Volunteer at the Tualatin Farmers Market

Have you ever wanted to learn the inner workings of a farmers market, hang out in a beautiful setting, and meet lots of people in your community? If so, then join the volunteer workforce at the Tualatin Farmers Market! The Tualatin Farmers Market (TFM) is a non-profit organization responsible for the planning and execution of a weekly market held on the Tualatin Commons every summer. The 2013 market season will run on Friday evenings from 4-8 pm, June 14th through September 6th.

Volunteers are essential to every aspect of our mission–from our hard-working board to those who help count our crowds. Read on to find out how you can help the TFM thrive in our community.

SET UP SUPPORT

What’s a farmers market without white tents and colorful signs? Set Up Support volunteers make sure we’re covered in this area. They assist in setting up the market prior to opening. This include putting up tents, placing event signs around the venue, and setting out trash & recycling receptacles.

Time Commitment: Fridays, 3-4 PM

Skills Required: Set Up Support volunteers should be able to lift & carry 25 lbs., stand for extended periods of time and work in the heat.

OPENING MARKET ASSISTANTS

These volunteers are responsible to help the market in two main ways. First, they assist in setting up the market prior to opening. This includes putting up the information booth, placing event signs around the venue, and setting out trash & recycling receptacles. Second, Opening Market Assistants staff the information booth during the first half of the market. They field all sorts of questions (Where can I buy heirloom tomatoes? Where are the bathrooms?), greet market goers, assist sponsors & non-profits, and handle merchandise sales.

Time Commitment: Fridays, 3-6 PM

Skills Required: Great customer skills, a positive attitude, a friendly smile, a talent for being courteous to difficult people and a good mind for facts. Opening Market Assistants should be able to lift 25 lbs. and stand for extended periods of time.

CLOSING MARKET ASSISTANTS

Closing Market Assistants also help the market in two main ways. First, they staff the information booth during the second half of the market. They field all sorts of questions (Where can I buy heirloom tomatoes? Where are the bathrooms?), greet market goers, assist sponsors & non-profits, and handle merchandise sales. Second, Closing Market Assistants help take down and clean up the market site at the end of the market. Take down includes dismantling tents, carrying and loading materials, removing signs and trash/recycling receptacles, etc.

Time Commitment: Fridays, 6-8:30 PM

Skills Required: Great customer skills, a positive attitude, a friendly smile, a talent for being courteous to difficult people and a good mind for facts. Closing Market Assistants should be able to lift 25 lbs. and stand for extended periods of time.

MARKET CROWD COUNTERS

The TFM is growing, and we like to keep track of this growth. Periodically during the season, we count the customers entering the market at each of our three entrances. We provide you with a volunteer tee and a clicker-counter.

Time Commitment: Fridays during the market, 15 minutes on the half-hour for as at least two crowd counts. This position leaves lots of time for shopping between counts.

Skills Required: Market Crowd Counters should have good focus and the ability to stand for 15 minutes at a time.

TAKE DOWN SUPPORT

Even good things must come to an end, and Take Down Support volunteers help the market end well. They assist in clean up and take down so that we remain good neighbors to the park and other businesses on the Tualatin Commons. Take down includes dismantling tents, carrying and loading materials, removing signs and trash/recycling receptacles, etc.

Time Commitment: Fridays, 8:00-8:30 PM

Skills Required: Set Up Support volunteers should be able to lift & carry 25 lbs., stand for extended periods of time.

ORGANIZATION

Do you have a passion for the market and a special skill in Organizing, Accounting, Fundraising, Marketing, etc. that you can contribute to the Operating Committee or would you like to help support our pre market activities like planning logistics or distributing fliers around town?  Then please let us know because there are always plenty of opportunities to help during the market season and all year round.

Time Commitment: You Decide