The new year is well underway, and many of us who resolved to give back to the community in 2023 are still figuring out how to do this. Where will our efforts make the most difference? And how do we get started?
Fortunately, the Denver-metro area has many structured programs that welcome volunteers. From walking dogs at the Denver Dumb Friends League to organizing food drives and donating clothes for those in need, there are options to fit every potential volunteer.
Recently, Thrillist offered some ideas:
Volunteer For Animals In Need
+ The Colorado Pet Pantry: Focused on “pet parents in need of food or other pet supplies,” this group appreciates donations and volunteers to help with pet-food drives and other programs.
+ The Denver Animal Shelter/ Foothills Animal Shelter/ MaxFund/ Denver Dumb Friends League: All these animal-related programs need volunteers, “whether that’s bottle-feeding kittens, walking dogs, or helping out with administrative or cleaning duties,” notes 5280.
+ PawsCo/ Soul Dog/ My Fairy Dawg Mother/ Animal Rescue of the Rockies: All need volunteers willing to foster animals until they can be adopted.
Help Children In Need
+ Heart and Hand: Among other tasks, this group organizes after-school and summer programs to help impoverished children and families.
+ Minds Matter Colorado: Dedicated to helping prepare students from low-income families for higher education and future success, the group needs tutors and donations.
Clothing Donation Organizations
+ Dress for Success Denver: This program aims to help women apply for professional jobs by providing “workplace attire, job skills, and other employment knowledge and assistance.”
+ Clothes to Kids: Donate clothes and shoes to families in need or volunteer to help process donations, run operations, events or help in storefronts.
+ The Saint Francis Center/ Denver Rescue Mission: Both shelters need clothing and volunteers to help with resident activities, job skills training, employment assistance and more.
Help Fight For Hunger Relief
+ The Food Bank of the Rockies: Volunteers are needed to help with events and food donations.
+ Colorado’s Mountain Roots: This group distributes fresh, locally sourced food to those in need.
+ Denver Food Rescue: Volunteers pick up and deliver food to those in need, among other tasks.