ReBuilding Center x AAAH: Lending a hand to Portland homeowners June 11

AAAH DAY OF SERVICE

SATURDAY, JUNE 11TH

The ReBuilding Center has partnered with the African American Alliance for Homeownership (AAAH) to help current or former AAAH clients who need assistance with minor home repairs. In early May, AAAH mailed out applications for the project to over 800 homeowners living within the North/Northeast corridor area of Portland and in return received multiple repair requests. The requests include projects such as tree trimming, painting a kitchen, clearing a yard, attic insulation repair, fixing a porch railing and an electrical/plumbing project.

All projects are currently being assessed by a ReBuilding Center team to ensure the right materials and skills are available to complete each task. The collaboration will be held during the Village Building Convergence on June 11th from 9am – 5pm. Fun fact: our red cob trees at the front of our building were built during one of the first Village Building Convergence events! 

Staff and volunteers will meet in the morning at the ReBuilding Center and then set out to the separate project sites. With hopes of completing all projects within the day, whatever has not been completed on the designated day of service will be completed by staff and volunteers at a later date.  

More information will be released soon for those of you who would like to participate in the AAAH Day of Service.

To lend a hand to help with these minor repairs or to learn about our varied volunteer services that range from window display design, building in our fully equipped wood shop, working with our newsletter team to working in our warehouse, please sign up to volunteer or contact ReBuilding Center Volunteer Services Manager, Dave Lowe at volunteer@rebuildingcenter.org.

With Our Own Two Hands

We have a lot to celebrate this year. Although it did not go far enough, the Paris Agreement, within the context of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, was a giant step forward. For the first time ever, a clear international commitment was made to keep a significant portion of remaining hydrocarbons in the ground. Drafted in December 2015, the agreement “opens for signature” on Earth Day—April 22, 2016. 

Community members and organizations in Oregon have echoed the sentiment of the Paris Agreement by organizing to apply pressure on decision makers to move away from carbon-based fuels and toward a sustainable future. Thanks to these grassroots efforts, last month landmark victories were achieved to keep new LNG and coal projects out of Oregon.

And there’s been good news even closer to home. In February, Portland’s City Council passed a groundbreaking resolution to make deconstruction mandatory for all homes built more than 100 years ago that are scheduled for demolition (about 33% of single-family demolitions). The process of deconstruction will save millions of pounds of valuable building materials for reuse that would otherwise be put into the landfill. This new ordinance will reduce atmospheric carbon by roughly 800 tons per year while generating 20-25 new living-wage, permanent jobs. The ReBuilding Center is thankful for all who came together to vocalize your support for this resolution. Our DeConstruction Services department is excited to grow, and our store looks forward to offering more materials to the community!

These important policy developments, from the international to the local level, did not take place because politicians decided they were good things to do. They occurred because community members worked for them from the bottom up: we organized; we applied pressure; and, at long last, politicians acted. 

In the work we do and the incredible people we encounter every day at the ReBuilding Center, I am constantly reminded of the words of Desmond Tutu, painted on the front of our building: “Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”

We invite you to join us as volunteers at the ReBuilding Center to be part of that change you want to see in the world—only together can we can create a sustainable community, environment, and economy. And so I will close with the lyrics fit for Earth Day from Ben Harper:

I can change the world
with my own two hands…
with our own
with our own two hands

or watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEnfy9qfdaU. If you haven’t heard it, it’s a great tune. Enjoy! 

Stephen Reichard
Executive Director

It’s National Volunteer Week and Earth Day is right around the corner! We’ve got a lot of volunteer opportunities for you in these next two weeks. Here is a list of volunteer opportunities to give back to the community and support environmental protection!

Table at the Fox Tower Sustainability Fair

Fox Tower is coordinating an event for eco-friendly, sustainable and local vendors. This would be a chance for you to spread awareness of the mission and goals of the ReBuilding Center to the business community in Portland and reach a wide range of people. This event will be held in the Fox Tower lobby April 21-22, Thursday and Friday; 11am-1pm.

