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  • Overview
  • On-going Opportunities
  • One-time Opportunities
  • Community Service
  • Internships
  • How-to Volunteer
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Overview

Jeffco Action Center VolunteerVolunteers are vital to Jeffco Action Center's success

Jeffco Action Center would not be able to meet the growing demand for help without the support of volunteers. Volunteers are involved in all aspects of Action Center operations from client services and the food bank to data entry and the dock. Every day Jeffco Action Center relies on the support of more than 80 volunteers to operate. In addition, there are individuals and groups that help out the Action Center with special events like School Supply Distribution or the Beautiful Junk Sale.
 
Facts about Volunteering

  • Last year, more than 2,400 volunteers donated time.
  • Last year, more than 59,000 hours of time was donated.
  • The total value of donated time more than $1,000,000.

 

    Volunteering is a fun and rewarding experience

    Volunteering at Jeffco Action Center gives you an opportunity to meet like-minded individuals. Volunteering is fun because every day is different and the people you want to volunteer with want to be here. Many volunteers meet people and do activities outside the Action Center.
     
    There are a wide range of opportunities whether you are interested in volunteering one-time or on an on-going basis. Whether you are looking to volunteer because of school, work or for personal reasons, Jeffco Action Center is a place to make new friends and make a difference in your community!


Steps to Volunteer


On-going Opportunities

Each day, more than 80 volunteers help run Jeffco Action Center. These volunteers work at the front desk, sort donations and enter client data in the HMIS system. These volunteers are the lifeblood in meeting the needs of thousands of Jefferson County residents. Food Bank VolunteersThese volunteers typically give a once a week, four-hour commitment to Jeffco Action Center throughout the year. 


Volunteer Opportunities

Food Pantry: Volunteers divide donated food into smaller portions, restock foods shelves, and fill food orders according to the household size.

Clothing Bank: Volunteers register the client, help clients find clothing items and record the number of items taken.

Clothing Sorter: Volunteers sort through all donated clothing, select clothing in good condition, hang clothing in the Clothing Bank and keep it organized.

Household Runner:  Volunteers fill household request forms, providing clients with blankets, dishes, toasters, etc.

Phone Receptionist: Volunteers answer the phones, give out directions, hours and determine the appropriate referral to staff members.

Client Services Counselor: Volunteers work directly with clients in the Client Servicesdepartment. Volunteer counselors conduct intake meetings with clients and learn about the client’s situation in order to make referrals for services from Jeffco Action Center. Counselors also refer clients to other community resources for additional assistance.

Donations Dock: Volunteers greet and thank donors, unload donations from vehicles, distribute receipts and keep the dock clean and organized.

Food Bank VolunteersClient Desk: Volunteers greet the clients, check their identification, explain services available at Jeffco Action Center, fill out a client intake form and card and refer them to the next available counselor for services.

Shelter Assistants: Volunteers assist the shelter manager with meals, housekeeping, dispensing keys and personal items.

Tenant/Landlord Counseling: Volunteers answer phone calls and inform clients of their rights, as well as the guidelines and procedures related to tenant and landlord issues in the state of Colorado.

Santa Shop: Volunteers needed for regular shifts year-round to sort toys.

J-Help/Meals-On-Wheels:  Volunteer through Meals on Wheels by calling 303-294-0111 ext. 13123.  Volunteers and substitutes help prepare, pack and drive meals to clients within Jefferson County.


Steps to Volunteer

One-time opportunities

Looking to help Jeffco Action Center on a one- time basis?  Throughout the year, the Action Center has many special events and individual/group project opportunities. 

To volunteer for these events please e-mail barbarap@jeffcoac.org or call 303-237-7704 ext 243 in advance to check availability.


Special Event Volunteers

School Supplies

Beautiful Junk Sale (March and October)
       
This twice a year event is held inside the exhibit halls at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds. The Action Center needs strong volunteers able to be on their feet. Jobs include unloading  trucks, setting up merchandise, restocking tables, customer service and helping in the kitchen. It’s great for team building activity for any group: Work, School, Fraternity, etc.
 

Post Office Food Drive (One Saturday in May)
           
Once a year the Lakewood Post Office participates in a “Stamp Out Hunger” drive. Letter carriers collect food on their daily routes. Strong volunteers are needed to help unload grocery sacks from trucks as the workers arrive at the post office.


School Supplies (July and August)
      
Volunteers are needed to help sort, pre-pack, and distribute school supplies to more than 4,000 Jefferson County students. Individuals/groups are needed the weeks before the distribution begins in August. 

Thanksgiving Food Distribution (October and November)

Individual/groups are always needed to help sort and pre-pack Thanksgiving Food Boxes for hundreds of Jefferson County Families.

 

Santa Shop (December)

Hundreds of toys are given out each year to more than 4,000 Jefferson County children in December. Volunteers are needed to help collect and sort donations. The Action Center also needs volunteers to help register parents and stock the Santa Shop. 


