Needs From: ChaffeeVOLUNTEERS

Want to make a meaningful and measurable impact in the Chaffee County
Community?
Consider volunteering as Site Coordinator for the Volunteer Income Tax
Assistance Program (VITA). VITA is a 55 year old program sponsored by the IRS
that uses trained volunteers to prepare tax returns for free to community
residents who income qualify for the program.

This past year they prepared 243 tax returns for our neighbors: seniors, teachers,
care givers, raft guides and others. You do not need to be an accountant to be the Site Coordinator. You just need to be well organized and like working with people. The annual timeline is primarily January through April. The current Site Coordinator will train you.

Interested in leading a program that truly puts money back into the community? Contact Kate Shea at kmoirashea@msn.com to find out more about this unique opportunity. 

The Consultation Corps is a volunteer-driven initiative designed to strengthen nonprofit capacity across Chaffee County. The program connects skilled community members with local nonprofits seeking targeted, project-based support - focused on practical help, thoughtful partnerships, and real deliverables that move organizations forward.

Program Overview:

-Volunteer consultants donate 5–10 hours of their time to support nonprofits with clearly defined projects.

-Areas of support may include: Operational planning, Financial strategy, Strategic planning, Fund development, Board development, Communications, Program design or Evaluation.

-Consultants work collaboratively with nonprofits to complete specific deliverables, offering hands-on support rather than general advice. 

CCCF manages the program as a matchmaking model, pairing volunteers and nonprofits based on needs, expertise, communication style, and availability.

Step 1: Complete the volunteer registration form and indicate your areas of expertise, interests, and availability.

Step 2: CCCF staff will contact you within 10 business days to schedule a short interview and discuss potential matches.

Step 3: Once approved, you will join the Consultation Corps and be contacted when a project aligns with your skills and availability.

Step 4: Complete a consulting assignment of 5–10 hours, focused on agreed-upon deliverables for the nonprofit.

Looking for a rewarding, hands-on way to give back? Join our team of volunteers helping serve nutritious meals to older adults in Chaffee County. You’ll help prepare, serve, and share meals in a friendly, social setting — supporting about 60 older adults each week. 

Schedule: Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Training Provided: All training and on-site support

We’re looking for 10–15 volunteers who enjoy teamwork, conversation, and making mealtime brighter for our seniors.

Click “Respond” to sign up for this opportunity and watch for an email from Robin, who will reach out soon to welcome you and help you get started!

Do you enjoy greeting people and keeping things organized? Our front desk volunteers are often the first friendly face visitors see when they walk through the door.

You’ll help answer phones, greet clients, and direct visitors to the right services — playing an essential role in keeping our operations running smoothly.

Schedule: Monday through Thursday 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM (flexible shifts available)

We Provide: Training and orientation

Click “Respond” to sign up for this opportunity and watch for an email from Robin, she will reach out soon to welcome you and help you get started!

The Alliance is seeking detail-oriented and dependable volunteers to assist with essential administrative tasks that keep our programs running smoothly. As an Administrative Volunteer, you’ll help with day-to-day operations and play an important role in ensuring that our team can focus on supporting survivors and strengthening our community.

What You’ll Do:

Assist with data entry, donation management, and thank-you correspondence

Help process invoices and general administrative paperwork

Answer phones, greet visitors, and provide a welcoming presence at the front desk

Support the Development Coordinator with marketing and social media projects

Maintain organization and confidentiality in all office tasks

What We’re Looking For:

Friendly and reliable volunteers comfortable working in an office setting

Strong attention to detail and communication skills

Willingness to learn and take initiative

Availability for regular in-office shifts (schedule can be flexible)

This is a great opportunity for volunteers who enjoy administrative work, want to build professional skills, and believe in the mission of supporting survivors of domestic and sexual violence.

To Get Started:
Click “Register” to sign up for this opportunity. A volunteer coordinator will reach out soon to welcome you and help you get started.

The Alliance is seeking caring and reliable volunteers to serve as Supervised Visitation Monitors for court-ordered family visits. This important role helps provide a safe, neutral, and supportive environment where children can maintain healthy connections with their parents.