Get exclusive tickets to events through volunteering with Wave PDX

We are excited to host some volunteers from wave this Thursday. Haven’t heard of them? They incentivize volunteerism through events where the only way to get tickets is by volunteering time in the community. Next month, Revolution Hall hosts Kurt Vile for an exclusive concert!

Glean materials from Metro Central

Work with us to visit the Metro Central Transfer station twice a week in order to keep usable building materials out of the waste stream! Twice weekly, we are organizing volunteer opportunities at the transfer station for those interested in sustainable waste management and getting a "behind the scenes" look at how we can help!

Available on Monday's and Thursdays from noon to 3pm, this project is looking for volunteers that can dedicate multiple trips in a row. Safety training and orientation on-site will be provided for your first shift. 

Spring and Summer Internships now open!

Every year, interns with ReBuilding Center take on amazing projects with our efforts to build communities with greater social and environmental vitality. If you, or someone you know, can benefit from a 3-6 month internship or a prolonged volunteer opportunity, consider working with us! Internship opportunities include: 

• Creative ReUse Library Curator
• Administrative Assistant Intern
• Volunteer Coordinator Intern
• Salvage Specialist Intern
• Volunteer Leader

Don't see anything that interests you? Let us know! We love to create opportunities for those committed to better world. Areas of interest where we have created internships in the past: 

• Community Health
• Social Justice
• DeConstruction
• Film/Photography content management

Monthly Volunteer Event

Thursday, April 14th, 6pm - 8pm

The second Thursday of every month is our after-hours volunteer event! It’s coming up quick, so grab your spot and get together with other volunteers from around the Portland area to enjoy a night of light-hearted material salvage. There’s a happy hour at StormBreaker Brewing to follow. Volunteers receive 25% off!

Help us reign in our Tile Area!

We are looking for a dedicated volunteer to take on our ever-growing tile area. Our wonderful volunteer, Bobby, has moved on to bigger and better things and we're looking for someone to fill her shoes. Check out the video we put together highlighting Bobby and her work with us!

The work done at the ReBuilding Center is all about creating opportunities for our community to become more equitable, vibrant, and sustainable. Volunteers like you are the backbone of our mission. If you have an interest in reducing waste, engaging in your community, and making a better world, come on out and hang with us - we'd love to see you!

Meet Mélanie Duault!

Mélanie Duault, an artist from Vaureal, France, approached us last December with an interest in creating a stop-motion video for the ReBuilding Center. She spent hundreds of hours physically manipulating each shot and then compiling and editing it into a playful three minute piece on how the ReBuilding Center works. 

Mélanie went to school for photography four years which led to a photo assistant internship with her video teacher in Germany. This experience spurred a move to New York where she attended the International Center for Photography and explored her passion for food photography and color studies. Now she’s happy to be living in Portland, doing lots of freelance work and living life!

Mélanie was inspired to volunteer for the ReBuilding Center because back in New York there was a similar organization called Build It Green where she used to spend lots of time getting inspired and picking up repurposed materials for shoots. She was pleased to find us in Portland and was interested in the deconstruction element we provide – repurposing materials that would otherwise be put into the landfill. Her favorite part of the stop-animation process is writing and drawing out her ideas and then realizing the images in her head. This project started with Mélanie wandering around the ReBuilding Center warehouse with a notebook in hand, looking for interesting shapes and colors. For instance, when she found the sink you see in the end of the video, she knew that she wanted to work it into the credits as a little visual surprise. 

Color is a reoccurring theme in her work. She loves creating vibrant environments and exploring what color means to individuals and loves how different people read meaning into different colors. Mélanie was happy to find us to put materials to good use and contribute to a more sustainable environment and community. Her work will be on display on media kiosks for the Commons launch this summer. You can follow her on social media and check out some of her other colorful projects here: 

i: @maaad.ly | t: @maaad_ly | f: maaadly| melanieduault.com

We are so grateful to be a part of an organization that spurs these acts of creative kindness! 

Window Reuse Ideas

We have all seen old windows up for grabs on our neighborhood forums and in the aisles of The Rebuilding Center. Once you’ve snagged these single pane lead-filled beauties, what next? Here are some ideas of how you can reimagine old or unneeded windows. 

