My special needs adult son and I helped keep the toy room organized,he says; "I thought the time was very helpful and a kind thing to do." I was greatly impressed with the generousness of those that helped meet the needs of others.
Such hearts of gold!
Been involved with the organization for over 10 years and have been amazed to watch the growth along the way. Really great group that’s done a lot for kids all over the Portland area and Vancouver.
When I retired five years ago, I wanted to do something that made a difference for someone. I had volunteered a few times before that and was interested in NCO, so it was a logical choice. I was so impressed with NCO's organization. The items given to children (aged birth to 18) are mostly from donated items. To be able to get from the donation stage to the clothing bag stage for the children takes a huge amount of volunteer hours. It's such a blessing to see the amount of donations that come in each time our doors are open. I am now the director of one of the centers, and thoroughly enjoy meeting the people who come to volunteer, or drop off donations. I have been very pleasantly surprised and impressed with the number of businesses that provide "service days" for their employees. These groups come on weekday mornings (the times we get the fewest volunteers), and work to get donations ready for the weekly order-filling sessions. I am so thankful to be able to have a place for these companies and enjoy seeing some companies coming back again and again. I especially enjoy talking with the family service agency representatives that come in each week to pick up their orders. I hear amazing stories of what families are struggling with, how NCO fills a huge need for the children, and the success stories of when a family is able to return to a stable place and no longer needs assistance. There are also the heartbreaking stories of families who are doing all they can to provide for their families, but still are not making it in a city with a very high cost of living. I frequently hear the thought that "no one cares". NCO is here to let these families know that we care and there are many people who also care. NCO is a great place for families to come and volunteer, thus teaching their own children to be compassionate and the importance in sharing with others. Children enjoy filling clothing bags for children their gender and age, or for an infant or a teen. In the last three years, I have seen a large increase in orders for families. The need is great, but often the volunteers are few. Would you please consider joining us in helping these children who, through no fault of their own, are dealing with loss and despair?
Streamlined, efficient, changing the lives of children in need - those are only 3 descriptions that come to mind after spending only 4 hours serving as a volunteer at NCO in Vancouver, WA. What a wonderful use of volunteer's time & it doesn't take much to make a difference in the life of a kid by sorting donated clothing into bins that will be later be packaged according to a specific child's need and distributed by schools and agencies who spot a need in the children they serve.
I brought home a few items this week to repair - 4 new fleece novelty throws that needed hemmed and 2 pieces of brand name clothing that needed stains removed. NCO stirs a desire in me to do more for them but it's hard when you are there only 2 hours a week!
I have volunteered at NCO for several years. This is a wonderful opportunity for an individual, family or group to give back to the community. NCO provides clothing, shoes, diapers, hygiene items, toys to children in need. Volunteers pack bags for children that have been screened by a social agency to assess their need. First time volunteers are usually surprised at the number of bags ordered each week and how many items are donated, sorted and sent back out for each child. The need is mind boggling! Volunteers come every week and work together to prepare the donations and assist other volunteers in packing bags for children age 0-18. If you want to volunteer, there are several tasks to do, something for everyone from filling bags, sorting, replacing batteries, moving bins, etc. I have been making hats and gloves for four years from donated yarn and sent hundreds of hats out in the community. There are many ways to volunteer and help our children at Northwest Children's Outreach, I enjoy the company and the tasks!
Volunteering at Northwest Children's Outreach has changed my life as well as the lives of children in need. About 2 1/2 years ago, I learned of NCO through a friend that told me they needed children's coats for the winter. I thought I was going to just drop off some donations. Little did I know I would be immediately enthralled with the operation and would soon be deeply committed to NCO.
The center coordinator took me on a tour of the center and I learned that NCO is an all volunteer organization (not one person, including the board members, gets paid) whose mission is to "Stand in the gap between poverty and caring agencies with resources to help children."
A week or two later, I took my teenage daughter to volunteer. We began by sorting, organizing and filling shelves to be ready for packing orders. A few days later, we were there to fill the orders the care providers place for their young clients. It felt so special and rewarding to pick clothing, outfits, toys, books and stuffed animals for each child on the list. I found myself picturing the children as they opened their bags full of all these things, the joy it would bring them and the relief it would bring to their parents knowing their kids had clothes to wear to school.
It is heartbreaking to hear the stories the care providers tell us of the children they work with. Teens living in cars, mothers with babies they can't buy diapers for, households where both parents are working multiple jobs to try to pay for health care for a medically challenged child. It is also heartwarming to hear of how NCO impacts those kids and parents in such a joyful and positive way. Kids who now feel confident going to school because they have clothes that fit, teens that now have warm coats and blankets to stay warm in those cars they live in, children that receive their first toy or stuffed animal and can't put them down and the child that was so happy to have a pair of shoes that she never took them off (not even to sleep) for three straight days!
It's now been about 2 1/2 years and we spend every moment we can volunteering there. It is a wonderful organization doing great work right in the community we live it. I love that NCO is making a direct impact on the lives of children.
Northwest Children's Outreach (NCO) is an ALL volunteer organization. Not one person receives pay for work at this great nonprofit enabling 96 cents of every donated dollar to go to items given to children who have serious economic need. NCO gives to children through almost 200 caring agencies who serve them. Agency workers order for specific children and pick up ordered items and deliver to the families they serve. So far, NCO has served over 220,000 children in the Oregon and SW Washington.
As a volunteer I have heard many stories from agency workers regarding the impact NCO makes in the area. "If I have a toothbrush and a bar of soap, I can clean my hair, body, and teeth and feel ok about going to school"-from a teen boy as recounted by his agency worker. "Because you get things from NCO for my kids I don't have to steal clothes from -----, anymore"-from a mom who had one more strike before returning to prison for good as recounted by an agency worker who serves her family. I could fill the space provided for this review and more with true stories of lives changed as the result of receiving much needed items from Northwest Children's Outreach.
As much as children are served by NCO, volunteers seem to be even more blessed as demonstrated by their dedication. Some have been involved as long as the nonprofit has been in existence--about 13 years.
Please take a look at northwestchildrensoutreach.org. to become more acquainted with Northwest Children's Outreach. what they do, and how you can help.