Happy April to our Fabulous Volunteers!
There are many ways volunteers support Colorado Pet Pantry. Our organization is 99% volunteer and 1% staff… that’s over 1,400 volunteers giving their dedication and heart to our mission.
Coming up in this newsletter:
- Volunteer Spotlight: Linda Timms
- Update Your Volunteer Interests
- Learn More About Leading Events
- Volunteer Appreciation Week – Share Your Voice
Volunteer Spotlight: Linda Timms
This month we’re highlighting Linda Timms, a volunteer at our Lynn Garden’s Baptist Church Food Bank in Pueblo.
Linda has become a familiar face at the Pueblo pantry, known for jumping in wherever help is needed and for the positive energy she shares with both volunteers and clients. She plays a key role, helping keep prescription pet food organized and supporting clients during distribution events.
Her favorite part of volunteering is the people.
“I get to volunteer with an awesome group of men and women who have the same heart as I do,” she said. “And what I love about Colorado Pet Pantry is that it’s for everyone. It doesn’t matter your situation, we’re here to help.”
One moment that has stayed with her was a family who came through after their puppy had been hit by a car. They were struggling to afford both food for themselves and their pet. Linda shared that they were able to offer not just food, but support and comfort during that difficult time.
“They got support from us. They got love from us. They got comfort from us,” she said. “And we were able to provide food for their puppy.”
Outside of the pantry, Linda stays very active and is involved in many causes and organizations across her community. She often carries her work with Colorado Pet Pantry beyond the pantry itself, involving her grandchildren and local students in repackaging pet food to share with people experiencing homelessness through local shelters and soup kitchens, and keeping extra food in her car to hand out to those she meets on the street.
At home, she cares for several pets, including a 17-year-old Yorkie and rescue cats who have lived long, loved lives.
When asked what she would say to someone thinking about volunteering, her answer was simple: “Come on board. If you’re passionate about pets and people, come be a part of this amazing group.”
Update Your Volunteer Interests
When you first joined the Colorado Pet Pantry family, you selected the types of opportunities you were interested in. During a recent volunteer survey, many of you mentioned wanting to know about other ways to help.
Great news! You can update these interests any time you’d like by clicking here.
There are many ways volunteers support our work, from helping at pantries to picking up donations, sorting food in the warehouse, or supporting events in the community.
Keeping your interests up to date helps us connect you with volunteer opportunities that are a good fit. It also helps Colorado Pet Pantry grow with a volunteer base that is already invested in our mission.
Interested in Leading Events?
Take a bigger role at our outreach events! Event leads guide volunteers at festivals and community engagement events. From bringing supplies to sharing information about our work, you would connect with community members to help expand our reach.
If you’ve volunteered with us before and want to learn more about an Event Lead Role, join our Zoom info session on Friday, April 10th from 4:00–5:00 PM MT.
Volunteer Appreciation Week — We Want to Hear From You!
April 19th through the 25th we celebrate YOU! This year, we’d love to highlight our dedicated volunteers by sharing your experiences with your own words.
If you’d like to share, please reply to this email or email us at volunteer@coloradopetpantry.org with a response to one or both:
- Why do you keep showing up?
- What’s one moment from your time volunteering that has stuck with you?
As a thank you, everyone who responds will be entered to win one of five $25 credits to our merch store (hoodies, shirts, hats, and more).
We’ll feature responses on our social media, website, and in the upcoming newsletter. Please send responses by April 13th.
**Bonus: National Pet Day is April 11th!
If you’d like, you can also reply with a photo of your pet by April 8th and we’ll feature them on our social media to celebrate!
We can’t wait to hear from you… and thank you for all you do.