What You’ll Do:

Supervise visits between parents and children in a structured, safe setting

Ensure visits remain positive and within established guidelines

Maintain confidentiality and accurate observation notes

Provide a calm, professional presence that supports family well-being

Schedule:

Fridays, typically 2–3 hours per week

Some shifts may include back-to-back visits

Training & Support:
Volunteers receive orientation and guidance from Alliance staff. You’ll always be on-site and supported during visits — never alone in managing families.

This is a meaningful opportunity for volunteers who are observant, compassionate, and committed to supporting families during challenging times.

To Get Started:
Click “Register” to sign up for this opportunity. A volunteer coordinator will reach out soon to welcome you and guide you through the onboarding process.

Join The Alliance in providing compassionate, confidential support to individuals experiencing domestic or sexual violence. As a Hotline Volunteer, you’ll play a crucial role in ensuring that anyone in crisis has someone to listen, believe, and connect them to help — 24 hours a day.

What You’ll Do:

Answer calls on The Alliance’s 24/7 Help Line, offering emotional support, safety planning, and referrals to resources.

Maintain confidentiality and professionalism while responding to individuals in crisis.

Collaborate with staff and other volunteers to ensure quality, trauma-informed care.

Training & Support:
All Hotline Volunteers complete 30 hours of free training, covering:
confidentiality • advocacy • dynamics of domestic violence • effects on children • legal systems • documentation • accountability practices.

Ongoing support continues through monthly meetings with the Advocacy Program Manager to debrief, receive guidance, and strengthen your skills.

Commitment:
Because consistency matters to those we serve, Hotline Volunteers are asked to commit to a minimum of one year of service after training.

This role is ideal for empathetic, calm, and reliable volunteers who want to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.

To Get Started:
Click “Register” to sign up for this opportunity. A volunteer coordinator will reach out soon to welcome you and help you begin the training process.

Caring and Sharing needs volunteers at their donation dock! From couches to coffee mugs, every item dropped off needs to be sorted into the thrift store. Join our donation dock team and keep generosity moving forward!

Tuesday 10:00-1:00, Thursday 10:00-1:00, Saturday 10:00-1:00

Respond to this need or reach out directly to Jennipher, at jennipherb73@gmail.com for more volunteer information.

Love finding treasures and giving back? Caring and Sharing is looking for thrift store volunteers!

Tasks can include sorting goods, reorganizing clothing racks and the store front and basic cleaning. 

Respond to this need or reach out directly to Jennipher, at jennipherb73@gmail.com for more volunteer information.

Caring and Sharing needs volunteers at their Soup kitchen! Share your time and heart —volunteering at the kitchen helps serve warm meals and hope to neighbors who need it most.

Soup Kitchen: Tuesday and Thursday, 11am-1pm

Respond to this need or reach out directly to Jennipher, at jennipherb73@gmail.com.

Caring and Sharing needs volunteers at their resource center! By volunteering, you’ll not only keep the thrift store running strong, you’ll also help provide essential resources, like food and support, to neighbors in need.

Resource Center: Tuesday and Thursday, 11am-2pm

Now also operating additional, Saturday hours in response to limited SNAP funding!

Nov 8th and 22nd, 9:00am-12:00pm & Dec 13th and 20th, 9:00am-12:00pm.

Respond to this need or reach out directly to Jennipher, at jennipherb73@gmail.com.

Volunteers are needed to help organize vendor village event at Mcphelemy Park

Volunteers are needed to help organize parade events and vendor village event at Mcphelemy Park

Synergy invite you to get involved and make a lasting impact by joining them in one of several key volunteer roles. Opportunities are available in training, fundraising, restaurant support, and volunteer committees. Whether you’re helping shape programs, planning events, or contributing to daily operations, your time and talent will directly drive our mission forward and strengthen the community we serve.

Contact Kit at synergyinserviceindustry@gmail.com to find out more details about this volunteer role.

Synergy is seeking a detail-oriented volunteer to serve as a Grant Research Specialist. In this role, you will help identify potential funding opportunities that align with our mission, research grant guidelines and eligibility, and provide summaries to support our application process. Your work will play a vital part in strengthening our programs and ensuring we have the resources to continue serving the community.

