Below is a list of Pathways Past Poverty (P3) Related Volunteer Opportunities. The work of the nonprofits listed below align with one or more Goals of the P3 Initiative. To volunteer in one of these areas, contact the person listed under the organization you wish to partner with. This list is not comprehensive.
GOAL 1: Ensure families in Larimer County have access to quality and affordable child care that supports
their children’s development, and enables parents to be reliable and productive at
work, school, training, etc. (including when children are sick).
Agency Description: The Family Center provides information, services and assistance to all families who desire to improve the quality of their lives.
Specific Volunteer Needs: Volunteers are needed for deep cleaning projects as well as building and property maintenance.
Volunteer Requirements: Volunteers 13 and older are accepted for general cleaning and organizing duties. No minimum time commitment, no background check, and court ordered volunteers accepted depending on the charge. Volunteers must be 16 or older to work in the classrooms or with the children, and 18 or older to work with the infants. These volunteers are asked to commit to a minimum of one day per week for 3-6 hours. These volunteers are also required to have a background check, and court ordered cases are accepted depending on the charge.
Contact: Carla Dolan 309 W. Hickory St.
970.221.1615 Fort Collins, CO 80524
e-mail Carla
GOAL 2: Significantly increase the availability of, access to, and quality of job training, critical life skills, and
education opportunities that lead to self-sufficiency.
Agency Description: The mission of the Center for Adult Learning is to provide low-cost instruction to adults who want to learn or improve reading, writing, math, or computer skills, obtain a GED, and/or learn English as a second language. The Center for Adult Learning offers GED preparation classes, basic reading, writing and math, as well as ESL classes to adults 17 years and older.
Specific Volunteer Needs: Volunteers participate as classroom helpers or one-on-one tutors.
Volunteer Requirements: Volunteers must be at least 17 years old and commit to a minimum of 2 hours per week for one semester. Volunteers must undergo an intake and screening process to determine if the applicant is a good fit for the program. Some training may be provided if necessary.
Contact: Margie Wagner Front Range Community College
970.204.8373 4616 S Shields Street, Bianca Peak Building Ste. 102
e-mail Margie Fort Collins, CO 80526
- Education & Life Training Center - ELTC
Agency Description: The Education and Life Training Center provides affordable education and employment skills to adults seeking to improve their livelihood and achieve self-sufficiency.
Specific Volunteer Needs: Volunteers needed to assist with up and coming educational programs including mentoring opportunities. Volunteers with backgrounds in IT, medical and teaching professions are especially needed.
Volunteer Requirements: A background check is required, time commitment is dependent on position, and court ordered service is accepted depending on skill sets.
Contact: Lyn Karius 401 Linden Street
Specific Volunteer Needs: Transportation assistance for Clubhouse members to access the Clubhouse program and employment opportunities. Volunteers are also needed to provide tutorial support for Clubhouse members who are enrolled in a community college or university.
Bilingual volunteers are needed to instruct a conversational Spanish language class for Clubhouse colleagues.
Volunteer Requirements: Volunteers are required to be at least 21 years old and submit to a background check. LCMH asks for a 2 hour per week minimum time commitment for 6 months. Court ordered service volunteers are not accepted.
Contact: Natalie Brown 125 Crestridge Street
970.493.4053 Fort Collins, CO 80525
e-mail Natalie
GOAL 3 : Ensure that no persons or families lack access to adequate and affordable housing.
GOAL 4: Provide better jobs, i.e. jobs that are stable, pay a liveable wage, value employees, and are long-
term career oriented.
GOAL 5: Ensure that those facing poverty have access to systems that grow social capital and self-
sufficiency. Individuals are empowered to take responsibility for building their future by
identifying personal goals and resources (financial, emotional, mental, spiritual, physical, as
well as relationships, role models, and knowledge of the hidden rules of class).
Agency Description: Crossroads Safehouse advocates and provides a safe environment for victims of domestic violence and interpersonal abuse and violence in Larimer County, while promoting positive change through education, awareness and prevention.
Specific Volunteer Needs: Volunteers needed as Domestic Abuse Response Team (DART) members, to provide on-scene crisis intervention and community outreach services.
Volunteer Requirements: All volunteers must be at least 18 years old and are required to fill out an application, provide 3 references, pass a background check, and attend Crossroads' 28-42 hour training.
Contact: Kimi Marin P.O. Box 993
970.530.2353 Fort Collins, CO 80522
e-mail Kimi
Agency Description: Estes Valley Victims Advocates provides crisis intervention, advocacy, support, and prevention services for victims of crime and trauma, as well as preventative education against violence within the community. Estes Valley Victims Advocates provides safe housing for victims of domestic violence and their children.
