This time of year, many people are looking for ways to serve their neighbors in need. There are so many places that give back to the local community, so what’s the best way to get involved? We’re sharing just some of the Denver metro’s most trusted nonprofits and organizations so you can decide where to start.
Food Security and Meal Assistance
If you have a passion for prepping, serving, or improving access to fresh, healthy meals, you can help combat hunger in the community with these organizations: Metro Caring hosts a no-cost grocery market and distributes weekly food boxes. Project Angel Heart prepares and delivers medically tailored meals to Coloradans living with severe illnesses. We Don’t Waste and Denver Food Rescue recover and redistribute perfectly usable surplus or imperfect food that would otherwise be discarded.
For Animal Lovers
Volunteer to snuggle, walk, or foster the cats and dogs awaiting adoption at Denver Animal Shelter, Humane Colorado, or MaxFund Animal Adoption Center. The Bird Conservancy of the Rockies uses volunteers to collect data, band birds, and teach others about the importance of bird conservation. Or, get up-close with the animal at the Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance when you help with exhibit maintenance and animal handling.
Immigration Rights and Advocacy
Project Worthmore helps Colorado’s refugee and immigrant communities navigate life in a new place with English language programs, care packages, food shares, and more. Casa de Paz serves asylum seekers and immigrants recently released from detention reunite with loved ones. You can aid with legal services, organizing, and canvassing through The Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition.
Protecting the Outdoors
Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado assist with trail maintenance and construction, fire mitigation, and habitat restoration across Colorado. Join The Park People in spreading awareness of the importance of trees and helping bring low-cost and free trees to Denver neighborhoods. Help create a “sustainable urban future” through community food forests with Denver Urban Gardens.
Working with Kids
If you enjoy working with kids, consider volunteering with Children’s Hospital Colorado as a warm, welcoming, consistent presence for its young patients and their families throughout their stay at the hospital. Denver Public Library accepts volunteers every academic semester to read to young Denver students through its Read Aloud Program. Urban Peak is Denver’s only shelter that exclusively serves youth from 12-24 experiencing homelessness.
Supporting the Queer Community
Advocate for Colorado’s LGBTQ+ community through policy and education with One Colorado. Support a wide variety of programming for Denver’s queer community at The Center on Colfax.
Combatting Homelessness and Substance Use
The Colorado Village Collaborative welcomes volunteers to donate their skills — from yoga classes to legal clinics — to individuals making the transition into stable housing. The Gathering Place and The Delores Project both provide low-barrier care and shelter for women, transgender, and non-binary individuals facing poverty and homelessness. The Harm Reduction Action Center uses education, street outreach, and free safe injection supplies to support people struggling with drug use by “meeting them where they are at.”
Assisting Older Adults
A Little Help aims to bring connection, friendship, and dignity to Colorado’s senior residents. Denver’s Snow Angels program assists community members who are physically unable to shovel snow from their driveways and sidewalks in the winter months.
👉 Psst! Didn’t see something that suits you? Find the perfect volunteer opportunity for you at idealist.org or Spark, a Colorado volunteer opportunity database.
Editor’s note: The Delores Project, The Park People, and Denver Urban Gardens have all previously been sponsors of City Cast Denver, but that did not influence our decision to include them in this list.
