Volunteer opportunities

 

We have a variety of ways you can get involved with our work, including some of the opportunities listed below:

Admissions Assistant: Welcome and assist rescuers, assist with intake, provide phone support and enter information into the computer database.

Animal Care: Assist with the care of our injured and orphaned wildlife by helping with diet preparation, dishes, general clean-up, and cleaning cages; reliable volunteers with at least 50 hours of service are able to work more directly with the animals, under staff supervision.

Data Entry/Medical Notation Assistant: Enter medical notes from animals’ informational and treatment records into our computer database.

Fundraising/Special Events: Represent SFWC at festivals, fairs and other events. If desired, help identify, organize and run smaller fundraising events, as well as assist with donor appreciation activities.

Housekeeping Assistant: Assist with washing, drying and folding laundry, putting away clean laundry and helping with general tidying.

Landscaping: Help keep our grounds tended by performing various grounds-keeping activities such as trimming, pruning, mulching, raking and weeding.

Nursery Assistant: Help us care for the baby animals by helping with dishes, laundry, general clean-up, diet prep and cleaning cages; volunteers who are consistent are also able to work hands-on with the animals during litter season

Rescue/Release Volunteer: Use your own vehicle to pick up safely contained injured and/or orphaned wildlife and bring them to SFWC for treatment.

Becoming a volunteer

Commitment policies:

• Adult volunteers (18+) make a 3-hour minimum weekly commitment. You may, of course, volunteer for more than one shift!
• Student volunteers (ages 16 and 17) must complete 40 hours within 3 months with consistent 3-hour weekly shifts. Paperwork for school will not be signed until completion of 40 hours.

Age restrictions:
Those under 16 are not eligible to volunteer on SFWC property.

Students ages 16 and 17:

• Must attend orientation with a parent or guardian.
• Are allowed to volunteer unaccompanied by a parent/legal guardian and may not leave the property during the shift.
• Are required to complete at least 40 hours in three (3) months.
• Will get school paperwork signed upon completion of 40 hours.
• Must have a parent or guardian call the center to report any absences or missed shifts.
• Have limited interaction with animals until contributing at least 40 hours.

Other restrictions:

• Volunteers must meet the requirements outlined in the Essential Capabilities document, which outlines the physical, mental and emotional capabilities required of all volunteers.
• We do not accept any court-ordered community service.
• All volunteers must successfully complete a criminal background check.

Process of applying

• Carefully review the information above before applying.
• If you would like to proceed, please fill out the volunteer application. Note: You’ll be asked to upload your completed Essential Capabilities document when you apply.
• After review of your application, you will be invited to attend an orientation. If, after the orientation, we mutually determine this opportunity is a good fit, you will be asked to authorize a background check based on the type of volunteer position for which you are applying.
• At the end of your orientation session, if you are ready to proceed in the volunteering process, there will be a $40 non-refundable fee that will cover items including training, seminars, and one volunteer t-shirt.
• Before becoming an official volunteer, you will be asked to sign a volunteer agreement and a waiver and release of liability.

Fill out a volunteer application now

 

Information on our INTERNSHIP opportunities can be found here >>>

Information on our EXTERNSHIP opportunities can be found here>>>