Specific Volunteer Needs: Volunteers are needed to help with transportation for victims as well as pick up food for the safehouse at the Food Bank for Larimer County in Fort Collins.
Volunteer Requirements: Volunteers must be 18 or older and commit to one year of service. Background checks are required, and while court ordered volunteers are typically not admitted, they are considered on a case by case basis.
Contact: Mary Mesropian P.O. Box 1287
970.577.9781 Estes Park, CO 80517
e-mail Mary
- House of Neighborly Service
Agency Description: House of Neighborly Service has provided assistance to low-income individuals and families in Southern Larimer County since 1961. The agency's mission is to compassionately address and respond to the effects of poverty, while helping prevent further crisis and to empower those we serve to become more self-sufficient.
Specific Volunteer Needs: Assistance with special events, projects and fundraisers as they occur.
Volunteer Requirements: Volunteers must be 14 years or older to be unsupervised. Most volunteer positions are one morning or afternoon per week in the food pantry, clothing room, or office, although short-term volunteers are occasionally needed for fundraisers, events, or special projects. Court ordered service may be allowed depending on the offense, hours needed and space available. Volunteer application required.
Contact: Erin Becerra
565 North Cleveland Ave.
531 8th
Street
Specific Volunteer Needs: Volunteers are needed to assist with children's groups which provide child care for parents engaged in parenting education courses.
Volunteer Requirements: A weekly commitment of at least one month is required; 10-14 weeks is desirable to complete a full parenting class session. A background check is required.
Contact: Sherre DeManche
2032 Lowe Street
Agency Description: The Matthews House supports and encourages young adults seeking renewed purpose in life as they transition to adulthood. It serves youth ages 16-21 who have little or no family support by providing mentoring and counseling, as well as independent living and interpersonal life skills classes that encourage positive life choices.
Specific Volunteer Needs: Host Home volunteers are needed to provide emergency and short-term housing to a young adult as they work toward living independently.
Volunteer Requirements: Most volunteer opportunities have a 21 year age minimum, but a few opportunities exist for those 16 and up. Background checks are required for all volunteers that work with youth or young adults. The requirements for the One-on-One Mentoring program is a 6 month commitment of 2 hours per week, and the volunteer must be at least 21 years old.
Contact: Vanessa Aschmann 726 Matthews St.
970.472.4293 Fort Collins, CO 80524
e-mail Vanessa
Agency Description: The Sister Mary Alice Murphy Center for Hope helps families and individuals who are homeless or at risk of homelessness to become stable, establish self-sufficiency, and maintain permanent housing.
Specific Volunteer Needs: Volunteers are needed to assist with sorting donations as well as helping guests "tell their story."
Volunteer Requirements: Volunteers are asked to make a one year commitment of at least two hours a week. Volunteers must be over the age of 18, and pass a background check. Because of the structure of the time commitment and background check requirements, people seeking to fulfill court-ordered service requirements may not qualify.
Contact: Stephanie Madsen-Pixler Nancy Mendenhall 242 Conifer Street
Larimer County for Mental Health 970.494.4388 Fort Collins, CO 80524
970.494.4341
e-mail Stephanie
GOAL 6: Ensure that every resident of Larimer County has access to continuous quality mental and physical
health care.
Agency Description: Health Care for All Colorado is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to achieving affordable, guaranteed health care for all through education and advocacy.
Volunteer Requirements: Volunteers over 16 will be accepted and no background check is required. The minimum time commitment is 2 hours per month. Court ordered service is not accepted.
Contact: Linda Mahan 2215 Shooting Star Ln.
970.484.2259 Fort Collins, CO 80521
e-mail Linda
Agency Description: The Women's Resource Center is dedicated to providing access to health care for medically under-served women through outreach, education, connection to care, and advocacy.
Specific Volunteer Needs: 1) Volunteers are needed to act as Workshop/Charla leaders. These volunteers talk to groups of women about health issues and concerns, empowering them to take charge of their health by educating them about access to services and prevention of serious health problems.
2) Volunteers are also needed to represent the Women's Resource Center at health and community fairs by manning booths or tables, as well as visit other nonprofit organizations and talk to their clients about the services that the WRC offers.
3) Volunteers are needed to act as "appointment buddies," by providing support and encouragement to clients as they attend a medical or dental appointment.
Volunteer Requirements: Volunteers must be at least 16 years old to volunteer in the office and at least 18 years old to participate in events which involve client and community contact. There are opportunities for younger volunteers at some special events. Court ordered service is accepted, but volunteers in this capacity are limited to assisting with special events and administrative duties (i.e. filing, client surveys, etc.). Background checks are not required.