Coat Rack

Supplies Needed

• Window
• Knobs or hooks
• 1"x4” piece of lumber
• Screws to fasten it all together
• Your favorite images

Cut your piece of lumber to size and fasten to the top of your window frame. This will be a shelf for your coat rack. Find your favorite knobs and hook and attach them to the front bottom of your window frame.  Glue or tape your favorite images of your friends and family to the back of the window facing forward.  That is all that this quick DIY project takes. You can always finish the shelf with paint to match your window frame. With the exception of your favorite images, all the items can be found at the Rebuilding Center. 

NOTE: To avoid splitting of the wood, pre-drill smaller holes in your frame before fastening screws. 

Chalkboard

Supplies Needed

• Window 
• Knobs or hooks
• Chalkboard Paint
• Screws to fasten your hardware

This is another simple DIY project. Paint the glass pane with your favorite colored chalkboard paint. Fasten your favorite hardware, keep in mind your needs based on where you will place your chalkboard. If you will have it in your kitchen, it could be cute to hang tea towels or your favorite coffee mug. If you want to hang it in your office or kid's room think about the hardware you will need for your use. Some alternatives to using chalkboard paint are dry erase board paint or magnetic paint. Once the paint is dry, you are ready to go!

Planter

Supplies Needed

• Window frame
• 1"x6” piece of lumber
• Hook screw
• Chain
• Screws to fasten your lumber
• Potted plant

This DIY project is great for an empty window frame or broken window reuse. Carefully remove the glass from your frame. Cut the lumber to the length of your window frame. Ensure that the 1"x6” is wide enough to provide stability to your frame. You can use wider or narrower wood depending on the height of your frame. Fasten the lumber to your frame with screws. Pre-drill a smaller hole and screw your hook in the top of the inside of the frame. Before you add your plant to your pot, drill holes for the chain. We used a metal pot; you may have different requirements depending on the type of pot you use. Ensure that the chain is the right length based on where you want the pot to hang. Connect the pot to the chain, add your favorite plant and hang the chain on the hook. 

Cabinet

Supplies Needed

• Lumber 
• Screws
• Hinges
• Knob

This DIY project requires more cutting and fastening than the above projects and could be a nice day project. The dimensions of your cabinet will depend on the size of your window. For this one I used 1"x2", 1"x6", and 1"x8" pieces of lumber for the sides and the back. I also used two rows of 1"x2" for the shelves. Your window will be the door. I measured the length of my window and added an additional 5". I added 2" to the bottom so the door doesn’t drag on the ground and I added 3" to the top so I can have an exterior shelf. Fasten three sides of your cabinet together using a 1"x2" strip for the rear and 2"x2" for the sides which also doubled as what will hold my shelving in place. So ensure the placement of the 2"x2"s on the sides match. Also make sure all the lumber is even height to avoid any teetering that might occur. Next cut the shelving and place it on the 2"x2" strips. You can fasten it in place but there is really no need. I found it easiest to place the cabinet on its back to install the door (window). Placing your hinges strait and at the same depth is important for the door to swing open with ease. Add your hardware and you are ready to go!

NOTE: The window I used was very heavy so when the cabinet was open it would tilt forward. This standing cabinet will have to be mounted to the wall to use.  

New Year Volunteer News

New Year:
Time to Volunteer!

But first we'd like to congratulate all the December volunteers. We couldn't have done it without you! The warehouse is looking better than ever. Together you have put in nearly 1,700 hours last month! From market research, to the building of interactive kiosks, to the daily processing of donated building materials, all of your valuable time and effort are greatly appreciated!

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Get to know your neighbors at our monthly Friday evening volunteer project

When: Friday, January 8th from 6pm to 8pm
Description: All volunteers will receive a 25% discount at a happy hour to follow the project at a local brewery on N. Mississippi Ave! Come contribute to our efforts to keep salvaged, and usable, building materials out of the waste stream. PLUS, you get to work with Pete! 

