Volunteers are an important part of making the hostel work. We are a 501(c)3 non-profit and are run by a board of directors. Whether for a few hours a week, a month, or a one-time project, getting involved is always fun & a great way to interact with folks from all over the world. Some of the options available:

Activity Coordinator: Introduce hostellers to local community and culture through activities led by you! Plan an event at the hostel or lead a tour within Portland or the surrounding scenic areas.

Organic Gardener & Landscaper: Work on any and all aspects of the hostel garden and landscaping. Help with design, planning and/or maintained.

Foreign language conversation: Are you fluent in another language and want to hone your skills? Here's a great opportunity to lead an event and meet people with the same interest. And since it's at the Hostel, you might just bump into a guest whose native language is the one you're practicing!

Gracies Sunday Brunch: Our cornerstone event at the Hawthorne Hostel for the past two years! It's a great way to not only eat a bunch of good food, but to meet other people. And we always need help! Don't worry if you can't even boil water; there's plenty of chopping, mixing, stirring, and flipping to be done in the kitchen!

Artist: Display your artwork, do creative projects around the house, or something more simple, such as decorating/ updating the signs.

Cook: Hostellers love to get together and eat!  If you know how to boil water, then plan a meal.  Those interested can chip in for supplies and everyone wins.

Program Assistant: Help design and plan programming for the hostel. The possibilities are endless..

Internships: We can also tailor an internship around a more structured project- get in touch for more information.

There are other possibilities, too. Let us know if you come up with an idea of your own!

Any donations you think could be useful, just ask (electric or gas stove, tools, garden hose, kitchen utensils, office supplies, plants, decorations,twin comforters, twin size sheets, etc.). If you have a car you don't need, we accept them as well!

To donate an amount you choose over a secure connection click this button:

For more info about volunteering and programming email Shawn, our Program Coordinator at: shawn@portlandhostel.org

For information about the Oregon Council of HI-USA, the folks who oversee the hostel & also promote hostelling in the region, check out their web site at: www.oregonhostels.org, or email MJ at: council@oregonhostels.org

We have a Yahoo! Group for volunteers, too: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HawthorneHostelVolunteers/

~We are a non-profit traveler's hostel dedicated to providing our guests a fun, comfortable, educational, & safe place to stay while visiting the Pacific Northwest~