L+EARN Internship

Gain job experience. Get paid. Have fun.

The L+EARN Internship provides youth ages 16-24 with a hands-on 12-week paid internship working at the Project Lemonade Store. You’ll connect with other interns, gain valuable job experience and make connections to help reach your employment and education goals.

Person in rainbow glasses and a white t-shirt with the words "Project Lemonade" across the front, on the telephone and writing notes down on a loose piece of paper

About the Internship

The L+EARN (Learn + Earn) Internship provides a supportive environment to gain career confidence. Your internship will include career and personal development workshops, social activities, career exploration and networking events. Upon completion of the internship, you’ll be connected to our Intern Alumni group with access to ongoing activities and resources.

Join Our Team

The L+EARN Internship is a great place for first time employment.  Interns play a key role in our store operations and leave with enhanced communication, collaboration, retail and customer service skills. We aim to meet the needs of diverse youth and can adapt the internship to meet the needs of youth living with disabilities.

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Eligibility

  • Aged 16-24

  • Have current or recent involvement with the child welfare system as a foster youth

  • Available to work 10-20 hours weekly between Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm

  • Interns must be able to get to and from Project Lemonade at the Lloyd Center (we can assist with providing a Trimet pass)

Internship FAQs

Can’t find answers to your questions? Contact Rebecca Gundle at rebecca@projectlemonadepdx.org

  • In our paid, part-time internship, interns learn and earn at the same time (hence the name, L+EARN)! This internship is available to youth 16-24 who are currently in foster care or recently aged out of the system.

  • Real job experience supporting Project Lemonade Store operations, including customer service, inventory management, merchandising and everything else that works toward our mission of delivering a great shopping experience to foster youth.

    Ongoing work and life skills support from Project Lemonade through weekly team skill-building meetings, goal-setting, and the opportunity to network and explore career opportunities.

    Enrollment in SummerWorks which opens up a job network for future work.

    The opportunity to give back to foster youth by supporting the Project Lemonade shopping experience.

  • The internship pays $16 per hour with up to 160 hours of work (approximately 10-12 weeks). Paychecks are paid through SummerWorks.

    The internship includes cash bonuses for good attendance (up to $350 extra).

    Interns can also access up to $500 in Basic Needs funding.

  • Intern candidates apply and participate in an in-person interview.

    Interns are employed by SummerWorks and work on site at Project Lemonade.

  • A standard shift is five hours, 3-4 days a week (up to 20 hours a week), and can vary due to each individual’s need, preferences and store events that season.

  • Motivation to work and gain skills.

    A positive attitude.

    Responsibility and work ethic.

    Ability to work in a team.

    An interest in giving back and helping others.