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Trade Show and Events Training

When: Wednesday, January 20th 6:30pm - 7:30pm.
Time Commitment: After training, 3 - 8 hour shifts available throughout the year. Each event is different and flexible, so let us know what works for you!
Description: Twice a year, we offer this training to those of you who enjoy getting out in the community and connecting with people at events. We go to Trade Shows, Fix-It-Fairs, Sunday Parkways, Environmental Expos and many other community events. Tabling at these events are all about building connections and sharing your experience with, and knowledge of, the ReBuilding Center. We have a great line-up of community events on the schedule and look forward to involving all of you in the community outreach and information sharing. 

Trade Shows in January

Event volunteers will answer questions, provide information, and be a general steward for our organization's mission of "Inspiring people to value and discover existing resources to strengthen the social and environmental vitality of communities". 

Build, Remodel, and Landscape Show
When: January 8th, 9th, and 10th
Where: Oregon Convention Center

Portland Renovation and Remodeling Show
When: January 22nd, 23rd, and 24th
Where: Portland Memorial Coliseum 

Scheduling available through your volunteer portal at http://www.rebuildingcenter.org/volunteer/ or click on the button below.

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MLK Jr. Day of Service

When: January 18th
Description: Working in conjunction with Hands on Greater Portland and the United Way of the Columbia-Willamette, the ReBuilding Center will host a day of service in honor of the late great Doctor Martin Luther King Jr! Gather with your family and members of your community in honoring his legacy by volunteering! 

Go to Hands on Greater Portland's website to register and browse additional opportunities to take part. 

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DeConstruction Volunteer Corps

When: Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays throughout January
Where: 6175 SW Arrow-Wood Lane 
Description: The ReBuilding Center's DeConstruction Services is working to dismantle an entire house in the SW to make use of it's component parts! Take this opportunity to see first-hand how, with a little elbow grease and much skill, a future can be sustained through the art and practice of mindful gleaning. 

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More opportunities may arise at various locations. We'll keep you posted on projects as they come up! For more information email Dave Lowe at volunteer@rebuildingcenter.org

Preparing for the Trades

- by Mercy Shammah

I had the opportunity of completing Oregon Tradeswomen’s Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program this fall. The program is called Pathway to Success and really sets the bar for preparing women to go into the trades. 

Women in a Man’s World

If you’ve been on social media in the past year, you may have noticed mini movements speaking about inequality for women. Like women refusing to move out of the way and running into men and their sidewalk entitlement.

Women who want to ‘man-spread’ instead of taking up the smallest amount of space as possible.

People want more than a high school prom queen line of questioning for our female celebrities and athletes. People are pushing for gender neutral toys because only playing dress up and brushing hair influences the scope of what girls think they are capable of decades down the line. These movements remind women that it is their world too.

How does this relate to the trades? Oregon Tradeswomen (OTI) has taught us that we don’t have to apologize for our very existence. We can swing a hammer just as good as the men because of the nature of us being human beings. Many women in the program don’t have a trades background or know anyone in the trades. The training program is an introduction to the field and more. The program goes over the rough and tough construction culture, what to expect, how to navigate it and where we can go for support when we need it. The program reminds us that we can be strong and empowered when we are on the job site surrounded by men, some of whom won’t expect much of us and others who won’t want us to be there at all. 

There are very few programs like OTI in the United States yet; women fill just 3% of all trades jobs. Through this program we learn how to find our voices, to feel confident and know that we have the knowledge to back it up. While 2015 has been a strong year in requesting social change for women, Oregon Tradeswomen has been doing this since the late 80s. 

Three Days

Pathways to Success is broken up into three days a week; each day provided us with a different experience. The first day of the week is a classroom day. These are the days where we receive fundamentals for the trades culture, learn about tools and job site safety, learn basic construction math and measurements and prepare for interviews. We get to learn more about each other and our program as we grow in to tradeswomen. 

The second days of the week are our field trip days. We are introduced to many different trades and learn the ins and outs, opportunities that are available and how much we would get paid. For many entry-level positions, the answer is: a lot. We would get paid a ton. In our training of the different trades we were provided with hands on activities which allowed us a better understanding of what exactly we would be doing. We had the opportunity to make things, use power tools and get the physical experience of the work. Enthusiastic recruiters expanded the list of possible careers we were capable of.The last days of the week were our job site days. This is where we would put all that classroom knowledge to use and get a good sense of the physical work we were getting ourselves into. These days could be very demanding yet fun. One of the biggest projects we worked on in my term was Living Cully. It was a strip club strip mall on 60th & Killingsworth that we deconstructed to be utilized for something that will better serve the community. Oregon Tradeswomen has a history in partnering with community organizations for the job site days. It is a bonus for us to be a part of something great while getting our feet wet in the trades. We were the ones who got to tear down those walls which oppressed so many women. Living Cully was just one of our projects, we participated in builds at other locations as well. 

