The Salvation Army Bend Corps serves thousands of Central Oregonians each year through a client-choice food pantry, emergency assistance with rent and utilities, holiday food and gifts through the Red Kettle and Angel Tree campaigns, youth after-school programs, and visits to seniors, as part of its faith-based mission to meet human needs without discrimination.
Volunteering looks likeThe Bend Corps has roles for almost every age: helping in the client-choice food pantry, visiting residents of assisted living centers, assembling gifts for veterans and people experiencing homelessness, and supporting youth programs. Read more ›
Who can volunteerFamiliesGroupsCorporate / Workplace GroupsFaith GroupsChildren (3–9)Preteens (10–12)Adolescents (13–18)Adults (19+)Older adults (65+)
The Redmond Food Project keeps St. Vincent de Paul of Redmond's food pantry stocked year-round through a simple neighbor-to-neighbor model. Read more ›
Volunteering looks likeNeighborhood Coordinators are the heart of the project: they recruit neighbors as food donors, hand out reusable green bags, and on the second Saturday of every other month collect the full bags and leave empty ones, then deliver the food to the pantry. Read more ›
Who can volunteerFamiliesChildren (3–9)Preteens (10–12)Adolescents (13–18)Adults (19+)Older adults (65+)
Sparrow Clubs USA empowers kids to help kids in medical need through compassion, kindness, and sponsored community service. A local school adopts a child facing a medical crisis as its Sparrow, a business sponsor pledges funds, and students earn those funds for the family by completing community service hours in the child's name. Read more ›
Volunteering looks likeStudents volunteer through their school's Sparrow Club, completing community service projects in their Sparrow's name; every service hour earns sponsor money for the child's family, and the program is free to schools. Read more ›
Who can volunteerCorporate / Workplace GroupsSchool GroupsChildren (3–9)Preteens (10–12)Adolescents (13–18)
The primary parks and recreation provider for residents of Prineville and Crook County. The district manages parks, trails, and open spaces and offers youth sports, recreation programs, and community activities.
Volunteering looks likeYouth sports coaching, park clean-up projects, group volunteer projects, and Adopt-a-Park, a roughly one-year commitment by individuals, families, businesses, or organizations to care for a park with litter pickup… Read more ›
Who can volunteerFamiliesGroupsCorporate / Workplace GroupsChildren (3–9)Preteens (10–12)Adolescents (13–18)Adults (19+)Older adults (65+)Oregon Health Plan Hours
The Upper Deschutes Watershed Council brings people together to protect and restore the rivers and streams of the Upper Deschutes basin, leading habitat restoration and water quality monitoring, and connecting students and the community to the river through education programs and the annual Deschutes River Cleanup.
Volunteering looks likeVolunteer opportunities include the annual Deschutes River Cleanup, stream sampling and monitoring days, and seasonal education internships supporting youth watershed programs, open to volunteers of all ages.
Who can volunteerFamiliesChildren (3–9)Preteens (10–12)Adolescents (13–18)Adults (19+)Older adults (65+)Oregon Health Plan Hours
Founded in 1961, the Humane Society of Central Oregon runs Bend's animal shelter, caring for thousands of abandoned, neglected, and stray companion animals each year and never turning an animal away. Read more ›
Volunteering looks likeVolunteers work directly with shelter animals and visitors — grooming and enriching cats through the Feline Friends program, walking and socializing adoptable dogs as Canine Companions, greeting shelter visitors… Read more ›
Who can volunteerFamiliesChildren (3–9)Preteens (10–12)Adolescents (13–18)Adults (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+)
Crook County Green Bags keeps local food pantries stocked by turning neighbors into regular food donors. Read more ›
Volunteering looks likeNeighborhood coordinators recruit neighbors as food donors, collect the green bags every other month, and bring them to a central drop-off, where volunteers sort and distribute the food. Read more ›
Who can volunteerFamiliesChildren (3–9)Preteens (10–12)Adolescents (13–18)Adults (19+)Older adults (65+)
A statewide Oregon environmental nonprofit mobilizing volunteers for litter cleanups, habitat restoration, and waterway care, including annual events in Central Oregon.
Volunteering looks likeVolunteers join litter cleanups, habitat restoration, and invasive plant removal at events statewide, including annual Central Oregon projects like the Upper Deschutes River cleanup and Sisters Community Cleanup Day. Read more ›
Who can volunteerFamiliesGroupsSchool GroupsChildren (3–9)Preteens (10–12)Adolescents (13–18)Adults (19+)Older adults (65+)Oregon Health Plan 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. Read more ›
Volunteering looks likeVolunteers 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. Read more ›
Who can volunteerFamiliesGroupsCorporate / Workplace GroupsSchool GroupsScout TroopsFaith GroupsChildren (3–9)Preteens (10–12)Adolescents (13–18)Adults (19+)Older adults (65+)
Central Oregon's only bunny-specific rescue and sanctuary, just outside Redmond. Ember's takes in abandoned and surrendered domestic rabbits, including special-needs bunnies, provides spay/neuter and veterinary care, adopts them into loving indoor homes, offers lifelong sanctuary to those who can't be adopted, and educates the community on proper bunny care. Read more ›
Volunteering looks likeVolunteers help with daily animal care (feeding, fresh water and hay, cleaning pens and litter boxes, and socializing bunnies for adoption), laundry and weekly greens runs, driving bunnies to and from vet appointments, fostering, and staffing event booths. Read more ›
Who can volunteerFamiliesChildren (3–9)Preteens (10–12)Adolescents (13–18)Adults (19+)Older adults (65+)
Bethlehem Inn is Central Oregon's largest emergency shelter, providing a safe place to sleep, three meals a day, and case management for adults and families experiencing homelessness. Read more ›
Volunteering looks likeVolunteers prepare and serve meals for residents (on-site or cooked at home), assemble sack lunches, sort donations and staff the clothing room, and help at the front desk at the Bend and Redmond shelters. Read more ›
Who can volunteerFamiliesGroupsChildren (3–9)Preteens (10–12)Adolescents (13–18)Adults (19+)Older adults (65+)Oregon Health Plan Hours