The ReBuilding Center plays an important role in the region's effort to maintain livable neighborhoods, preserve natural resources, and reduce reusable materials from entering the waste-stream. With widespread community support, The ReBuilding Center diverts 6 million pounds of reusable building materials from entering our landfills each year. The ReBuilding Center is a popular destination for homeowners, do-it-yourselfers, contractors, artists, and enthusiasts interested in building with affordable, environmentally low impact materials. With an inventory that changes by the hour, The ReBuilding Center is the largest non-profit used building materials resource center in North America.

Volunteers are always welcome at The ReBuilding Center. Volunteers help organize and move building materials, reducing the flow of materials into the waste-stream by making it easier for the community to find and reuse resources.

Some of the things you might do as a volunteer at The ReBuilding Center include: loading and unloading vehicles, carrying donated building materials into the warehouse, sorting materials (trim, lumber, electrical supplies, lighting), painting, pulling nails, sweeping, measuring doors and more. Our needs are different every day. Just show up with a positive attitude and we’ll find a way for you to help!

A few things to keep in mind before you come:
• Always wear closed-toed shoes. Work boots are great; steel-toed shoes are best.
• Wear your grungiest old clothes. Plan on getting dirty.
• Bring work gloves if you have them. (We have extras, but it’s nice to wear your own.)
• Bring a water bottle (especially in the summer). You’ll be glad.
• Our warehouse is not climate controlled so expect it to be as warm or cold inside as it is outside.

Volunteer groups and individuals are invited to join us any day of the week during store hours. Also, several evenings each month (6-8:00 pm), a volunteer group meets in the warehouse to work on a project. If interested visit handsonportland.org for details and to register. We provide an educational, fun and often physically exhilarating experience for volunteers.