Contact: Sarah Alessi 424 Pine Street, Ste. 201
970.407.7039 Fort Collins, CO 80524
e-mail Sarah
GOAL 7: Increase awareness of diversity and poverty to create an inclusive and involved community that
honors the value of all people in Larimer County.
GOAL 8: Examine policies and implement best practices that support children, youth and families.
GOAL 9: Develop and implement a practical, affordable and multi-modal transportation system, providing
uninterrupted coverage for the area from Wellington to Berthoud and including Timnath,
Windsor and Johnstown.
Agency Description: The Fort Collins Bike Co-op works to build the community through bicycling. The Co-op keeps our community riding, including those who can't afford to buy a bike; educates our neighbors in all things bike related including bike maintenance, bicycle education, and safety; keeps good bikes out of the landfill and recycles poorly built or unsafe bikes; keeps the bikes in the Fort Collins Bike Library running; and refurbishes and donates bicycles for a wide variety of charity events for agencies serving those in need.
Specific Volunteer Needs: Not limited to the following:
1) There is an immediate need for volunteers to run the front desk and answer the phone during open shop hours. These volunteers need to be able to learn quickly about the Co-op's programs and to be the spokesperson to shop visitors or callers. These volunteers are crucial to the sustaining of current shop hours.
2) A volunteer is needed to act as a membership coordinator to engage new volunteers and encourage them to remain active. Experience with membership management is desirable, but enthusiasm, commitment and fresh ideas can substitute for experience with the right individual.
3) A volunteer grant coordinator is also needed. This person will ideally create a calendar of upcoming application deadlines and enlist other volunteers to make timely grant requests supported by the board of directors. Tasks may include grant submission scheduling, grant writing, grant reporting, donation campaigns, and business or commercial sponsorship.
Volunteer Requirements: Youth volunteers under 16 supervised and over 16 with written parental consent.
Contact: Paul Lugo OR Rick Price 331 North College Avenue
970.484.3804 Fort Collins, CO 80524
e-mail Paul or Rick
GOAL 10: Increase the academic success of all youth in Larimer County.
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County
Agency Description: Boys and Girls Club of Larimer County offers an environment that helps young people (6-18 years of age) reach their full potential as caring and productive citizens.
Volunteer Requirements: Volunteers must be 14 years or older and submit to a background check if over 18. There is no minimum time requirement and court ordered service is accepted with guidelines.
Contact: Dave Rud 103 Smokey St.
970.223.1709 x 103 Fort Collins, CO 80525
e-mail Dave
Specific Volunteer Needs: There is always a need for group and one-on-one tutoring and mentoring to increase the academic success of PSD students.
Volunteer Requirements: There is no minimum time requirement and a background check is required for all volunteers 18 and over. Court ordered community service is not accepted.
Contact: Cyndi Gile 1630 S Stover Street
970.490.3208 Fort Collins, CO 80525
e-mail Cyndi
GOAL 11: Ensure financial justice and a level playing field for those in poverty.
AND
GOAL 12: Increase the level of financial literacy and stability in the community.
- Larimer County Extension Office
Agency Description: The committee gives input to the county Cooperative Extension office on needs for non-formal education related to families, consumers, and youth in Larimer County.
Specific Volunteer Needs: The Extension office would benefit from volunteers who could market Extension's financial education opportunities and recruit financial education class participants; undergo training if needed, and assist in teaching financial education; as well as assist in the evaluation of the effectiveness of financial education among participants.
Volunteer Requirements: Applicants for the Advisory Committee must be residents of Larimer County and at least 16 years old. Three Committee positions are reserved for individuals age 16 to 18.
Contact: Laurel Kubin Extension Office
498-6004 1525 Blue Spruce Drive
e-mail Laurel Fort Collins, CO 80524
- Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (Realities Focus, Inc) - VITA
Agency Description: The mission of VITA is to provide free income tax preparation and tax education services for the under-served, low to moderate income population, which includes the elderly, disabled, limited English proficient, non-urban taxpayers, those in retirement facilities, low-income housing and rental properties, as well as persons serving in the military.
Specific Volunteer Needs: Spanish proficient volunteer tax preparers or tax preparers' assistants are needed. They will be asked to facilitate accurate communication with taxpayers during tax return preparation. Volunteers are also need to perform data capture and administration at tax preparation sites, as well as act as greeters.
Volunteer Requirements: Volunteers must be at least 21 years old, and court ordered service is not accepted. Tax training and certification is provided through small group and self-paced programs from October through January, and requires a 20-30 hour time commitment. Tax preparation service delivery (from February 1-April 15) requires a minimum of 4-8 hours per week, depending on the Volunteer's certification, role and site assignment(s). Time requirements of additional positions vary.
Contact: Hugh Price
Harry Love
1836 Busch Court