Commitment

This program requires a huge level of commitment for the women looking to graduate. The program is three days a week for seven weeks. You have to find income sources around that schedule as well as figure out childcare. OTI is serious when it comes to timeliness. If anyone arrives late on the first day of training (or within the first week), they are removed from the program and there are a line of women waiting to take the spots of the latecomers. 

Handing in all your homework is mandatory to graduate. In addition, OTI tests on math, measurements, tool knowledge and fitness. During my term they partnered with Fulcrum Fitness to train us twice a week. This helped us become better prepared for the physical test and work. 

Oregon Tradeswomen is putting us out in the job field with their seal of approval. We represent them and we are starting off with as much knowledge and confidence as any man in our trade and then some. We are making a big commitment to ourselves. For some of us we are breaking out of our shell and accomplishing something we never knew was a possibility. For others, they are making a commitment to their children for better and more secure life.

New to PDX Event @ The Rebuilding Center

Friday, December 11th
6pm - 8pm
The Rebuilding Center
3625 N. Mississippi avenue

Want to meet new people? Do you like to be hands-on? Want to promote reuse? Come to The Rebuilding Center's New To PDX event and join up with like-minded individuals and build a friend base here in your new city!  Local volunteers are a vibrant and wonderful part of the Rose City.  Meet some new folks and help keep usable materials out of the waste stream.  We meet up every second Friday of every month.

#GivingTuesday De-nailing Party

#GivingTuesday is not just about money, you can give back to your community by volunteering time with a deconstruction de-nailing party. Be apart of salvaging resources for reuse in a fun and hands-on way! We’ve created a special event this #GivingTuesday, December 1st at a site on NE 9th (near Broadway). Come prepared with steel toed boots. 

Forecast: looks like it isn’t going to rain! But it will be cold, so dress for the weather.

A few other things to remember:

-We can provide all volunteers with steel-toed boots. If you have your own, please wear them. Otherwise, let us know your shoe size and we'll have some ready for you!

-Volunteers that are under the age of 18 must have a youth waiver signed by a parent or gaurdian.

-Denailing requires gloves and eye protection, so please supply what you can.  We have extras for volunteer use, but it is nice to use your own!

Our Deconstruction services offer an affordable and sustainable alternative to conventional demolition. Working by hand, our crews salvage for reuse up to 85% of a buildings major components. A crucial step in these materials' journey towards reuse is the extraction of their nails, screws and staples. 

Team up with other volunteers and help us do our part in keeping more building materials out of the waste stream!

Here’s an article on GivingTuesday’s website on what it means to give through volunteering!

OR

Building The Commons: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays weekly

Building The Commons at Rebuilding Center: Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from  10:30am to 3:00pm weekly until the project is complete

Time Commitment: Jump in when and where you can! It would be best to see the project to completion, yet we’re happy to involve anyone who’s handy in a wood shop (or wants to be). 

Here's a chance to get involved, hands-on, in some Creative Reuse! The Rebuilding Center has been working with a team of designers to create a wonderful new space. Help renovate The Commons to serve as a welcoming place for the community. When completed, The Commons of The ReBuilding Center will show off dozens of volunteers' work and commitment while telling the story of Our United Villages through salvaged building material.

We are forming a team of carpenters to see this vision out! If you are interested in carpentry and cabinetry, contact Dave to put together a time to meet with the team!

Volunteer Spotlight: Shabani Butoyi

Shabani started volunteering at Rebuilding Center in July 2015. With his passion for helping people, he finds the work here rewarding and enjoys the variety of ways he can be of service, and the variety of people he meets. He also enjoys sports: he runs and plays basketball, and volunteers at his school for track meets. Shabani came to Portland with his family from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, seeking a better life as refugees. With his passion for helping people and his ambition to become an engineer or doctor, we know he’ll keep making a better life for himself and his family as well as his community.

