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Photo provided by Zoya Kumar

Portland Community ToolBank can lend $1000 worth of tools for $30.  The inventory is available to groups such as non-profit and community organizations, schools, and churches.  Its mission is to provide tools such as ladders, drills, rakes, and paint rollers.  According to the web site, “Access to ToolBank tools eliminates the need for agencies to incur the expense of purchasing, repairing, and storing tools, reducing the costs associated with service projects and allowing these agencies to focus more of their resources on their mission.”  150 different tools are available to order online and can be borrowed for 1 to 8 weeks.

Portland ToolBank opened in April 2015 and is one of only 9 such organizations in the U.S.   It is located in a 10,000 SF building near PDX.   There is one other Toolbank in the western U.S., in Phoenix; the other 7 are located in the eastern part of the country.  Parent organization, ToolBank USA, is located in Atlanta and provides approved, affiliated organizations with an initial inventory of 50,000 tools.  Affiliates are responsible for adding inventory that suits their particular location; additional funding is raised locally and is not received from ToolBank USA.

Portland ToolBank is managed by executive director, Zoya Kumar who is the only paid employee.  It is independently operated and governed by a local board of directors.  The balance of the work is done by over 3,700 local volunteers.  Beaverton School District and Children’s Cancer Association are among the organizations that take advantage of the program.