Loneliness and social isolation among older adults have reached crisis levels across the U.S. — and East Multnomah County is not immune. UpRiver Village, a nonprofit serving Gresham, Troutdale, Fairview, and Wood Village, is working to change that one neighbor at a time.

The organization connects adults 55 and older with local volunteers who provide two things that matter most: genuine social connection and occasional, practical help around the home.

UpRiver Village hosts a regular calendar of activities — group walks, game days, craft gatherings, coffee hours, happy hours, and educational events — designed to keep older adults engaged, active, and connected. For many members, this sense of community is what they value most.

Volunteers also fill the everyday gaps that can quietly erode independence: rides to appointments, occasional yard work and light household tasks, tech support, and small home maintenance jobs that become unsafe or overwhelming over time. It's the kind of help a good neighbor would offer; and that's exactly the point.

UpRiver Village is one of 12 Villages in the region connected through Villages NW (villagesnw.org), a network spanning northwest Oregon and southwest Washington. It is also part of the national Village Movement, which includes more than 300 Villages across the country. All are built on the same belief that aging in place works better when neighbors look out for each other.

Membership is open to adults 55 and older — or adults with disabilities — in Gresham, Troutdale, Fairview, and Wood Village. Volunteers of all kinds are welcome.

UpRiverVillage.org | [email protected] | 503-489-8813

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