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Volunteering
More than 200 volunteers from across Oregon and SW Washington support the Donate Life Northwest mission in many ways. Our volunteers are the greatest asset we have in promoting organ, eye and tissue donation to the 300,000 individuals we reach each year.
Last year our volunteers collectively gave 3,669 hours. With their time and support, Donate Life Northwest was able to present to 261 classrooms, staff 118 information tables, and participate in 75 community events.
Above: Mother-Daughter volunteer team, Julie and Hayley, encourage donor registrations in downtown Portland.
WHO ARE OUR VOLUNTEERS: The majority of Donate Life Northwest volunteers are personally connected to our mission and donation/transplantation. Our volunteer “family” is a diverse and unique group of individuals representing all aspects of the donation and transplantation process.
WHERE OUR VOLUNTEERS LIVE AND VOLUNTEER: Our volunteers live all across Oregon and in SW Washington. They heavily populate the greater Portland area and the Eugene/Springfield area, where the majority of our volunteer opportunities take place. However, over the year we do reach communities throughout Oregon and SW Washington.
Most of our volunteers assist at opportunities close to their home or near work, rarely driving more than an hour to offer their service.
WHEN OUR VOLUNTEERS VOLUNTEER: The majority of our volunteer opportunities are between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Opportunities for evening and weekend volunteer work are infrequent. Therefore,, it is best if volunteers have a flexible weekday schedule.
HOW TO VOLUNTEER: The first step to become a volunteer is to filling out the on-line form, click here. Next steps are to complete the required volunteer trainings. For a schedule of trainings and a brief description please click here.
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Volunteer Roles
TRAINED VOLUNTEERS
Volunteers who have completed Donate Life Northwest Volunteer Orientation are eligible to assist at a variety of volunteer opportunities. Click here for the orientation training schedule. There are trainings for special events and programs and seperate trainings for people who prefer to speak at public events such as classroom presentations.
Above: Eugene volunteers Michael (kidney recipient) and LaVena
Information Tables/Donor Designation Stations
Office Projects (Portland, OR office)
Blood Drives (with partners American Red Cross and Lane Memorial Blood Bank)
- American Red Cross blood drive: Volunteers are stationed in the canteen (rest area for donors after giving blood) and thank every person who has given blood. Volunteers are encouraged to share their personal connection to donation/transplantation. Please note: most American Red Cross drives Donate Life Northwest participates in are in the Greater Portland area at High School or College campuses.
- Lane Memorial Blood Bank blood drive: Volunteers equipped with Donate Life Northwest materials/information and paper registration forms are stationed at an information table. Volunteers also answer questions and share their personal connection to donation/transplantation.
Information Tables
Information tables, pre-arranged by Donate Life Northwest staff, are located at a host of venues: schools, business, hospitals, conferences, malls. Volunteers promote organ, eye and tissue donation by providing attendees with information, resources and their personal connection to the mission. Volunteers answer questions and provide attendees the opportunity to register to be a donor.
When appropriate a "Threads of Life" quilt is displayed.
Fundraising Events
Volunteers help make Donate Life Northwest fundraising events a success in a variety of ways. They may attend as a supporter, recruit event guests, sell raffle tickets, welcome guests or assist with the total event experience. To read more about the event specifics please click here.
- Lifesavers Breakfast: The breakfast is Donate Life Northwest's signature fundraiser. Volunteers are most beneficial when they attend the event and serve as Table Captains to recruit other guests. Volunteers also assist by greeting guests, assisting with registration and directing guests from the parking facilities.
- Annual Benefit Golf Tournament and Raffle Drawing: Volunteers are key to the success of the annual Golf Tournament. A team of 50+ volunteers assist with registration, raffle sales and hole greeting.
- Scanning Project: Donate Life Northwest has an on-going project of scanning paper registration forms and uploading data to the on-line donor registry.
- General: Other duties include phone and Internet research, computer data entry, filing, material organization, mailings and a variety of administrative assistance.
