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Volunteer Opportunities

What are the volunteer opportunities at Senior & Disabled Services?
Hundreds of volunteers find rewarding assignments working with the programs of Senior & Disabled Services (S&DS). Most volunteers say that the volunteer experience enriches their lives in many unexpected ways.

Volunteers can assist S&DS in the following program areas (click on the program for specific information):

Senior Connections
Family Caregiver Support Program
ElderHelp
Senior Meals Dining Centers
Meals on Wheels
Advisory Councils
Other Opportunities

S&DS volunteers are covered under the general liability policy of the agency and may receive mileage reimbursement if driving is a part of their volunteer responsibility.

To assure the safety of our clients, Criminal History Checks may be conducted on volunteer applicants prior to acceptance into the volunteer program. This process may take from 1-6 weeks to complete.

For more information on volunteering, click on a link above, or contact S&DS from Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to Noon, and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time), at (541) 682-4038 or (800) 441-4038 (toll-free to Oregonians outside of the Eugene-Springfield calling area), or TTY: (541) 682-4567. We can also answer your questions via e-mail at sds@lcog.org.


Senior Connections
Volunteers are key to the success of Senior Connections. With offices in six Lane County communities, Senior Connections provides services to seniors 60 years and older, and to unpaid family caregivers. Clients have said, "I truly believe that the Senior Connections staff and volunteers are miracle workers!"

Volunteers are needed to help seniors and family caregivers with the following services:

  • Research available prescription drug assistance programs
  • Provide medical transportation to and from medical appointments
  • Help seniors at home with bill paying, sorting mail and other light tasks
  • Provide socialization and companionship
  • Relieve a family caregiver for a few hours a week
  • Take a senior shopping

New volunteers are always needed to help meet these needs. For information on volunteering with Senior Connections, please call the Senior Connections Supervisor at (541) 682-4374 or contact the Area Coordinator in your community:

Cottage Grove: (541) 682-7804
Eugene: (541) 682-4374
Florence: (541) 902-9430, ext. 7830
Junction City: (541) 998-8445
Oakridge: (541) 782-4726
Springfield: (541) 682-4374
Veneta: (541) 935-2262

If you are interested in volunteering, download the volunteer application.

Public funds provide only a portion of the dollars needed to support Senior Connections. Some people can contribute time to the program, while others may prefer to assist us by contributing funds.

Tax-deductible donations can be mailed to:
Senior Connections
1015 Willamette Street
Eugene, OR 97401

Family Caregiver Support Program
Caregiver SupportJust a few hours a week of respite care will help relieve the stress for family caregivers. Many family caregivers help their loved ones 24 hours a day.Others are juggling jobs, family, and other responsibilities outside the home. This can seriously affect their coping skills.

The Family Caregiver Support Program assists caregivers by providing respite time (temporary relief) for the caregiver to go shopping, do housekeeping, go to a support group, work in the yard, or even to get a few hours of sleep.

Your assistance is needed in providing volunteer respite hours (two to four hours a week). If you have been a caregiver in the past, or would like to provide an in-home caregiver some respite—we could use your help!

For more information on becoming a volunteer respite caregiver, please call (541) 682-4374.

Elder Help Volunteer Program—Helping Seniors Live Independently
Volunteers, a gift of your time can make all the difference to someone who wants to stay independent!

You are needed to help seniors in our community with the following services:

  • Shopping and errands
  • Friendly visits
  • Correspondence and reading
  • Help at home
  • Respite care

Volunteers are needed to work with home bound senior citizens in Eugene, Springfield, Junction City, Veneta, Cottage Grove and Oakridge. New volunteer training is held three times a year in October, February and May. The Elder Help volunteer coordinator provides training and on going support to all volunteers in the program. Seniors and volunteers are matched carefully to ensure a good experience for each. Once assigned to a client, volunteers will work closely with the area coordinator in their community.

To get involved with the Elder Help program, contact Program Coordinator at (541) 682-3793.

Senior Meals Program Dining Centers Volunteer Program
Senior Meals VolunteersThe Senior Meals Program serves mid-day meals and companionship to people age 60 or better at 12 area dining rooms weekdays throughout Lane County. Meals are served in Eugene-Springfield, Cottage Grove, Creswell, Florence, Junction City, Oakridge, Coburg, Lorane and Veneta.

The Senior Meals Program has year-round needs for volunteers for the following tasks:

  • Serve meals, clean up, or help with special parties, events, and fundraising
  • Musical entertainers (Instrumentalists or Vocalists) or other types of entertainment
  • Creating table decorations or place mats (children and groups included)
  • Office Assistants or Special Project Helpers
  • Senior Meals Advisory Committee

Social groups, classrooms, Brownie/Cub Scout troops, families, and individuals are welcome to call with ideas and questions.

For more information, call (541) 682-4483 or e-mail sds@lcog.org.

The Senior Meals Program Volunteer Application is available for download (PDF format).

Or you can contact the dining center near you directly.

