Volunteer

Volunteer opportunities at the Adoption Center & Shelter come in lots of shapes and sizes. Whether you're interested in working directly with the animals or supporting our work in other ways, there's a place for you here. We currently have the greatest need in the following areas:

• Dog Walking
• Cat Care (New cat care volunteers accepted during spring and summer.)
• Laundry and Dishes

More Opportunities

Not sure if the positions above are the right fit for you? No problem! There are more opportunities available - click the link below to register and learn more.

Register Now

When you open your home to foster a pet, you offer the special support that pet needs, help preserve extremely strained shelter resources, and create space for other animals in need. Our greatest need is fosters to help with large dogs and litters of kittens. 

If you think fostering might be the right fit for you, click the link below to learn more.

Foster a Pet

ReTails is more than just a thrift store, it's an experience! ReTails is the destination for clothing bargains, vintage items, home furnishings, holiday decor and so much more. But we can only do it with the help of our incredible volunteers! 

We have immediate openings in the following volunteer positions:

• Department Specialists provide customer service and assist with sorting, repairing and organizing merchandise in one of ReTails many departments which include Apparel, Books, Linens, Electronics, Kitchen, Garden, Holiday, Jewelry, and more.
• ReTails Greeters ensure customers feel welcome, answer questions, and provide directions and information.
• Merchandising Volunteers assist with merchandise intake, sorting, and pricing. Volunteer shifts and qualifications vary based on the assignment.

To lend a hand at ReTails, click the link below to register!

Register Now

Loving animals is only part of the job - like all volunteers at HSSW, teen volunteers need to love working with people and enjoy being part of a team. HSSW is now accepting applications for teen volunteers, age 16 and older.

If you are interested in being a teen volunteer, you must: 

• Be over the age of 16 
• Commit to one two-hour shift per week for six months, or five two-hour shifts per week for two months
• Have approval from your parents to participate

If you're interested in becoming a teen volunteer at HSSW, you can begin the process here

Apply Now

We cannot accept any volunteers under age 16, even with parental supervision. Teen volunteering may not be used to complete required service hours for school or community service. 

Group volunteers can make a big impact for the animals! We can accommodate groups of up to 40 individuals. Opportunities are limited, and must be scheduled in advance. Learn more below. 

ReTails Thrift Store

With more than 30,000 square feet of space, there's always room for group volunteers at ReTails. Owned and operated by HSSW, ReTails sells donated clothing, books, electronics, housewares, and appliances to benefit the animals. We love to invite groups to help us price sort and tidy up our store (and you can finish your day with some great shopping)!

Gardening and Yardwork

Our facilities team is always looking for teams to help with power washing, landscaping, and distributing wood chips. Volunteers must provide their own gloves. Depending on the project, providing additional equipment for the project is helpful.

Special Events

Events like Walk/Run (the first weekend in May) and our Gala (the first weekend of October) are excellent opportunities for groups to lend a hand. There are opportunities to help with a variety of tasks and roles.

Fundraising and Supply Drives

Fundraising and supply drives can be a great way to unite your team to support a good cause! Learn more about supply drives. If you would like to host a fundraiser, you can contact us to learn more.

Youth Group Volunteers

HSSW is not able to supervise children, any youth groups with volunteers under the age of 16 must provide their own adult supervision. Groups should have one trusted adult present for every five youth participants. Adults must accompany children at all times. There are always risks of scratches, bites, or other injury when working in a shelter environment. Anyone under the age of 18 (or otherwise ineligible) must have a waiver of liability signed by their parent or legal guardian in order to participate in group volunteer opportunities at the shelter or ReTails.

Requesting a Group Volunteer Opportunity

Space is limited for Group Service opportunities, so Group Service dates must be scheduled at least 3 weeks in advance, between 12:00 PM and 6:00 PM.

Email [email protected] with your group type, group size, the activity you're interested in, and 3 ideal dates for service.

Inclusion and Expectations

We welcome individuals of all abilities to contribute to our mission of supporting the animals at HSSW. All volunteers, regardless of their capacity, are expected to perform their assigned tasks safely, efficiently,
and independently. Volunteer Services can arrange reasonable adjustments and accommodations to assist volunteers in serving independently. However, the volunteer program’s mission is to benefit the animals in our care; therefore, we cannot create projects or provide therapeutic experiences solely for the benefit of volunteers or organizations.

Commitment Requirements

Volunteers must commit to six months of weekly service at our shelter or biweekly service at Retails. We do not accommodate community-based assessments. Volunteers who cannot work independently or
require supervision to maintain task focus and professional behavior must provide a coach or caregiver who can supervise the volunteer and ensure adherence to the terms of the volunteer agreement and code of conduct.

Volunteers with Legal Guardians

Any volunteer over the age of eighteen who has a legal guardian, or is otherwise unable to enter into a contract, must be supervised by a coach. An evaluation will be conducted after five shifts to determine if
continued supervision is necessary. 

Volunteers with legal guardians must have their guardian read and sign a release of liability on their behalf. The guardian must also attend or view a volunteer orientation or evaluation to ensure they understand safety protocols and workplace risks that may be present at the shelter or ReTails. 

Job Coach Responsibilities

• Job Coaches can be professional Job Coaches, paraeducators, or trusted family members capable of providing the necessary support.
• Job Coaches must ensure that the volunteers they supervise adhere to all HSSW policies and procedures.
• Volunteers who require a Job Coach may serve only with a Job Coach who has completed necessary HSSW training and onboarding.
• Volunteers must provide their own Job Coaches.
• Job Coaches must be registered HSSW volunteers in good standing and stay updated on all new policies, training, and procedures.
• Substitute coaches are not permitted unless they are an active HSSW volunteer.
• Job Coaches who fail to appropriately supervise their clients may be dismissed from the volunteer program at any time.
• The volunteer/Job Coach pair must be able to perform all necessary tasks for their assignment and follow all safety protocols.

Volunteer Code of Conduct

All volunteers and Job Coaches must comply with expectations outlined in the Volunteer Handbook and agreement. Regardless of arrangements made outside of HSSW, Job Coaches serve at their own risk and are responsible for the costs of any injuries incurred while serving at HSSW.