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Welcome back from winter break! We’re excited to kick off winter term with new opportunities, fresh ways to get involved, and plenty of chances to make an impact.
Take a look at our upcoming opportunities below, along with some general info about our work. Stay tuned for more, and we hope to see you soon! ❤
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Up coming events!
Serve your city *Series*:
Serve your city *Shorts*:
Career expolration events!
Did you know?
Accessibility Information:
If you have additional accessibility needs, please reach out and email us at volunteer@pdx.edu. We are happy to work with you to make sure you enjoy every event!
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| SCEC Serve Your City: *Series*
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Help Teachers and Students with SchoolHouse Supplies
What: Once every other Thursday, help sort and organize gently used, community-donated school supplies, which will later be distributed to under-resourced students and classrooms in the Portland Public School district. A typical volunteer session includes a welcome, introductions, an overview of our task, sorting donated supplies, and a closing reflection.
When: 10:00am-1:00pm This is a series project and will take place bi-weekly on five Thursdays: Jan 15, Jan 29, Feb 12, Feb 26, and Mar 12
Where: 4916 Northeast 122nd Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97230
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Walk an Adoptable Pup!
What: Love dogs and want to make a difference—rain or shine? Join PSU’s Student Community Engagement Center for a weekly volunteer series walking adoptable dogs at Oregon Dog Rescue. Volunteers will take dogs on 45–60 minute structured walks, reinforcing positive behaviors like sit, stay, and heel.
When: 12:15pm–1:15pm
This is a series project and will take place weekly on four Fridays: Jan 23, Feb 6, Feb 20, and Mar 6
Where: Please meet us directly at the Oregon Dog Rescue (6100 S Macadam Ave, Portland, OR 97239)
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Serve a Weekly Meal at Blanchet House
What: Volunteer weekly with fellow PSU students to help prepare, plate, and serve lunch at Blanchet House of Hospitality. This Serve Your City Series opportunity is a multi-week commitment focused on community care, shared meals, and reflection around houselessness.
When: 11:00am–1:00pm
This is a series project and will take place weekly on eight Saturdays: Jan 17, Jan 24, Jan 31, Feb 7, Feb 14, Feb 21, Feb 28, and Mar 7.
Volunteers arrive 30 minutes early for orientation and task assignments.
Optional meet-up at PSU around 10:30am to take the MAX together.
Where: Blanchet House of Hospitality
310 NW Glisan St, Portland, OR 97209
(Old Town Portland)
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| SCEC Serve Your City: *Shorts*
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PDX Books Through Bars
What: PDX Books Through Bars (formerly Books to Prisoners) mails literature and educational books to adults in custody nationwide. They help liberate individuals experiencing incarceration through means of literature and educational materials.
For this project, we'll answer requests (letters) from adults in custody. Volunteers will read requests, pull appropriate books from the shelves, and package them for mailing. Please feel free to bring any books for donation!
When: Thursday, Jan 22, 5:30pm-7:30pm
Where: Volunteers are responsible for getting themselves to Taborspace (5441 SE Belmont St Portland, OR 97215) by 5:30pm on Jan. 22nd. Bus lines 8 and 15 have stops near the Commons.
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Craft Cards for Seniors in Collaboration with the PSU Library
What: Looking for a way to make a difference from your own home? Want to meet other PSU students while volunteering? Join PSU's Student Community Engagement Center and the Portland State University Library to volunteer your time making cards for Store to Door and Meals on Wheels to brighten a senior's day!
When: Wednesday, Jan 28, 4:00pm-5:30pm
Where: Psu libraryWe will meet on campus in the Sandbox (located next to the first floor printing station)
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Plant trees with Friends of Trees!
What: We’ll be planting trees in Wilsonville. Please arrive by 8:45am to sign in; planting begins at 9:00am. Friends of Trees will provide tools, gloves, guidance, and light breakfast refreshments.
When: Saturday, Feb 14, 8:45am-1:00pm
Where: Arrowhead Creek Park, 10350 Arrowhead Creek Ln, Wilsonville, OR, 97070
A carpool will leave from the SMSU Lobby at 8:15am. Volunteers may also arrive on their own by 8:45am.
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Prep Books for Kids with the Children's Book Bank
What: During this opportunity, you will help to clean and spruce-up gently-used community donated children's books, which will later be distributed to low-income preschool children in the Portland area! Specific tasks include wiping covers, taping torn pages, erasing scribbles, covering inscriptions and reinforcing worn spines. A typical volunteer session includes a welcome, introductions, an overview of the Book Bank and book cleaning instructions, and then the book cleaning itself, followed by a reflection.
When: Tuesday, Feb 17, 2:20pm - 5:30pm
Where: Children's Book Bank, 480 NE 9th Ave, Portland, OR 97232, USA, Portland, OR
Volunteers will have the option of meeting at PSU to travel together via the #19 Bus & walking to the the Children's Book Bank. Actual project is from 2:20pm - 5:30pm; please indicate in your registration if you'd like to meet us there directly or whether you'd like to meet on campus around ~1:50pm to take the bus over with the group.
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Sort Household Donations at Community Warehouse
What: During this project, volunteers will assist with ongoing tasks such as bundling silverware, sorting linens, assembling furniture, and other warehouse needs.
When: Saturday, Feb 28, 12:30pm-4:00pm
Where: We will be meeting no later than 11:15 at the SW Columbia & Park Ave Eastbound bus stop and taking the #6 bus line together. Volunteers who prefer to meet at the site can go directly to Community Warehouse, 3961 NE MLK Blvd, and should arrive by 12:30 pm.
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| Career exploration events!
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Social impact mixer
DATE: Wednesday, February 4th 2026
TIME: 4:30pm-6:30pm
LOCATION: SMSU 327, 8, 9
Career Convos: Social Impact Mixer is your chance to connect with local nonprofits, government agencies, and community organizations making a difference in Portland. Whether you’re exploring volunteering, public service careers, or just want to build your network, this event has something for you! Enjoy a mix of open and structured networking activities designed to help you form meaningful connections with community partners and employers. Don’t wait - space is limited, so mark your calendar and join us for a night of impact and opportunity!
*click on photo to sign up*
FREE FOOD WILL BE PROVIDED!
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Job fair
When: Wednesday, January
28, 2026, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Where: SE Works Office.
6401 SE Foster Rd, Portland,
OR 97206
Enter on 65th off of Foster Road,
into the parking lot. Parking is
available on Foster and
surrounding areas; ADA
accessible.
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GivePulseCheck out Give Pulse not only for SCEC events but also for many volunteering opportunities with other nonprofits!
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InstagramDid you know that you are able to click on photos in this newsletter! It leads you directly to more information?!
Try it out with this Instagram photo, and don’t forget to visit our page for upcoming events, recap posts, and lots more to explore!
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Learn More
About Us
SCEC strives to empower students to engage with communities to create positive social change.
Through service events ranging from one-day to year long opportunities SCEC provides co-cirrcular opportunities for Portland State students to become catalysts for change.
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