Thanks Shabani!

Trade Show Training: Wednesday, November 11th

Trade Show Training
November 11th
6:30pm to 7:30pm

Time Commitment: After training, 3 - 8 hour shifts available throughout the year. Each event is different and flexible, so let us know what works for you!

Once a year, we offer this training to those of you who enjoy getting out in the community and connecting with people at events. We go to Trade Shows, Fix-It-Fairs, Sunday Parkways, Environmental Expos and many other community events. Tabling at these events is all about building connections and sharing your experience with, and knowledge of, The Rebuilding Center. We have a great line-up of community events on the schedule and look forward to involving all of you in the community outreach and information sharing. 

You will receive an email reminder 24 hrs prior the the event. Sign up below:

Volunteer Leader Training on Wednesday, October 28th

Volunteer Leader Training:
Wednesday, October 28th
6:30pm to 7:30pm

Time Commitment: After training, 3 hour shifts - on your own schedule! Volunteer Leaders fill slots on the schedule as they see fit.

It’s that time again where we provide you with an opportunity to take the reigns of our leadership and community engagement efforts by getting trained as a Volunteer Leader! VL’s have the unique opportunity to act in a guiding, delegating, and supporting role for the many projects underway at The Rebuilding Center. The training consists of two parts: a one-hour class room portion when we review the position and go over some of the basic responsibilities, and a shadowing portion alongside a Salvage Specialist staff member.

We spend the classroom hour going over the Volunteer Leader Handbook so you know where to find all the resources you need to excel as a leader. The shadowing portion allows you see, first-hand, where and how you can use your new knowledge! Ranging from material identification and common usages to pointers on how to work effectively with diverse populations, the training is geared towards empowering existing volunteers to take a more involved role with our communities through leadership. 

To sign up, email volunteer@rebuildingcenter.org

May 31: National Macaroon Day DeNailing

May 31st is National Macaroon Day! Help us celebrate the magic of this European delicacy while de-nailing lumber.

Team up with other volunteers to salvage reusable lumber on Saturday, May 31st. The event will kick off with a small information session and then we’ll get down to business.

Coffee and macaroons will be available!

Click here to register for the event!

See this event on Facebook.

We will meet at our storage lot at 751 N. Cook St (behind Grand Central Bakery on Fremont).

The lot is just a couple streets over from The ReBuilding Center warehouse.

Saturday, May 31
11am to 3pm

TRC Storage Lot
751 N. Cook St
Portland, OR 97227

The lumber you’ll be working with comes from DeConstruction Services, which offers an affordable and sustainable alternative to conventional demolition. Working by hand, our crews salvage up to 85% of a building’s major components for reuse.

DeConstruction of an average 2000 sq ft house:
• Preserves 2,400 gallons of clean water
• Saves 33 mature trees
• Provides 907 additional hours of work at a living wage
• Reduces greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to taking 2.9 cars off the road for a year

Learn more about DeConstruction, or watch a DeConstruction time lapse.

In addition, the sale of donated items supports the Community Legacy Program - a free resource for sharing community-building stories, strategies and ideas.

Learn more about Community Legacy.

Creative Commons photo by mkream.

Tokyo International University of America Volunteers!

Thanks to students from the Tokyo International University of America for volunteering at The ReBuilding Center all day on July 17!  And thanks to Willamette University for coordinating this project. You are awesome!

Congratulations Central City Concern’s Community Volunteer Corps

Over the past few years Central City Concern’s Community Volunteer Corps (CVC) have become a staple volunteer group here at the ReBuilding Center and we look forward to hosting them every week. We were honored to have the chance to nominate them for the Volunteer Innovation Award at the 2012 Portland Trail Blazers/Hands on Greater Portland Heart of the Community Awards.

CVC’s clients are formerly homeless and participate in the program to build their resumes and skills and get back into the workforce. In the process, they have delivered more than 30,000 hours of volunteer services to numerous nonprofits in our community including well over 3,000 hours at The ReBuilding Center alone.

