check and interview process before being matched.
Kiwanis Club of Madras
also known as Madras Kiwanis
Madras's Kiwanis club, serving children across Jefferson County. Its signature program is Operation Rudolph, the county's primary Christmas gift program for kids facing hardship, run with the Madras High Key Club. The club also supports youth programs and scholarships throughout the year.
The biggest volunteer effort is Operation Rudolph each holiday season: collecting toys from drop boxes, shopping, and wrapping hundreds of gifts at the fairgrounds, with drop-in wrapping open to individuals, families, and groups. Members also support the Madras High Key Club and other youth projects through the year.
End of the list. Every organization on this page is now showing.