Youth Volunteers

  • Parents/guardians must sign online waiver if youth is under 18
  • Warehouse volunteering:
    • Ages 13-17 can volunteer with parent/guardian. Please add child as a “Team Member” when signing up to volunteer. More instructions here
    • If child is performing court-ordered Community Service, please see policy below as it is different.
  • Pet Food Bank volunteering
    • Parent/guardian must volunteer with any child under 15. Parent/guardian discretion is required as many of our pet food banks are held in busy parking lots, with moving vehicles.
    • Youth ages 15-17 performing Community Service can volunteer at a pet food bank without parent/guardian.
  • Kids are encouraged to do food drives, fundraising drives, make a peer-to-peer fundraising page here, or make dog/cat toys

Community Service

  • We are not able to take community service volunteers with an infraction including a felony, violence or assault, theft of any type, and harm to animals.
  • Youth Specific Policies
    • Youth under 16-17 MUST be accompanied by parent or guardian to volunteer in our warehouse. Parent volunteer hours will not be included in the hours required for the youth performing Community Service.
    • Youth under 16 performing Community Service cannot volunteer in warehouse.
    • Youth ages 15-17 performing Community Service can volunteer at a pet food bank without parent/guardian.
  • Please bring your paperwork to be signed after every shift. 
  • Please be on time for volunteer shifts and work the whole shift. 
  • Time spent not working (on phone, sitting/resting) will not be included in recorded hours. 
  • If you need to cancel, please do as soon as possible so that we can try to fill the role. Cancelling late (within 2 days before shift) multiple times, especially without communicating with us as to the reason, will result in termination of future volunteer shifts.
  • Be respectful to Colorado Pet Pantry staff, volunteers and clients at all times.  
  • Follow instructions of team leads while onsite so that the work is as efficient and effective as possible. 

Volunteering as a Client of Colorado Pet Pantry

  • We encourage recipients of our pet food bank program to volunteer.
  • If a volunteer would like to also get pet food, they must still register with the Lead Volunteer as a client.
  • Lead volunteer will set food aside inside the CPP/Lead Volunteer Vehicle for Volunteer/Client, but the food may not be taken until the Volunteer shift has concluded.

Anti-Discrimination, Dignity of Clients, and Respect are Paramount

  •  We do not judge our clients, volunteers, or staff on financial status, race, color, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, sex, age, disability, veteran status, citizenship, marital status, gender expression, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. The safety and security of Colorado Pet Pantry’s employees, volunteers, and constituents is critical.
  • Colorado Pet Pantry has no tolerance for discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment, violence, threats of violence, bullying, or intimidation by or against any Colorado Pet Pantry employee, volunteer, constituents or other stakeholder.

Social Media

  • Volunteers must not post disparaging or defamatory statements about: a) the Organization; b) Colorado Pet Pantry staff, our clients, volunteers, members past or present, partners, and donors; c) suppliers and vendors; and d) other affiliates and stakeholders.
  • Volunteers should avoid posting comments about sensitive Colorado Pet Pantry related topics, such as issues at an individual pet food bank where we work with a valued partner.

No-shows and Late Cancellations

  • Signing up to volunteer with Colorado Pet Pantry fills a limited spot which may stop another volunteer from being able to signup. If you’re not sure you can make the shift, please do not sign up until you’re sure. We try hard not to under or over-staff our events, but this only works if volunteers attend their chosen shifts.
  • Please cancel a shift as soon as possible if you can no longer attend.
  • If a volunteer no-shows, and doesn’t communicate the reason for the no-show, for more than two shifts, the account will be deactivated and they will no longer be able to volunteer with Colorado Pet Pantry.
  • If a volunteer cancels late (less than 48 hours before a shift) multiple times, Colorado Pet Pantry may choose to deactivate the volunteer’s account. Please communicate with us about your schedule as much as possible.