Even though the holiday season is over, people can still donate their time and efforts to various non-profit organizations across Utah. Friends in Need Animal Rescue, The Christmas Box House and Salt Lake County Division of Youth Services are just a few of the local places needing volunteers year round.
Volunteers are needed that are able to help with the daily routine at the Friends in Need Animal Rescue, located in Eagle Mountain, Utah.
“Anyway you can help with the animals is great,” said Kim O’Donnell, Friends in Need Co-Founder. “We stay busy all day long.”
After helping to feed the animals in both the morning and afternoon, volunteers can stick around to socialize with the animals currently staying at the Friends in Need facility.
From horses to geese, and ducks to rabbits, Friends in Need serves a wide variety of animals in addition to the usual cats and dogs. Turkeys, llamas, and pygmy goats can also be found at the “no-kill” facility.
O’Donnell said someone recently abandoned a kitten with a broken leg at his front door. After an emergency visit to the vet, the medical bills for the animal came out to over $1,200. O’Donnell believes the previous owner may have not been able to afford proper medical treatment for the animal.
Student groups and volunteers are welcome to support Friends in Need with service projects and fundraisers to help cover medical and facility expenses for the animals also.
“If a group wanted to get together and do a fundraiser that would be awesome. Those things are important,” said O’Donnell.
Friends in Need is always in the market for volunteers who can take pictures of the animals for adoption websites like PetFinder.com or KSL.com. “The more technology is on your side, the better,” said O’Donnell.
The Christmas Box House and Salt Lake County Division of Youth Services are currently looking for volunteers to help plan activities for children and youths that are staying in their facilities.
After being removed from alleged domestic abuse situations, infants and children, up to age 11, stay temporarily at The Christmas Box House until state case workers can organize safer living arrangements. Children ages 12-18 stay in the Salt Lake County Division of Youth Services.
The Christmas Box house and SLC Division of Youth Services are always encouraging creative minds and both organizations are flexible and accommodating with activities. Past groups have usually come in for 1-3 hours to do face-painting, arts and crafts projects, and play video or board games with the children staying in the facilities.
Many children staying in the facilities rarely have the opportunity to participate in activities outside of school or home. Arrangements can be made to invite the group of children off-site to participate in activities around the valley, such as bowling, a visit to the aquarium, or to watch music or dance performances. The facilities do require that children be chaperoned with at least two members of their staff, which can be planned ahead of time.
Volunteer work looks great on a resume and is a good way to give back to the community. According to the Department of Sociology at Duke University, student volunteers can also look forward to improved self-esteem and higher life satisfaction. Students who actively participate within the community are exposed to more opportunities to develop civic skills and social responsibility.
For more information about volunteering with the Friends In Need Animal Rescue, contact Kim O’Donnell at (801) 440-9931 or by email at kpo@digis.net.
To plan a volunteer activity at the Christmas Box House or the SLC Division of Youth Services, contact Tiffanie Player, Recreational Therapist, by email at tplayer@slco.org or by phone (801) 284-3307.