Student Life Volunteer Opportunities | Colorado Mesa University

Colorado Mesa University is committed to providing students with the opportunities to foster positive personal growth by giving them opportunities to become active, engaged members of their community. The following list contains just a few of the volunteer opportunities available to the public in Grand Junction and surrounding areas periodically throughout the year. Feel free to contact any of the groups below for more information. If you are a community organization that would like to be featured on this list, please contact Gabe Simon at [email protected]

American Red Cross can use help with disaster relief efforts and a number of other programs. Learn more about their volunteer opportunities by visiting their website.

Bureau of Land Management is looking for volunteers to help with trail cleanup and maintenance and various other projects. If you are interested in working outdoors and learning more about our public lands, please contact Iris Salamanca [email protected]. You can also visit their website for more information.

Child & Migrant Services is looking for volunteers to help teach English, serve meals, childcare, teaching workers, showing workers around Grand Junction and many other tasks. For more information, please visit their website.

City of Grand Junction is looking for volunteers for multiple positions. The positions range from volunteers for 'Visit Grand Junction', the police and fire departments, and parks and recreation. For more information on their open positions, visit their website here.

Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition (CIRC) is looking for volunteers for a variety of projects. Please contact Clara O'Connor at [email protected] for more information about their program and volunteer opportunities.

Colorado National Monument is looking for volunteers to help work the visitor center desk as well as a few other opportunities. For more information, visit their website.

Community Hospital is looking for volunteers to assist the operation of the hospital in a variety of capacities. For more information, please contact Christina O'Dell at 970-644-3541 or [email protected]. You can also visit their website.

The Community Food Bank is looking for volunteers for various roles, at various times throughout the week. Volunteers perform tasks such as delivering food, sorting and organizing donations, assisting clients, and rescuing food from local grocery stores. You can learn more about the available roles and fill out a volunteer application on our website https://www.foodbankgj.org/needs. If you have any questions or want to learn more about the Community Food Bank please contact Katelynn Demskie at (970)-640-0336 ext.4 or [email protected]

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is looking for for volunteers to serve as court appointed advocates who help children who have been victims of abuse and neglect and act as the voice for the children and the community. For more information, please contact their Volunteer Corrdinators at 970-242-4191 or [email protected]. You can also visit their website.

Destination Imagination prepares Colorado's kids to be innovators of the future by combining the arts, sciences, and technology with creativity, teamwork, and problem solving. Destination Imagination is a non-profit primarily run by volunteers. There are many ways to be involved with this program, please contact Jill Jurca at their website.

Food Bank of the Rockies is looking for volunteers to working in the warehouse filing orders, performing light cleaning and completing occasional office work. For more information, please contact Betty Heath at 970-464-1138 or [email protected]. You can also visit their website.

Girl Scouts is looking for volunteers to help their organization here in Grand Junction. For more information, please visit their website.

Grand Junction Police Department is looking for volunteers to help with two different programs.

Public Safety Volunteers help by performing clerical work, computer entry, statistical analysis, providing tours, extra patrol, investigation assistance, community presentations, neighborhood speed controls, graffiti, and vacation checks. For more information, contact Jeannie Lewis at 970-549-5130.
Victim's Advocates are available to provide support, information, and resources for victims during ongoing investigation. Serve 4, 12 hour on-call shifts a month. For more information, please contact Mary Harmeling at 970-549-5290.

For more information about the GJPD and their volunteer opportunities, please visit their website.

Grand Valley Catholic Outreach is looking for volunteers to help with three different programs that they offer, performing a variety of tasks:

Day Center – Assist in operations at this center which provides shower and laundry facilities, a mail and message service, and onsite medical/ mental health/referral services for community members who are homeless. 970-263-9445
Outreach Center – Assist in operations as receptionist, emergency financial aid advocate, packing food boxes, clothing bank volunteer, cleaning and maintenance at this center that aids community members in need. 970-241-3658
Soup Kitchen – Assist in providing a noon meal by helping with food prep, cooking, dishwashing, picking up or sorting food donations, serving food, recycling, cleaning and maintenance. 970-243-0091

For more information on all of the Catholic Outreach volunteer opportunities, visit their website.

Habitat for Humanity is looking for volunteers to help with construction and at their retail store.

Home Construction involves helping to build safe, decent, affordable homes for families in the community. For information, please contact Habitat for Humanity at 970-263-0858 ext.102.
ReStore is a retail store operated by Habitat for Humanity and is looking for volunteers to help with data entry, answering phones, filing, stocking shelves, rearranging stock, and other tasks. For more information, please contact Volunteer Coordinator at 970-263-0858 ext.102.

