Megumi volunteering.

Our awesome ‘moving crew’ helps the Development office relocate

The wonderful Lizzie Dorman helps the Winterfolk artists sell their CDs

Jill serves beans and rice in the cafe

Volunteers make scarecrows for the Hoedown Fundraiser and Auction 2005

Hoedown volunteer wrangles yarn for scarecrow hair-making

We can’t do this work alone!  Be a part of it!  Call (503) 222-5694 ext. 17 to learn more about these positions. To learn about other volunteer opportunities in Portland, click here.

Cafe Jobs

Shifts are an hour or more, and run between 10 and 3 unless otherwise noted

Food Server: works in the kitchen, preparing plates for customers

Drink Server: fills customer drink orders and brings them to the table

Wait-staff: brings customer plates to the table

Busser: clears plates and wipes the table after and busses dish tubs to the dishwasher

Kitchen Prep: helps cooks with food preparation, 7-9 am

Speakers’ Bureau and PhotoVoice

Speakers Bureau members support the staff by going out to speak in the community and share about our history, philosophies and programs as well as their personal experiences with homelessness, nonviolence and gentle personalism and/or working in the cafe.  Roles include: speaking to groups; tabling at events and selling merchandise; and helping to setup, take down and transport our PhotoVoice exhibit, which travels all over the Portland Metro area offering a powerful perspective of life on the streets through the eyes of men and women who know first hand the challenges of homelessness.

At Sisters, we believe that we can change the world one heart at a time.  By going into our community, sharing our perspectives on homelessness and poverty, we can create a more understanding and compassionate world.

Come to one training, then help when you can to set up PhotoVoice, table at events, speak to schools, faith groups, and others.  Contact Mary for more information at (503) 222-5694 ext. 17 or

crossroads Leadership Operating Team (c-LOT)

Find out about joining this cross-class oversight team to help Sisters make deep and lasting change in our community and throughout the region.  This team develops our annual Systemic Change Plan and supports the people and groups that get the work done!  Click here to learn more.

Personalist Center Visioning Group

Meets the second Wednesday of every month at 1:30pm in the Personalist Center (137 NW Sixth Ave.) Sisters has connected the café with the space next door!  We’ve brought our line inside out of the weather, expanded our barter program, and revamped our mail, hygiene, phone, and message services.  This space also connects the community more directly with our advocacy and civic action work.

Join us once or come every meeting to give your input on how to make the Personalist Center a place to share power and build community.  Click here to learn more.

Operation Cornbread

Our summer fundraiser to “keep the cornbread on the table” over June and July when donations are low.  Operation Cornbread volunteers, called Shuckin’ Huskers, fan out into their communities and collect donations for Sisters and let their friends and coworkers know about the good work we do.  House parties and work-place competitions are fun ways to raise money and awareness, too!  To learn about next year’s effort,

Sisters’ Board Of Directors

Meeting on the 3rd Monday of each month from 6-8 pm, the Board Of Directors sets the long-term vision at Sisters and make sure that we’re living up to our values.  Our goal is to have at least half of our Board made up of people with personal experience of homelessness, to keep our leadership coming from men and women who know first hand, the challenges and solutions to life on the streets.

Because we elect members for two-year terms, serving on the Board is a big commitment, but also very rewarding.  The Board meets monthly, and participates in other Sisters’ committees and events.

Office Support

Regular help gratefully requested for mailings, data entry, and other office work.  Call (503) 222-5694 ext. 12 or for more information about volunteering in the office!

Hygiene Kits

Put together supply kits for customers.  Or, start a hygiene drive at your school, church, or business, and light up someone’s day with the gift of Clean! To learn more about it, look at our hygiene donations page.

Annual Special Events

Hoedown and Auction
Help plan an evening of old-time music and celebration, Sisters’ biggest fundraiser!  Held every year the second weekend in October.  We need your skills and ideas!  Join a planning committee, seek auction items, or volunteer the day-of.  or call (503) 222-5694 ext. 14 to get involved.

Winterfolk Concert
Help implement a fabulous evening of folk music, the largest annual folk music event in Portland!  Winterfolk is held the first weekend February. or call (503) 222-5694 ext. 14 to get involved.

Martin Luther King, Jr. March and Rally.
Every January on the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, Sisters’ celebrates the life and work of Martin Luther King Jr. with a march and rally.  We need your help planning a great event.  Contact Devin or 503-222-5694 ext. 16 to get involved!