Watch the wonderful video below created for the event.

Volunteers Are Key at The ReBuilding Center!

Each and every day ReBuilding Center volunteers help take in and sort donated materials. We would not be able to maintain the level of organized chaos that we do without the support of these wonderful and hardworking people. 2011 was a record year for volunteer service with a total of 1,866 individuals contributing a total of 19,018.5 volunteer hours! Over 580 people dropped in during our business hours to volunteer and over 1,275 people came with 55 different groups ranging from schools to businesses to other non-profits. 

We want to give a shout out to Central City Concern’s Community Volunteer Corps who contributed almost 2,000 hours of service in 2011, as well as Helensview High School (374.25 hours), Hands on Portland (357 hours) and Cornerstone Transition Program (280.5 hours). Although most of our volunteers helped in the ReBuilding Center warehouse, we also had 4 great interns, a dozen fantastic trade show volunteers, and 8 dedicated ReFind volunteers.

Want to get involved in 2012? Join in on one of our Hands on Greater Portland after-hours work parties or stop by the warehouse any time during business hours to lend a hand. There are exciting changes in the works to make 2012 more productive than ever! Learn more about volunteering on our volunteer page or contact Rosie McGown at volunteer@ourunitedvillages.org or 503.467.4985.

Fall Brings Volunteers to The ReBuilding Center

At The ReBuilding Center we host hundreds of volunteers every year. The number of volunteers tend to slow down in the summer but come October they are back in full force! We are excited this year to welcome back many of the schools we have worked with in the past. Helensview School (picture above) and Cornerstone Transition Program bring students once a week. Mt. Scott Learning Centers, Oregon Episcopal School, Gilkey International Middle School, to name a few, also will be back this month and last weekend we had a group of Alpha Kappa Psi members from Oregon and Washington helping out.

We would not be able to do what we do without their amazing support. Thank you!

If you want to help out, join us for a volunteer work party on the evening of Thursday October 20th from 6-8pm hosted by Hands on Portland. Click here to learn more.

Portland Youth Builders Working Hard and Supporting The ReBuilding Center

On Friday a group of 12 from Portland Youth Builders came out to volunteer for 5 hours! The group unload miscellaneous items, lighting, and tile from carts and helped them find a temporary home in the warehouse. They also helped clean out the community tree cob structure and the front of The ReBuilding Center warehouse for a Portlandia shoot which happened later in the afternoon. Most of the day was spent de-nailing lumber from one of our DeConstruction Services projects that was recently completed. 

We also had a group from Central City Concern’s Community Volunteer Corps helping out on Friday afternoon. We enjoy the company and hard work of CVC on a weekly basis.

What a group of fantastic, hardworking volunteers! Thank you!

University of Portland Service Plunge Volunteers

Last Wednesday we had 29 students from University of Portland spend their morning volunteering in The ReBuilding Center warehouse. They helped de-nail wood, paint in the Community Resource Area, organize trim, molding, and tile.  These 29 students were just a fraction of the 130 total who were out in the community spending their first days in Portland learning about, and supporting, the local community before school starts next week. In addition to this group of UP students, a group of 10 students from Reed College come out for a few hours last Monday and two more UP groups will be joining us in the upcoming week! 

Volunteers are essential to the operations of The ReBuilding Center. We would not be able to maintain any sense of organization without their help, but more than anything else we love the fresh energy and welcoming volunteers into The ReBuilding Center family. Thank you to all of the volunteers who continue to help on a daily basis.

If you are interested in bringing a group of volunteers to The ReBuilding Center, or just want to learn more about volunteer opportunities, contact Rosie McGown at volunter@ourunitedvillages.org.

Thank You Volunteer!

The ReBuilding Center has been gifted with an abundance of awesome volunteers. We hosted FIVE “alternative spring break” college groups during March—students who chose to give back rather than rest and relax. Pictured here is our lively volunteer group from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Volunteers make a huge difference in helping us keep the warehouse clean and organized. Their contributions constantly amaze us. We love our volunteers!  To find out more about how you can volunteer, go to: Volunteering at The ReBuilding Center