Volunteers Ask…

Where is the festival?
At Tom McCall Waterfront Park, between the west bank of the Willamette River and Naito Parkway, near the Hawthorne Bridge and S.W. Madison.

Where should I park?
SmartPark lots are your best bet. Park your bicycle on site. Or take a bus and avoid parking. For more information, see the general festival Parking and Transportation page.

When should I check in?
10 to 15 minutes before your shift begins. Allow enough time to negotiate traffic and park.

Where do I check in?
The Volunteer Tent will next to the Police Memorial and the Information Booth (off Naito Parkway, north of the Main Gate and south of the Hawthorne Bridge. Look for the “Volunteer Check In” sign:

• If you volunteer on more than one day of the festival, register each day.
• If you are volunteering with a group, assign one person as your contact. Your contact will register your group and pick up enough T-shirts for each group member.

We’ll direct you to a staging area, where you will assemble with other volunteers on your shift. Once everyone has arrived, we will escort your team to your work site.

What should I wear?
Wear comfortable shoes, such as running shoes or tennis shoes, closed-toed for safety. And dress for the weather. If it looks like rain, bring rain gear. If it’s sunny, wear a hat and sunscreen. If you have sensitive ears, bring earplugs. We’ll give you an official Waterfront Blues Festival volunteer T-shirt to wear. When your shift ends, change out of your volunteer T-shirt so we know you are off duty.

What will I do?
We’ll train you on the job.

Weather, traffic, donor generosity or performer popularity may affect your workload. If we find your shift is understaffed or overstaffed, we’ll reassign jobs. We may bring other volunteers to your site, or we may ask you to help in another area. If you are uncomfortable with your assigned job, tell your site supervisor or report to the Volunteer Tent. We’ll do our best to make your experience positive.

Where can I put my belongings while I work?
Leave your valuables at home because we don’t have a place to store your belongings.

Can I drink alcohol while volunteering?
No. Oregon Food Bank has a zero-tolerance policy for all staff and volunteers regarding alcohol consumption on the job. We strictly enforce this policy.

We’ll provide snacks and water for you while you are working.

How does the festival help fight hunger?
Oregon Food Bank distributes food to 894 hunger-relief agencies throughout the state through a network of 20 Regional Food Banks. Every month, an estimated 194,000 people eat meals from an emergency food box.

Have other questions?
If you have any questions, please call Sara (503) 282-0555, Ext. 272, or send an e-mail message to nkuller@oregonfoodbank.org.

The Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival can't succeed without the dedicated efforts of more than 1,500 volunters!

See you at the festival!