Volunteer
Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Raphael House! Our volunteers provide invaluable support to our programs, participants, and staff.
Frequently Asked Questions Volunteer Application Group Opportunities
Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Raphael House! Our volunteers provide invaluable support to our programs, participants, and staff.
Frequently Asked Questions Volunteer Application Group OpportunitiesRaphael House volunteers are indispensable to the success of our programs. Direct service positions involve unsupervised work with adult and child survivors of domestic violence and require 40 hours of Advocacy Training. Indirect service includes staff-supervised work with survivors and assisting with behind-the-scenes efforts.
Support residents in our emergency shelter and assist access line callers from the community.
Provide individualized attention and support to youth in our shelter and Advocacy Center, assisting with childcare, art groups, and other activities.
Offer specialized and professionally licensed skills (like massage therapy, yoga, ESL, culinary skills, arts and dance, etc.) for adults and/or children in our Advocacy Center.
Greet and support donors at our twice-monthly Donation Drop-off events (1st Thursday from 11am-1pm; 3rd Thursday from 4-6pm) at a local church.
Due to the sensitive nature of our work, we ask that all interested volunteers please submit a completed Volunteer Application and meet with us for an in-person screening to be considered for involvement on-site.
Those interested in direct service volunteer work must:
We place and accept volunteers based on our current needs and on our assessment of whether an individual is the right fit for Raphael House, and whether we’re the right fit for them! Submission of an application or completion of our screening process unfortunately doesn’t guarantee placement within our programs.
In the state of Oregon, 40 hours of advocacy training are required for anyone – staff or volunteers – working with survivors of domestic and/or sexual violence. Raphael House offers this training, and will provide it free of charge to anyone accepted into our volunteer program. Please contact Morgan, Volunteer Coordinator, at volunteer@raphaelhouse.com to learn when our next training course is scheduled.
Following graduation from advocacy training, volunteers must attend an on-site New Volunteer Orientation and complete shadow shifts within the program they are interested in supporting. Generally this takes between 3-4 weeks.
We currently have no available direct service volunteer positions for community members under 18 years of age. For indirect volunteer opportunities, applicants must be 16 years or older and have a parent or guardian’s permission. Please contact Morgan at volunteer@raphaelhouse.com to learn more.
Usually, during the month of December, we need support with our annual Holiday Program and will be seeking assistance from one-time volunteers.
To maintain confidentiality of our location and the survivors we serve, Raphael House has limited opportunities for volunteer groups. When support is needed, these projects do not involve direct contact with survivors, however they do have a significant impact on our programs and services! Examples include grounds and gardens maintenance, organizing and sorting donations, and deep cleaning.
Please get in touch at least six weeks in advance of your proposed volunteer date, so that we have ample time to determine whether an appropriate project is available and to plan together. Contact Morgan at volunteer@raphaelhouse.com or (503) 720-6337.
Yes, through our partnership with Portland State University, Raphael House accepts a limited number of student interns each school year. We also work closely with other area colleges, universities, and practicum programs to place students on a case-by-case basis, if space is available. Contact Elizabeth McKeever at emckeever@raphaelhouse.com or (503) 243-5126 for more information.
After reading through our Volunteer Program FAQ’s, please complete and submit our Volunteer Application. Click here to download the application.
We place and accept volunteers based on our current needs and on our assessment of whether an individual is the right fit for Raphael House, and whether we’re the right fit for them! Submission of an application or completion of our screening process unfortunately doesn’t guarantee an interview or placement within our programs.
“Our interns and volunteers bring unique skills, knowledge, and experience which strengthens Raphael House and supports our vision for a future without violence.”
Morgan, Volunteer Coordinator
