Volunteer Updates: October

Our Volunteer Sector Team is Hiring

Join our dynamic volunteer team and make an impact in our community!

We are hiring two new Volunteer Associates, focusing on IRCO’s Tax Assistance program and Youth & Academic Services Division. Take a look at these links to learn more.

• Volunteer Associate (Tax Support)
• Volunteer Associate (Youth)

Shoutout To Our Corporate Sponsors!

Our community partners, Thesis Agency, Brown & Brown and Unitus have been integral in supporting IRCO’s New Beginnings Market. Recently, Thesis Agency and Brown & Brown helped prep and organize the marketplace before and after a big shelving project, and Unitus is coming back shortly. We are so grateful for the ongoing support from our corporate partners and look forward to welcoming all of them back soon!

If your company or organization would like to have a team-building volunteer experience, please reach out to us at volunteer@irco.org .

Positions in need of support:

We are still looking to add more volunteers to our Refugee Resettlement & Placement volunteer team. The Refugee Resettlement & Placement (R&P) program helps welcome and orient newcomers to life in Portland and The United States. Refugees complete the program with the tools and knowledge to be self-sufficient in their new home.

Our greatest need is volunteers to take refugees to and from required medical appointments, and we are looking for flexible and dedicated volunteers to help us on an as-needed basis in all of the following positions:

1.     Airport Welcome Transportation

2.     Appointment Transportation

3.     New Home Set-up

4.     Grocery Delivery and Fridge Stocking

5.     Cleaning and Organization Volunteer

Helping to drive clients and prepare housing has a huge impact on this program and allows case managers to offer focused and compassionate care to all of their clients.



Tax Program: Tax Preparer or Intake Specialist

 Are you detail-oriented and enjoy problem solving? IRCO's Tax Support Program is looking for Tax Preparer and Intake Specialist volunteers to work one-on-one with individuals and families preparing tax returns and serving as a trusted resource. This program ensures clients file correctly and receive resources around managing returns and/or owed taxes. See these open positions and apply today!

Health Fair 2023

The Annual Health Fair shares health and wellbeing information with the communities and to promote community outreach activities of IRCO and other like-minded organizations. Attendees learn about IRCO services, access nonprofit resources, and can receive blood pressure checks, vision checks, dental appointments, and more. This event brings together resources to ease the healthcare burden on our Portland community.

You can take part! We need volunteers from the community to support the event and make it a success. Setup shifts will begin the day before, and will involve moving chairs, tables, and food bank supplies, and during the fair the next day volunteers will check in guests, monitor giveaway tables, and assist with cleanup.

Sign up to help support today!

Shelving Days at IRCO New Beginnings Market

The New Beginnings Market is a warehouse marketplace where refugees and other new arrivals can shop with dignity. New and gently used furniture, clothing, household goods and personal care items are donated to us--we then arrange and organize those goods to create an easy-to-navigate shopping experience. Refugees and immigrants browse for the items they need in their new homes, free of charge.

After a brief hiatus, the Market Team is in the process of reopening the space to clients, and part of that endeavor is installing new shelves. Volunteers have been helping to move/organize the existing items from the existing shelves in anticipation of the shelf installation. After the installation, volunteers were key in supporting inventory and re-organizing the donations.

Interested in volunteering at the New Beginnings Market? Email volunteer@irco.org to get started.

Please Log your Monthly Service Hours!