Volunteer/Internship Opportunities and Special Projects


Those opportunities that involve direct contact with individuals with Intellectual and developmental disabilities have specific requirements that may take some advance planning to meet.

The volunteer must complete the Volunteer Application, pass a background check, and secure First Aid and CPR certification.  The Arc can assist the successful applicant to gain the needed training, at our expense.

Community Inclusion
  • Identify and attend, as social support, interesting community activities with an individual with developmental disabilities. 
  • Search for those activities with potential for that person learn to access them independently, through repetition and developing of natural supports.
  • Publish a “Do It Yourself” Calendar of Community Activities.  

    Create a schedule of events appropriate for individuals with low income and disabilities that lists the activity, time and cost for highlighting community-inclusion opportunities.  Individuals who have an appropriate level of independence or have support staff, family or friends to share the fun with, can participate in the published reminder of local, free or inexpensive recreation or leisure activities.


Exercise and Sport Science
  • Mild Physical Activity Leader— weekly hikes in and around Corvallis (introduce a tree type, go to the pound, search for seeds, etc.)

Foods
  • Develop a cookbook with individual with developmental disabilities containing one person, easy to read, easy to prepare, healthy menus
  • Develop cookbook which offers healthy menus and teaches methods for preparing foods with limited use of one hand
  • Organize theme dinners, potlucks, and progressive suppers for group home residents.

Graphic Design
  • Develop effective pamphlets, signs, banners, and t-shirts that share the mission of The Arc or a message of respect for those with disabilities.

Volunteer Recruitment/Recognition Program
  • Develop a program of volunteer recruitment
  • Provide supervision 4 hours per week for individuals with developmental disabilities to serve as volunteers in The Arc’s Thrift Stores

Marketing
  • Promote The Arc’s Thrift Stores
  • Promote respect and support for individuals with DD
  • Decorate the small bus for the Corvallis Light Parade, the Friday after Thanksgiving. Include individuals with DD in the parade in active participation, as able. Drill team? Choir? Kitchen band? Flag handlers? Carrying stars, fake candles, candy canes, and/or other symbols of the holidays? 

Merchandising
  • Create displays promoting The Arc programs and stores
  • Assist in merchandising resale items in The Arc’s two thrift stores

Fundraising
  • Work as lead or support for fundraising strategies 

Psychology/HDFS
  • Help lead a group of individuals with developmental disabilities in an activities program during afterschool and weekend hours.

Art
  • Teach techniques for expressive art to individuals with disabilities. 
  • Pottery, drawing, sculpture, etc.
  • Create a mural or banner focusing on the topic of developmental disability awareness
  • Offer your own way to use your talents

Theatre
  • Locate or develop theatrical opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
  • Create a production modeled on the "Vagina Monologs" using individuals with DD to tell their own stories of challenges and successes

Dance
  • Lead classes in ballroom, swing, children’s free expression movement, or other type of dance

Music
  • Choir director. Develop choir for individuals with disabilities
  • Kitchen band leader. Help individuals make music with kazoos, spoons, bells, etc.
  • Develop sing-along opportunities

Crafts
  • Help us recycle used goods Martha-Stewart style
  • Help repair/decorate furniture
  • Create craft kits from donated materials (quilts, etc.)
  • Teach craft classes to individuals with disabilities

Thrift Store Volunteers
  • Enthusiastic, hardworking, caring people are needed every day to help process and display donations for resale and provide customer service. Ask about opportunities in the store of your choice:
    • The Arc Thrift Store, 928 NW Beca, Corvallis, 541.754.9011
    • The Arc Thrift Store, 936 Main Street, Philomath, 541.929.3946
  • Create a community-wide donation drive for used goods.

The Arc volunteers may have a 20% discount on store merchandise after completing 20 hours of volunteer work and committing to a regular schedule of volunteering.

Please complete The Arc’s Thrift Store Volunteer Application.


Internships

  • Task Analysis of Activities of The Arc’s Thrift Store Businesses 
  • Establish written learning/training guides for individuals with disabilities 

Duties
Describe the sequential requirements in clear, respectful, and low-reading-level language or illustrations the activities of The Arc’s thrift business, including, but not limited to: 
  • Greeting customers and assisting with donation retrieval 
  • Recycling, metal, cardboard, children’s toys and equipment 
  • Polishing glass cases, doors 
  • Washing windows 
  • Weed abatement/ landscape maintenance 
  • Tenets of Laundry 
  • Loading a dishwasher 
  • Hanging and steaming clean clothes 
  • Furniture preparation, polishing, scratch removal, and/ or painting 
  • Sewing patterns to wrapping materials 
  • Sew on a button/ mend a seam 
  • Bag sorting and prep for use 
  • Greeting card/envelope matching 
  • Fabric measuring 
  • Folding Linens 
  • Price tag date recognition/ sale recommendations based on date 

Requirements
  • Some understanding of the needs of individuals with cognitive and developmental disabilities 
  • A self-starter and a pleasant addition to a group 
  • A good listener; a courteous and thoughtful communicator 
  • Strong organizational skills 
  • Ability to learn and work among a busy staff

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