Are you a good fit? Email Kit at synergyinserviceindustry@gmail.com for more details!

Be a Catalyst for Local, Responsible, and Sustainable Energy Solutions!

Are you passionate about clean energy, sustainability, and shaping the future of the Arkansas Valley? Ark Valley Energy Future (AVEF) is seeking dedicated, visionary individuals to serve on our Board of Directors. As a grassroots, community-driven nonprofit, AVEF works to advance renewable energy, energy efficiency, and environmental resilience in the Arkansas Valley. Our mission is to empower local communities to build a just and sustainable energy future — and we need committed leaders to help guide us.

Were looking for Board Members who: 

-Share our commitment to clean, equitable, and affordable energy

-Bring skills in leadership; community outreach through marketing, social media, and communications; events management; energy designs or policy; or fundraising.

-Represent the diverse voices of the Arkansas Valley community.

Are ready to contribute 5–10 hours/month to a meaningful cause?

Follow the link here to find out more: https://arkvalleyenergyfuture.org/avef-bod-apply

Chaffee County Habitat for Humanity is seeking volunteers to work at the ReStore in Buena Vista. Volunteers perform many different tasks, including customer service, cleaning donated materials, stocking shelves, loading and unloading materials from vehicles, and assisting with donation pick-ups throughout the community. The ReStore is open Weds-Sat from 9 AM-4 PM. Please wear closed-toe shoes and dress appropriately for a retail/warehouse setting. For more information, visit www.chaffeehabitat.org. 

We could not build homes without your help at our ReStore! The ReStore receives donated goods and sells them back to the public at a discounted cost. Proceeds from the purchases made at the ReStore help build homes in our community. We always need help from donations processing to customer service to cleaning and organizing. The ReStore is open Wednesday-Saturday from 9:00 AM-4:00 PM. We also accept limited volunteers on Tuesdays to help with donation pick-ups. 

CLICK HERE TO VOLUNTEER

NOTE: Please register for shifts through the link above. 

Complete the board member interest form at https://forms.gle/jQ8rxXEJeRGpjo4Y7 & we will get
back to you with the next steps. We appreciate your interest in our board member opportunities!

This will be the 19th Annual Pumpkin Patch and Harvest Festival - We need concession stand food servers, face painters, craft house helpers, farm animal helpers and more!!  Go HERE for info and to sign up!

SOIL Sangre de Cristo is a membership based community loan fund that awards 0% interest loans to local farmers, ranchers and other food producers.

SOIL Sangre de Cristo is looking to recruit volunteers for a rotating list of needs and ongoing projects. They need volunteers to help with various seed exchanges, both in Chaffee County and the San Luis Valley.

Reach out to Taijel Benton, info@soilsangredecristo.org, to express interest and hear more about joining the volunteer team!

See more about this organization and their work at www.soilsangredecristo.org.

Ark Valley Preschool is a nonprofit early childhood center located in Poncha Springs, serving children ages 18 months to 5 years. 

AVP is looking for a member to serve on their board. 

Ideal Candidates:

-Passionate about early childhood education and community

-Bring experience in fundraising, nonprofit leadership, finance, marketing, or education

-Financial experience is a plus, but not required

-Committed to equity and collaboration

-Board experience is welcome but not required

-We welcome all interested community members—especially those with lived experience as working parents, educators, or members of underrepresented groups. 

If interested, reach out to Carmel Burton at carmel@arkvalleypreschool.org. 

The Buena Vista Farmers Market is held every Saturday beginning June 7th through October 4th from 9 am - 1 pm at Columbine Park in Buena Vista, Colorado. This farmers market will host a wide variety of unique local vendors and you can find fresh produce, meat, dairy, eggs, sourdough bread and pastries, handmade goods and crafts and so much more. 

Contact Sofia Adinolfi at info@foodshedalliance.com to find volunteer details.  

