Happy almost summer, Colorado Pet Pantry Volunteers,
Summer at Colorado Pet Pantry means event season is officially here.
From outreach booths and partner festivals to pouring events and community celebrations, this is the time of year when Colorado Pet Pantry grows our supporter base, builds community partnerships, and introduces more people to our mission.
It’s also a fun time to connect with people, represent Colorado Pet Pantry, and bond with fellow volunteers outside of regular pantry and warehouse shifts.
Many dedicated volunteers come back to these events, year after year, because they love the atmosphere, people, and chance to be part of something fun while supporting pets and families across Colorado.
And thanks to volunteers, we’re able to expand our reach all across Colorado.
Volunteer Spotlight: Beth Benish
Helping Colorado Pet Pantry grow, one event at a time
If you’ve volunteered at Colorado Pet Pantry events along the Front Range over the years, there’s a good chance you’ve crossed paths with Beth.
Beth first discovered Colorado Pet Pantry after retiring from medicine and finishing her volunteer work with the Department of Public Health during the pandemic.
“I am a retired physician, and I was just winding down volunteering for the Department of Public Health during the pandemic when I discovered the opportunity to volunteer for Colorado Pet Pantry.”
“My first event was at Calvary Baptist, now called the Tamarac Bayaud Works Pet Food Pantry. I was lucky enough to begin that day with four other women who are great workers and just fantastic people. We volunteered together at that event every month thereafter. In fact, we still have an ongoing group friendship even though two have moved away and one retired.”
Beth says the sense of community has been one of the most meaningful parts of volunteering with Colorado Pet Pantry.
“At this food bank we now have new long term volunteers that are equally great to work with. The sense of community runs deep and strong with our volunteers and our clients, making it a highlight of my month.”
Over the years, Beth has also volunteered at many outreach and fundraising events with Colorado Pet Pantry, including Denver Arts Festival.
“The Tennyson pet Halloween parade/contest is always a fun informational event with amazing animals in costume on display. I have appreciated the opportunities to help at our client outreach tables at the low cost vaccination events put on by SpayToday. I also look forward, each year, to volunteering at the Denver Arts Festival, an informational outreach and pouring/fundraising event where I get to be surrounded by art and music.”
Beth appreciates how welcoming and approachable volunteering feels for new volunteers.
“I appreciate that it is easy to start volunteering with Colorado Pet Pantry. Many opportunities are available without long term commitments or prolonged upfront training. We have new people come to the food bank and dive right in alongside us. The information sent out before special events is quite complete so new volunteers know a lot about the organization to share with potential donors or clients. I feel the organization is welcoming, and the experience is both fun and gratifying.”
One event interaction in particular has stayed with her over the years.
“My favorite client story is the man who came to our information table at the Arts Festival and made six donations — one for each visit he had made the preceding two years to our food bank. Those visits allowed him to keep his dog while he rebuilt his world into one of more stability and self sufficiency. He came to the arts event just to pay it forward for someone else who might be in need as he was. Karma!”
Outside of volunteering, Beth is also a master gardener whose yard is a certified wildlife habitat.
“I recently had a wild turkey and a turkey vulture visit.”
And of course, her rescue dogs keep her busy too.
“I rescue dogs, currently one golden retriever breeding momma rescued from an Amish puppy mill we shut down, one pit bull puppy with tick borne disease, rescued from a reservation, and one Irish wolfhound found weighing only sixty-two pounds after her owners had died. My dear dogs are digging new holes in my garden, ‘defloofing’ their toys, and keeping me safe from the mail carrier. I consider myself very lucky!”
Haven’t Tried an Event? You Should!
If you’ve never volunteered at an event before, summer is a great time to give it a try, and we can certainly use the help!
Some volunteers love the energy of pouring events like Denver Arts Festival and Highlands Street Fair. Others enjoy chatting with community members at outreach booths, representing Colorado Pet Pantry at partner events, or helping at festivals and celebrations across the state.
No two events are exactly the same, which is part of what makes event season so fun.
Our lead volunteers help guide each event, and many shifts include talking points and on-site training, so first-time volunteers can jump right in and learn everything they need to know on the spot.
We also recently shared a new behind-the-scenes video highlighting our pouring events and what volunteering at these events actually looks like, from serving drinks and talking with attendees to helping raise funds for Colorado Pet Pantry in a really fun community atmosphere.
Watch the video here.
Denver Arts Festival — This Weekend!
The Denver Arts Festival is coming up this weekend, May 23–24, and has become one of our favorite events of the year.
This partner has been a huge supporter of Colorado Pet Pantry, and Denver Arts Festival has grown into one of our biggest fundraisers of the year. Every drink sold at our beverage tent directly benefits the families and pets we serve across Colorado.
It’s also a really fun way to kick off the summer, with incredible artists, live music, food trucks, adoptable dogs from Big Dogs Huge Paws, and a great community atmosphere.
Looking for something fun to do this weekend? We could use some help on Sunday afternoon!
If you’re volunteering with us this weekend, thank you! And if you’re not volunteering, we’d love for you to stop by and say hi.
Coming Up This Summer
Along with the Denver Arts Festival, we also have Highlands Street Fair, Pikes Peak Pride in Colorado Springs, partner events, outreach festivals, and more coming up throughout the summer and fall.
You can view our special events calendar here.
We’ll continue adding volunteer opportunities in Duplie throughout the summer, and occasionally share last-minute event needs and fun pop-up opportunities in our Volunteer Facebook Group, so keep an eye out.
Tickets on Sale: Raise the Woof, Rooftop Party for a Cause, August 22nd
One of our biggest events of the year, Raise the Woof, is coming up on August 22nd at Catbird in RiNo.
This supporter-favorite event brings together the Colorado Pet Pantry community for a fun and meaningful evening featuring live music, games, auctions, cocktails, and impactful stories, all while raising vital funds to help keep pets with the families who love them.
We’d love to celebrate with our volunteer community and hope to see many familiar faces there this year.
If you’re a volunteer, please email us at volunteer@coloradopetpantry.org to receive a code to get heavily discounted early bird pricing of $85 on tickets through July 22nd. After July 22nd, those ticket prices will increase to $110.
Get your volunteer discounted ticket here.
Thank you for being part of Colorado Pet Pantry’s volunteer community. We hope to see some familiar faces out at events this summer!
Sincerely,
Nikki Tollefson
Digital Volunteer Coordinator