Drive Vounteers
Create-your-own Projects

Join dozens of other volunteers and organizations by holding your own drive. Below is a listing of different types of drives that help the Action Center:

Food Drives —  example:  “Protein Power Drive”  collecting high protein items

Soap Drive —  example: “Hair Product Drive”  collecting Shampoo and conditioner

Clothes Drive — example:  “Undies Sundays”  Collecting new underwear at church

School Supplies Drive —  example  “Backpack Drive”  Collecting backpacks

Toy Drive — example “Girls Rule”  Collecting pre-teen girl items


 
Sorting Donations

Throughout the year, the Action Center needs individuals/groups to sort incoming items like food, clothes and hygiene products.  Depending on the size of the group and Jeffco Action Center's biggest needs, sorting can be done at the main Action Center location or in the Warehouse. 


Steps to Volunteer

Community Service

Are you interested in completing Community Service hours? Then, the Action Center has plenty of opportunities for you. The Action Center provides three types of community service: School Related, Court Ordered and TANF, Colorado Works or Food Stamps Program.

Please note, former clients wanting to give back to their community must wait six months from their last service date before they are eligible to volunteer.


School-Related Community Service

Students looking to add community service hours to their college application or resume will find a variety of opportunities. The Action Center's opportunities are one of a kind since you will be on the "front lines" of feeding the needy in Jefferson County. You will be able to learn all the ins and outs of how a high-caliber human services non-profit meets a tremendous need each day.

For more information about opportunities available please visit either the one-time or on-going opportunities pages.


Court-Ordered Community Service Hours

Individuals seeking to fulfill court-ordered community service are primarily limited to offenses related to driving infractions. The Action Center reserves the right to turn down service opportunities that don't fit specific criteria. For more information of how to fulfill your community service, please visit the how- to volunteer page.


Community Service for TANF, Colorado Works, Food Stamps and other Government Programs

The Action Center accepts individuals looking to complete community service for benefits they are receiving for local, federal and state benefits program. Individuals will find a variety of different ways to help the Action Center. Please visit the how-to volunteer page for more information.


Steps to Volunteer

Internships

Jeffco Action Center has several internship opportunities to fulfill academic credit or gain valuable on-the-job training. Internships are a great way to gain experience in a non-profit organization. Please click on a link below for more information.

 

Communications Internship

The Communications Intern will help write and edit a quarterly newsletter and write website content for Jeffco Action Center. This position will also have an opportunity to write and distribute press releases and coordinate with local newspapers, magazines and agencies to ensure timely and accurate publicity for the Action Center. The intern will assist with all public relations aspects of Jeffco Action Center for fundraising and community awareness events. The Action Center’s Director of Development will supervise the Communications Intern.

 

HR and Admin Internship

The HR and Admin Intern will assist with operational aspects of agency in HR, accounting and program areas. They will also assist with creating and implementing program evaluation for agency. The intern will be responsible for documenting and updating agency processes, procedures and statistics.

 

In-Kind Donations Internship

The In-Kind Donations Intern will assist in the handling of all incoming and outgoing in-kind donations. This person will be involved with greeting donors in the dock, filling out tax receipts, and other logistics of donations within the Center. In addition, this person will be expected to be involved with a variety of projects, including all major events such as the 9Cares/Colorado Shares Food Drive, Thanksgiving and Christmas Food Distribution, Santa Shop, fund raising events etc. This intern will have an opportunity to work in areas such as the food bank, clothing bank, loading dock, deliveries, warehouse and Beautiful Junk. The Action Center’s In-Kind Donations Coordinator will supervise this intern.


 

School Supplies Internship

The School Supply Intern will coordinate the collection and mange the August distribution of school supplies to more than 4,000 low-income children in Jefferson County. This person will have an opportunity to train and supervise a diverse group of volunteers before and during the school supply distribution in August. Responsiblity's include coordinating the collection and purchase of school supplies. This person must be able to lift boxes of paper and school supplies.


 

Special Events and Volunteer Coordinating Internship

The Special Events and Volunteer Coordinating Intern will help run events and manage volunteers. This position will have an opportunity to learn the art of scheduling and overseeing multiple areas, write to and communicate with both volunteers and potential volunteers, learn the Volunteer Works Database and more. The intern will assist with recruitment of volunteers and community awareness events. The Action Center’s Volunteer Coordinator will supervise the Special Events and Volunteer Coordinating Intern.

 

For more information about any of these internships, please contact Barbara Penning, Manager of Volunteer Programs at 303-237-7704 or barbarap@jeffcoac.org.

 

 


Steps to Volunteer

How-to Volunteer

Jeffco Action Center Tour 

To volunteer at the Action Center, you first need to take a tour. This will give you a great sense of who we are and what we do. 
 
Please click here for a tour schedule and for information on how-to sign up.


Download and Fill Out Application

Download and fill out an application now or fill one out when you arrive for your interview.  There is no need to mail or e-mail the application. Please bring it with you at your appointment. (click here to download the application)


Interview with Manager of Volunteer Programs

After your tour and you a filled out application, then you can schedule a time to meet and interview with the Manager of Volunteer Programs, Barbara Penning, or Volunteer Coordinator, Tamra Padgett, to go over your application and discuss volunteer opportunities and shifts that are available. Please contact either of them at 303-237-7704 or barabap@jeffcoac.org or tamrap@jeffcoac.org, respectively.


Volunteer Opportunities

The Action Center's volunteer opportunities are separated into on-going and one-time opportunities. For a list of opportunities please click on the section that best describes you.


Steps to Volunteer