Coburg, Oddfellows Hall, (541) 682-4483
(Wednesday only)

Cottage Grove, Riverview Terrace, 925 West Main,
(541) 942-9261
(Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday)

Creswell, Cresview Villa, 350 South 2nd, (541) 895-2338
(Monday, Wednesday and Friday)

Eugene-Downtown, Olive Plaza, 1135 Olive Street,
(541) 342-3515
(Monday-Friday)

Eugene-West, Northwest Neighbors, 1221 Jacobs Drive, (541) 689-8011
(Monday-Friday)

Eugene-River Road, River Road Annex, 1055 River Road, (541) 688-4052
(Tuesday and Thursday)

Florence, Booster Senior Center, 1424 West 15th,
(541) 997-5673
(Monday, Wednesday, and Friday)

Junction City, Viking Sal Senior Center, 245 West 5th St.
(541) 998-5367
(Monday, Wednesday, and Friday)

Lorane, Oddfellows Hall, (541) 935-7354
(First Thursday of the month)

Oakridge, The Church of the Nazarene, 48187 Highway 58, (541) 782-4318
(Tuesday and Thursday)

Springfield, Willamalane Adult Activity Center, 215 C Street, (541) 736-4424
(Monday-Friday)

Veneta, Tony Garcia Service Center, 88149 Territorial Road, (541) 935-7354
(Monday, Wednesday, and Friday)

Another way to learn about volunteering with Senior Meals or Meals on Wheels is at United Way Volunteer Solutions (link opens in a new window).

Community donations represent 20% of the operating budget of the Senior Meals & Meals on Wheels Program and supplement the public funds and clients’ meal donations. Gifts in any amount are appreciated.

Tax-deductible donations can be mailed to:
Senior Meals Program
1015 Willamette Street
Eugene, OR 97401-3178

Meals on Wheels
MOW VolunteersJust a few hours a week will enrich your life and the lives of those you visit. Delivering a nourishing noon meal and a friendly hello to a homebound older person will fill your day, and theirs, with joy. Sometimes you may be the only person the Meals on Wheels recipient will see all day.

Volunteers tell us they feel better and see life with new appreciation. The recipients are so inspiring and grateful for your small gift of time. Volunteers say they "get more out of volunteering than anything else." They "feel like a million after making their rounds and seeing the courage and gratitude of the people" they help.

  • Drivers deliver 15-20 meals on one weekday starting at about 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.; the shifts last 1-2 hours
  • Use your own vehicle. Mileage reimbursement is available
  • Work in alone or in pairs
  • Work with your children (home schoolers, young mothers)
  • Set up a team at your office. With four team members, you each volunteer just once a month!

Volunteers are needed in the following areas: Eugene, Springfield, Cottage Grove, Creswell, Florence, Junction City, and Veneta.

MOW VolunteersFor more information, call (541) 682-4483 or e-mail sds@lcog.org.

The Senior Meals Program Volunteer Application is available for download (PDF format). For the safety of our vulnerable clients, Meals on Wheels delivery volunteers must complete a Criminal History Check prior to acceptance into the program. This process may take from 1-6 weeks to complete.

You can also contact the Senior & Disabled Services Meals on Wheels dispatch location nearest you.

Cottage Grove, Riverview Terrace, 925 West Main,
(541) 942-9261
(Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday)

Creswell, Cresview Villa, 350 South 2nd, (541) 895-2338
(Monday, Wednesday and Friday)

Eugene-Bethel Danebo area, Northwest Neighbors, 1221 Jacobs Drive, (541) 689-8011
(Monday-Friday)

Florence, Booster Senior Center, 1424 West 15th,
(541) 997-5673
(Monday, Wednesday and Friday)

Junction City, Viking Sal Senior Center, 245 West 5th St.
(541) 998-5367
(Monday, Wednesday and Friday)

Oakridge, The Church of the Nazarene, 48187 Highway 58, (541) 782-4318
(Tuesday and Thursday)

Springfield, Willamalane Adult Activity Center, 215 C Street, (541) 736-4424
(Monday-Friday)

Veneta, Tony Garcia Service Center, 88149 Territorial Road, (541) 935-7354
(Monday, Wednesday and Friday)

Meals on Wheels in Lane County are provided by either Senior & Disabled Services or American Red Cross, depending on the geographic area. In most of Eugene and North Springfield, Meals on Wheels are provided by American Red Cross. Call (541) 344-5244 for Meals on Wheels volunteer opportunities in those areas.

Advisory Councils
Senior & Disabled Services (S&DS) is the local agency responsible for planning and providing most publicly funded services for seniors and adults with disabilities. Two Advisory Councils guide the work of agency: The Senior Services Advisory Council and the Disability Services Advisory Council.

The Advisory Council members:

  • Advise the Lane Council of Governments' Board of Directors on issues about providing services to clients within Lane County
  • Advise on S&DS' annual workplan, budget, and other administrative matters
  • Serve as advocates on matters that affect the general welfare of seniors and adults with disabilities.

For more information, see the Advisory Councils page.

Each spring, S&DS invites members of the public to serve on the Disability Services Advisory Council and the Senior Services Advisory Council. All Lane County residents are eligible to apply.

The Councils seeks:

  • Adults with disabilities (18+) to serve on the Disability Council
  • Seniors (60 years and over) to serve on the Senior Council
  • Service providers
  • Other interested persons.

The public is invited to attend the Councils' meetings. For meeting information, see the Meetings page.

For information about joining one of the Advisory Councils, send an e-mail to sds@lcog.org or call (541) 682-4038. To print an Advisory Council application click here. (PDF format)

Other Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteer opportunities may be developed to assist in our full service offices with clerical, client services and research, depending on the interest of the prospective volunteer. Call (541) 682-4374 or e-mail sds@lcog.org.

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