Volunteer with Children

Boys and Girls Club

Work with elementary through middle-school aged children and become a teacher as you help to develop self-esteem and values in a fun and energetic environment. It consists of a computer lab, library, athletic fields and gymnasium, and other youth-oriented facilities.

Summer Adventure Program

Help inspire young girls to be smart, strong, and bold. Each day, our volunteers will help provide fun activities in a camp-like setting, including gardening, science, gymnastics, sports, dance, computers, and more.

Volunteer at Unity Shoppe

Unity Shoppe operates a year-round free grocery and clothing store so people who are nearly homeless can shop with dignity for their basic needs such as food and clothing. By supplementing these basic necessities, people have the ability to pay their rent and utilities and are then able to move their lives forward. This is a truly unique opportunity to experience the essence of "giving back”. Each volunteer will participate in each activity every day.

Protect the Environment

Our restoration project will increase awareness and promote individual and group actions to help the environment. Our volunteers will restore native plant-life to balance the eco-system, reduce weeds and shrubs that encroach upon local plant species, and beautify local watersheds. During this program our volunteers will also learn about the history of this beautiful area and the importance of keeping the eco-system in balance. All volunteer work takes place outdoors.

Service Details

• Participants volunteer each morning, Monday—Friday, for the period of the program, earning 40, 60 or 80 hours of Summer Community Service credit.

• Service project space is limited at each volunteer site, so project selections are granted following your date of enrollment, based on a first-come, first-served basis.

• The goal of Community Service is not only to give back to the community but for our participants to also learn and grow through their experiences.

While waiting to pick up a friend at the airport in Portland. Oregon, 1 noticed a man coming toward me carrying two light bags. He stopped right next to me to greet his family.

First, he motioned to his youngest son as he laid down his bags. They gave each other a movingly loving hug. "It's so good to see you, son. I missed you so much!”

His son smiled somewhat shyly, and replied softly, “Me too, Dad!”

Then the man stood up, gazed in the eyes of his oldest son and said, ''You're already quite the young man. 1 love you very much, Zach!” They too hugged a most loving, tender hug. His son said nothing. No reply was necessary.

While this was happening, a baby girl was squirming excitedly in her mother's arms. The man said, “Hi, baby girl!" as he quickly kissed her face.

After several moments, he handed his daughter to his oldest son and declared, "I've saved the best For last!" and proceeded to give his wife the longest, most passionate kiss I ever remember seeing. For an instant, they reminded me of newlyweds, but 1 knew by the age of their kids that they couldn't be. I puzzled about it for a moment, then realized how totally engrossed （全神贯注的）I was in the wonderful display of unconditional love not more than an arm's length away from me.

I suddenly nervously asked, “How long have you been away?" He answered, "Two whole days!”

Two days? I was certain by the intensity of the greeting I just witnessed that he'd been gone for at least several weeks, if not months, and I know my expression betrayed me. So, I said almost abruptly, "I hope my marriage is still that passionate after many years!” The man told me. "Don't hope…decide…” Then he flashed me his wonderful smile again, shook my hand and said. "Good luck!”

I was still watching that special man and his exceptional family walk just out of sight when my friend came up to me and asked, “What are you looking at?” Without hesitating, and with a curious sense of certainty, I replied, “My future!”

How many afternoons have you slowly moved over to the office coffee machine and wondered: Is this really my fourth cup of the day? Or wait, is it my fifth? We've all been there, but a new study shows refilling your cup too often could be hurting your health.

The study, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, suggests that drinking six or more cups of coffee per day may increase your risk of heart disease by up to 22%. Researchers from the University of South Australia analyzed the health records and self-reported dietary patterns of 347,077 participants between the ages of 37 and 73. They also looked to see which study participants possessed a specific gene, called CYP1A2, which enables people to consume caffeine faster than those without it.

Overall, the researchers found that people who drank six or more cups of coffee a day were 22% more likely to develop cardiovascular(心血管的)disease during the study period, compared to those who drank one to two cups daily. The study authors believe that coffee(in large quantities)and heart problems may be linked becauseexcesscaffeine consumption can cause high blood pressure, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

Most people would agree that if you drink a lot of coffee, you might feel nervous and irritable(易怒的).That's because caffeine helps your body work faster and harder, but it is also likely to suggest that you may have reached your limit for the time being. That doesn't mean that any and all coffee is bad for your heart, however. In fact, the researchers also found that participants who didn't drink coffee at all- and those who drank decaf(脱因咖啡)---also had higher rates of heart disease(11% and 7% higher, respectively)than those who drank one to two cups per day. Previous research has found coffee is rich in antioxidants(抗氧化物质)and may reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. That is, if it's consumed in moderation.

Research shows students learn better when they’re well nourished. Healthy eating has been linked to higher grades, better memory, faster information processing and improved health leading to better school attendance, according to registered dietitian Elisa Zied, author of Feed Your Family Right. On the contrary, unhealthy eating habits can negatively affect learning. Researchers have studied many areas related to eating and learning.

Skipping breakfast can have a negative impact on learning. A higher percentage of breakfast eaters passed a biology exam in one study of college students. It’s also important to eat a high-quality breakfast. In a study of students between the ages of twelve and thirteen, the average mark increased as breakfast quality improved.

Even with breakfast, the brain can run out of fuel before lunch. In one study of students between the ages of seven and nine, having a mid-morning snack improved memory. The children who ate a smaller breakfast and lunch but consumed a mid-morning snack experienced a smaller decline in immediate and delayed memory. Attention wasn’t affected, however. Zied recommends yogurt with blueberries; this fruit has been proven to be linked to better memory in studies. A hard-boiled egg is also a good snack choice.

Kids who eat healthily are more likely to attend school. Without proper nutrition and adequate calories, students often don’t have enough energy to power the brain, resulting in tiredness and learning problems. In fact, alertness(机敏) improved significantly in students eating breakfast in one study of high school students published in the journal Pediatrics.

A study of public school students published in the Journal of School Health linked high intake of sweetened drinks, such as sugary sodas, to lower scores in math tests. A diet high in junk food and sugary sodas is also linked to childhood obesity, which could result in lower cognitive(认知的) functioning, according to the Yale University research. On the other hand, students with healthy eating habits are less likely to be overweight and more likely to learn well.