Thank you for your interest! We are not currently in need of additional onsite youth volunteers (those under 18 years) and do not anticipate opening any youth opportunities in the near future. Those under 18 can contribute and earn service hours by fostering animals with their families or by crafting rice-warmies and blankets (see below).
Make a Life-Saving Impact from Home by Crafting Warmies and Blankets!
Help us care for the most vulnerable animals at our shelter by making rice-warmies and fleece blankets—a simple, hands-on way to provide comfort and warmth to those who need it most. Rice-warmies are used to help neonatal puppies and kittens regulate their body temperature. For these tiny babies, warmies are often life-saving. Fleece blankets offer warmth, comfort, and a sense of security for our cats and kittens while they are in our care.
- Students: if you are looking for a meaningful way to volutneer, this is a great at-home option! If you will need us to sign any paperwork to verify your hours, please email us at volunteer@hssv.org to schedule an appointment.
- Rice-Warmies: you’ll need to purchase fabric and rice and have access to a sewing machine or needle and thread. 3 rice-warmies earn you 1 hour of service. Click for instructions.
- Fleece Blankets: you’ll need to purchase fleece. No sewing is required. Every blanket earns you 1/2 hour of service. Click for instructions.
- Drop-Off Info: completed items can be dropped off in the blue donation bin at the front of our shelter.
Please find some commonly asked questions and answers below.
HOW OLD SHOULD I BE TO VOLUNTEER?
Students 13-17 years old are allowed to volunteer at HSSV for limited roles.
HOW MUCH TIME WILL BE REQUIRED?
The shift times vary based on the needs of the shelter. We ask students to come in for a recurring shift once a week or once every other week. Student Volunteers may be asked to commit to three months of volunteering.
WILL I BE OFFERED TRAINING? DO I NEED EXPERIENCE?
No experience is needed for most student volunteer roles at HSSV. All volunteers at HSSV are offered training for their role and also have a point of contact onsite in case questions arise while you are volunteering. All student roles at HSSV are defined in a written role-description and these will include information about the role and whether prior experience of any kind is required for applicants.
DO YOU OFFER BIRTHDAY PARTIES OR SCOUT WORKSHOPS?
HSSV is not able to provide birthday parties and scout workshops.
WHEN DOES HSSV RECRUIT FOR STUDENT ROLES?
We recruit based on the needs of the shelter and do not currently have any openings.
WHAT KIND OF ROLES ARE AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS?
Students complete roles in many departments. Primarily though, our student volunteers help in our Animal Care and Enrichment department creating enrichment toys and tools for our animals. They also help us do laundry and wash dog and cat dishes.
HOW ELSE CAN I SUPPORT HSSV AND EARN SERVICE HOURS?
Please visit our foster page to learn more about fostering animals with us. While family members can be under 18 years of age, the primary foster volunteer must be at least 18.
Testimonials
“My interest in animals has increased and I’m not nervous around cats anymore!” —Nallely N.
“I have had such an amazing experience. There’s so much I can share now, with my friends and family and I hope all the animals I have come to love at HSSV will find a loving home.” —Katrina S.
“Overall, everything I learned gave me more of an understanding of why pets do the things they do.” —Gabriella Z.
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