Volunteer Information

HomePlate's mission is to support the positive efforts of youth experiencing homelessness through relationships. Much of what we do is listening, processing their situations, recognizing achievements, and providing guidance. Time, attention, being a positive role model, and providing support for youth to make positive choices is our goal.

Using a highly individualized and long-term relationship-oriented approach, HomePlate has met 762 youth since opening in 2005. While our focus is with youth experiencing homelessness we welcome any hungry youth regardless of race, ethnicity, personal belief, sexual orientation, disability, or personal history.

In service of our mission, HomePlate provides a continuum of assistance that offers a wide variety of opportunities for volunteer involvement.

Outreach Support: HomePlate's outreach team is on the streets, and in the parks, and at the drop-in. They are visiting people where they congregate. The longer-term goal of these visits is to create a relationship that is geared toward helping the individual meet their goals. But in the short-term, the young people we meet are in dire need of certain basic necessities: blankets, socks, underwear, gloves. We need hundreds of these items each year and we rely on schools, faith communities, businesses, and other groups to collect them through "sock drives" and the like.

The Drop-in: HomePlate is open 6-8pm every Thursday. Here we provide people access to showers, telephone, and other basic necessities. It is also a place to meet friends and find refuge from the weather. We are located in downtown Hillsboro (494 E. Main). Although we have staff present, we rely heavily on regular volunteers to staff the drop-in.

Meal Preparation and Serving: During HomePlate's drop-in hours a meal is served for 35-55 people (including volunteers). We rely on generous volunteer support to provide these meals and to interact with the youth by serving the meal.

Volunteer coordination: Being a mostly volunteer-run organization we are looking for an enthusiastic person to help with the recruiting, training, scheduling, encouraging of volunteers. Currently, this is a shared task. The volunteer coordination is a vital piece of the project.

Young Mother Support: Young mothers who have experienced homelessness often do not have positive female role models from whom to learn basic parenting skills and household management. Adult women volunteers play an important role in helping these young women develop these skills.

Board of Directors: The HomePlate program is completely under the supervision and control of the volunteer board. It reflects the diversity of HomePlate supporters: churches, social service agencies, and committed individuals. The committee is responsible for visioning, policies, fundraising, and all that is needed to keep HomePlate successful and growing. The board meets regularly the second Sunday of each month from 1-3pm, and always welcomes new and interested members.

Meeting basic needs: We have volunteers who assemble food boxes, hygiene items, and clothes. Occasionally we have larger groups that do basic needs supply drive, or help organize an event.

Fundraisers: We're always in need of monetary donations and would love anyone who would organize a fundraiser for HomePlate. This could include a portion of a restaurant's proceeds for one night being donated to HomePlate, or any other creative fundraising ideas.

Employment: Many of the young people we work with are in search of employment. They have many interests but face some barriers to gaining the skills needed. We seek partnerships with employers willing to teach skills and employ our young people.

Housing: We need landlord partners who agree to be flexible on their admission criteria in exchange for HomePlate providing active support to the tenant and the landlord in order to help ensure a long-term and problem-free tenancy.


Or to discuss volunteer options, please contact:
Joe Walsh
(971) 322-9381 or joe@homeplateyouth.com