The Santiam Heritage Foundation needs your help.
“SHF continues to struggle for lack of volunteers,” said Wendy Stone, board trustee. “Prior to the pandemic, we welcomed the community into the Brown House Event Center to enjoy concerts, special speaker events and Victorian Teas, in addition to our regular monthly Open House Guided Tours. Now that we can again hold live events, we are limited by the number of people we don’t have to help.”
Currently, only five trustees are running the historic Brown House out of 12 allowed by the organization’s founding documents, Stone said.
“We have been advertising online for a groundskeeper/gardener, handyman, carpenter, painter, volunteer coordinator, and Event Team members,” she added. “Don’t think you have what it takes? We can find something for any skill level to contribute to the overall rehabilitation of the Brown House Event Center.”
The Brown House currently needs a groundskeeper/gardener who can join the ongoing effort to rehabilitate the 1-acre property. Mowing the lawn is not included, Stone said.
Love old houses? A variety of volunteer skills is needed, both in the single event capacity and in ongoing projects, Stone said.
“Carpenters, painters, handypersons and helpers are needed as we near the completion of our restoration and have all of those ‘little details’ to finish,” she said. “We would love your help!”
As the event center relies on volunteers for all functions, a person is needed to take care of welcoming, orienting, scheduling and keeping in touch with volunteers. If you are organized, believe in the value of volunteering, like history – “cool old buildings and stories of the old days” – there is a place for you.
“We need someone who wants to make a difference, someone who is outgoing and a good communicator,” Stone said. “If this sounds interesting to you, drop us an email with a little info about yourself and we will talk about how you might fit. Hours will be flexible and much of the work will be at home. Regular visits to Stayton will be required to meet with volunteers.”
Helpers also are needed for the events/programming team.
“Utilize your creative, organizational, and entertainment skills to create, develop and implement events to raise funds for Brown House,” Stone said. “Monies raised will help support the rehabilitation and operation of the 1903 Charles and Martha Brown House.”
“We are also in the process of cataloging historic artifacts and developing educational programs to use them with children and the general public,” she added. “We anticipate no more than 10 hours per month involvement. One meeting monthly, plus any at home follow up to ensure events happen and attend the event you helped plan to ensure it happens as planned.”
If interested, go to www.brownhouse.org or call 503-769-8860.