Above: Volunteers Loyce and Ruth work as a team to complete a large mailing
Speakers Bureau Volunteers
Above: Speakers Bureau member, Marianne, presents during Donate Life Month. Marianne began volunteering in 2006 to share the courageous story of her husband, a lung transplant recipient.
Volunteers who have completed Volunteer Orientation, Speakers Bureau training and have fulfilled the observation requirements are qualified to make presentations on behalf of Donate Life Northwest. Click here for the training schedule.
Speakers Bureau members represent the voice and face of Donate Life Northwest. It is important that all Speakers Bureau members present accurate information, are professional and inspire donor registration.
Speakers Bureau members may volunteer at all opportunities offered to "Trained Volunteers" as well as most speaking engagements.
Common Presentations:
- In-Class Presentations – Volunteers show a video on organ, eye and tissue donation and share their personal story about donation/transplantation with the students. Presentations vary from thirty to sixty minutes. To learn more about student outreach programs please click here.
- Discover OHSU! (present to local High School students) – Donate Life Northwest presents one hour during a day-long program for local high school science students visiting Oregon Health and Science University. Volunteer health care professionals explore the science behind donation and transplantation, followed by a volunteer sharing his or her personal experience with donation or transplantation. Each volunteer speaks for thirty minutes. To learn more about the Discover OHSU! program please click here.
- General Presentations (Civic and Faith Groups, Driver’s Education, DMV, and more) – Volunteers provide information on organ, eye and tissue donation and share their personal story. Volunteers stress the importance of registering to be a donor and explain the three ways to sign up as a donor. Presentations are usually thirty minutes. To learn more about community outreach please click here.
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Live the Mission!
SHARE. Motivate people to take action! Making donation and transplantation a real issue for your family, friends, co-workers and neighbors by sharing your story or the stories of real people. To hear from people connected to the mission click here.
ENCOURAGE DONOR REGISTRATION. Let everyone know the three simple ways to register:
- DMV: Code your driver’s license, permit or ID card.
- On-line: Register at www.donatelifenw.org.
- Paper Form: Fill out a paper form and mail or fax it back to the Donate Life Northwest office. Click here to upload and print your own paper form(s).
BE INFORMED. Keep current on statistics and advancements in the donation and transplantation world.
KNOW THE ANSWERS. Equip yourself with answers to the most common donation and transplantation questions.
CONTRIBUTE. Donate Life Northwest could not work towards a day when everyone waiting for an organ, eye, or tissue transplant receives one without the help of volunteers and supporters. Your gift of time or funds will make a difference!
- Contribute time: Become a volunteer
- Contribute financially: Become a supporter
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Volunteer Expectations
Volunteer Commitment to Donate Life Northwest
I. Attend required trainings and read pertinent materials prior to beginning a volunteer assignment.
II. Present current and accurate information about organ, eye, and tissue donation and transplantation to the general public.
III. Notify Donate Life Northwest of potential events and awareness activities that Donate Life Northwest might wish to participate in.
IV. Dress and conduct yourself appropriately and diplomatically when representing Donate Life Northwest to any group or individual.
V. Be responsible for all Donate Life Northwest equipment and materials used and return them promptly.
VI. Maintain confidentiality of all donor registration materials.
VII. Contact Donate Life Northwest prior to, or immediately after any contact with the media.
VIII. Be prompt when committed to participate in a function. Notify Donate Life Northwest as soon as possible if your availability for a particular event changes for any reason.
IX. Share your time, talents and desire to save and enhance lives through the promotion of organ, eye, and tissue donation.
Donate Life Northwest Pledges to our Volunteers
I. To provide current and accurate information about organ, eye, and tissue donation and transplantation
II. To contact volunteers at least one week in advance (except in emergency) for any activity
III. To provide adequate, on-going volunteer training
IV. To provide all materials for events and presentations, including informational brochures, displays, mobile laptop computers, promotional items, video or slide presentations
V. To assist in preparing any speech about donation and transplantation
VI. To understand if you are not able to volunteer each time we ask you
VII. To help make your time as a volunteer a rewarding experience!
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