The Salida Farmers Market is held every Saturday beginning June 7th through October 25th from 8 am - 12 pm at Alpine Park in Salida, Colorado. The market will host a wide variety of unique local food and artisan vendors and you can find fresh produce, meat, dairy, eggs, sourdough bread and pastries, jewelry, handmade goods and crafts and so much more!

Contact Sofia Adinolfi at info@foodshedalliance.com to find volunteer details.  

Do you love sharing the history of this valley with others?  We are looking for tour guides to lead visitors through the historic Hutchinson Homestead & Learning Center, helping the history of this 7th generation working ranch come to life.  The Hutchinson Homestead is open to visitors on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, 1-4pm, from June through September.  We will host tour guide training in late May with Art Hutchinson when guides can sign up to lead visitors through this site on weekend afternoons that fit their schedule. 

If you'd like to volunteer and can't attend the training in May, please reach out to tracy@guidestonecolorado.org to find an alternative time for training!

Every Thursday CO Autism Consultants bring 2 kids to Mini Blessings Farm. We need 1 more volunteer to work with the student and a mini horse. This includes grooming and helping the kid walk the horse across the property or through the obstacle course.

Every Tuesday we bring one or two horses to the Prek in BV where the kids get to spend time with the horses, brush them and lead them in the outdoor fenced in area. We are looking a volunteer that can help consistently and ideally has horse experience, although we will train the right person. 

Every Tuesday we bring one or two minis to visit the elderly inside Columbine Manor Retirement Home

Every other Thursday we bring 1 or 2 mini horses to the middle school. The kids brush the horses and create an obstacle course to lead the horses through. We are looking for a volunteer that can consistently come and ideally has horse experience, although we will train the right candidate.

We are seeking more volunteers that can help with our many different programs. This would consist of helping kids to groom and lead the minis, and ensure the safety of everyone. We need help with all programs that are all over the calendar, but we are especially needing help with the PreK on Tuesdays 9:30am-11:15am, every other Thursdays with Avery Parsons 5th graders at 1:30pm-2:45pm, and Columbine Manor every other Tuesday 1:30pm - 4:00pm.

Looking for regularly scheduled volunteers to help out with morning OR afternoon clean up and exercising of the horses.  Volunteers clean up the stalls and pens and if time permits, take horses to the arena for regular exercise. The schedule is open to new volunteers, especially in the afternoons around 2:00 or later.

We need help feeding 7 miniature horses and 2 full sized horses at 7am and 6pm every day. We can split up the job between multiple people.

We are having a workaway-er come some time in November that will take over this job. We did have someone helping us but they are having car problems and not currently able to help. So this could be very short term until they are able to work it out.

Calling all Volunteers who enjoy putting their hands in the soil and harvesting vegetables! 

Food grown at the Community & School Farm lands on the plates of the students of Salida School District as well as the local hospital. 

This opportunity starts on May 1st and goes the growing season. 

The drop- in hours are 9am-noon, for any or all of the shift on Mondays, Wednesday, and/or Fridays. 

For ages 18+

Do you enjoy young people, particularly those with special needs? Most of our program participants do not drive and several have transportation issues getting to and from our social programs.  We are looking for drivers who can occasionally transport program participants. 

Looking for someone to occasionally take pictures of our operation, create social media posts and help improve our social media presence and community awareness.

Looking for Board Members to help guide this social enterprise that provides paid work experience, job training and social skills training for neuro-diverse people (such as people on the autism spectrum), enabling them to obtain and maintain meaningful employment.

Mini Blessings is seeking volunteers who could help with mowing, weed whacking, and general grounds maintenance around the farm

The Chaffee County Community Foundation (CCCF) currently has one board seat open.

We are searching for caring, thoughtful, and dedicated individuals who care about making Chaffee County a better place. A successful candidate will bring their life experience, expertise, and networks to their board service and will act not only as a fiduciary, but as an ambassador, for CCCF.

Board service, depending on committee appointments, typically requires between 3 and 5 hours of time each month between meetings and preparation.

Our Board Member agreement and prior meeting minutes can be found here and would be required prior to finalizing your candidacy. 

In need of a compassionate mentor / teacher to work one-on-one with teens / young adults with learning disabilities, teaching job skills and social skills.