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Volunteer With Us!
15 March 2023

Volunteer with Us This Season!

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Oooooff. It’s been a long 3 years since we took a hard look at our obligations, activities, and relationships with folks around us. Yes, I’m talking about March 2020 – and now, it’s March 2023. So many of us are looking for meaningful ways to be involved in our local communities after many organizations halted volunteer programs. Here at PFM, we had volunteers throughout the past 3 years and continue to build up our volunteer program at all five of our markets!

 

When you step into a volunteer role at an organization, you often find community, through various ways. Whether it is through a bike shop, at a food pantry, or at your local farmers market, you’ll meet new people that usually have an interest in the organization’s mission.

Volunteering is a great way to engage with the Portland Farmers Market at a deeper level. It makes me feel good to be able to contribute to this wonderful community, and gives me an extra incentive and opportunity to learn about seasonal produce and connect with local growers and producers. In the coming season, I look forward to getting to know more vendors and helping out at more special events. Kathy, volunteer at PSU Farmers Market

Forming community at the Portland Farmers Market happens while sharing the first of the cherry tomatoes behind the info booth, determining the least-cumbersome way to load a hand cart with tables and canopies, or brainstorming with a shopper what to do with all the fennel before it goes bad.

 

Volunteers come to the Portland Farmers Market in the morning for a variety of reasons and leave at the end of their shift with a satisfied look on their faces after helping out shoppers, vendors and staff.

Volunteering at the Portland Farmers Market has been such a wonderful experience! The staff, vendors, and other volunteers are so friendly and welcoming. The environment is so chill - whether it’s walking around chatting with other shoppers and vendors, helping out with shopper surveys, assisting at the merch booth, or simply answering questions there’s always someone around to help brighten your day! There’s always tons of events and new beautiful products to explore and play around with so it never feels repetitive, dull or boring. Volunteering here has made such a big impact on me in such a short time. I truly feel like I’m becoming a part of the community and a member of the sweetest, most caring, thoughtful little family, plus it’s a great excuse to get out of the house! Joshua, volunteer at PSU Farmers Market

Here at the Portland Farmers Market, you are likely to find community and friends around food, open doors to opportunities you never imagined, and learn answers to questions you never thought might be asked!

You, our dear reader, may be wondering, ‘why haven’t I signed up to volunteer yet?!’

 

Good question! There are some great opportunities to get involved with the Portland Farmers Market in the next few weeks – we have volunteer opportunities for all of our markets – PSU Farmers Market, Shemanski Park Farmers Market, King Farmers Market, Kenton Farmers Market, and Lents International Farmers Market. Additionally, we have opportunities for volunteers to assist with token counting at the office, farmers market photographers and writers for blog posts. 

 

This month we are hosting two events to gather with past and present volunteers and share information about Portland Farmers Market with new and potential volunteers! Scroll to the end of this post for more information on those events, or visit our volunteer page to fill our a Volunteer Interest Form.

Volunteering for PFM was one of the best decisions I have ever made! I was new to the Kenton neighborhood and needed volunteer hours for college. I didn't realize how many friends I would make and how many doors would open for me in the future because of that choice. I realized my true passion for food sustainability, community and public health. The best part about volunteering with PFM is all the yummy food (obviously), the incredibly loving and supportive staff and the hardworking farmers you get to help! I will always cherish the memories I had on those warm summer nights at Kenton farmers market. Sydney, volunteer at Kenton Farmers Market

PSU Farmers Market Volunteer Information Booth

When: Saturday, March 18th from 9am-2pm

Where: PSU Farmers Market, across from Groundwork Organics and next to Gee Creek Farm. Map can be found on our website here!

What: An informational booth for all folks that are interested in volunteering at any of our five farmers markets. You will have the opportunity to meet PFM staff, chat with current volunteers, and learn about the individual vibes of each of our markets!

 

Portland Farmers Market Volunteer Info Session and Mixer (RSVP here)

When: Thursday, March 30th from 6-7:30pm

Where: PFM office @ the Leftbank Building, 240 N Broadway Suite 129. Street parking is available and the office is very accessible by public transit

What: A focused information session for all markets, including a PSU Farmers Market orientation (required for PSU volunteers), and a mixer at Upright Brewing downstairs. Have a drink on us while chatting with market managers and other volunteers! This event is limited to 20 people.

We have enjoyed volunteering for the past 25 years because interacting with the shoppers is rewarding, interesting with fun conversations, and a great way to be outdoors in a beautiful park setting. As volunteers we support the vendors who provide our community with healthy, fresh food. We do this year round and look forward to the busy summer season with so many seasonal products becoming available. We love what we do and why we do it. Joan & Ross, volunteers at PSU Farmers Market

We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events, and learning what motivates you to volunteer with Portland Farmers Market. See you soon!