Hilltop is a community organization looking for volunteers to help by working with children, youth, families, adults, and seniors in a variety of capacities. For more information, please contact Sharyl Click at 970-244-0659 or [email protected]. You can also visit their website for more information.

HopeWest has a variety of volunteer opportunities to match your interests. Ranging from Heirlooms for Hospice upscale resale shop, special events, music volunteers and more. To see our full list of volunteer opportunities or learn more about how you can visit their website for more information at HopeWestCO.org/volunteer.

Housing Resources of Western Colorado offers volunteer opportunities in our Grand Junction office and in the field on our Self Help Homeownership building sites. There are opportunities for individuals and groups to volunteer as well as one-time or ongoing opportunities. For more information, email [email protected]

League of Women Voters-Mesa County (LWV) is looking for student volunteers, both men and women, to help develop our organization's social media presence and help educate the community about public policy issues. The League studies issues and develops positions on them, but doesn't support or oppose candidates, factions, or political parties. For more information, please contact the League at 970-812-3241 or [email protected].

Life Unbound Ministries is an organization that is dedicated to improving the lives of people with autoimmune and chronic illness. We partner with practitioners and professionals who serve to educate on the pros and cons of such treatments and give free or low-cost introductory sessions for our participants to sample before investing. We provide opportunities to learn about the benefits of diet and wellness practices, sample classes and recipes, and offer social and emotional support to those who want to make lifestyle changes. We educate the general public about the prevalence and consequences of these disorders and break long-held stigmas associated with them. However, we need more manpower to increase our reach and effectiveness.

If you would like more information about our organization, please visit our website at www.life-unbound.org. Please feel free to contact me at [email protected] or by phone at (970) 279-7944. We do not receive texts at this number but you may text or call my personal cell phone at (970) 433-9166 as well.

Mesa County Animal Shelter is looking for volunteers to help out in a variety of positions including Kennel Tech Assistant, pet grooming, clerical work, lost and found, special events, and foster care. For more information please call the Mesa County Animal Shelter at 970-255-5005 or visit their website.

Mesa County Libraries is looking for volunteers to help with children's' programming, bookstore clerks, book shelvers, English language tutors, and many more. For more information, please contact them at 970-683-2432 or [email protected] or their website.

We are deeply concerned for the mental health of teens in Mesa County. Teens in our area have long struggled with mental health, and the impacts of COVID-19 have only made it worse. It is our hope that by introducing and strengthening protective factors, we can make a difference in teen's lives.

To that end, Mesa County Libraries invites you to volunteer with us on Saturday, May 6 as we strive to create a fun, safe, inclusive event that invites teens (ages 12-18) to:

Connect with other teens
Discover free or low cost community resources
Learn about and use healthy coping skills
Express themselves creatively

Volunteers will be assisting Mesa County Libraries by checking in teens and providing them with their resource passport. Once they have the passport stamped, they bring it back to the booth to receive a food voucher. They will also be assisting at the inflatable jousting and craft booths. There are two shifts available: 11-1:30 or 1:30-4. The early shift can expect to help with set up, the later shift can expect to help with clean up.

To sign up email Kim Smith at [email protected].

Mesa County Partners is looking for volunteers to help with mentoring. For more information about their organization and their mentoring opportunities, please contact them at 970-245-5555 or visit their website.

Mesa County Sheriff's Office is looking for help from volunteers for their Victim Assistance Program, which involves being available to provide support, information, resources and advocacy for victims during ongoing investigations. You would serve on a rotating on-call schedule. To learn more about the Mesa County Sheriff's Office and their volunteer opportunities, please call them at 970-244-3277 or visit their website.

Mosaic has a wide-variety of volunteer opportunities that can be designed around the volunteer's interests and skill-set. A few examples of opportunities available are working with the Day Program, being a Peer Companion, or being a Job Coach. For more information, please contact Kelly Britton at 970.245.0519, x40016 or email at [email protected].

Real life. Real possibilities.

Museums of Western Colorado offers a variety of volunteering opportunities at three unique museum sites. Whether it’s the paleo lab at Dinosaur Journey, the gardens and historic buildings at Cross Orchards, or the research library at the Museum of the West, there are plenty of opportunities to engage in the history and culture of our community. For more information, please visit their website.

Riverside Education Center (REC) knows that you care about our community’s youth, but may not know how to get involved to show your support. REC provides structured after-school tutoring and enrichment activities for K-12th grade students. For more info visit their flyer here or contact Megan Eckhart at [email protected]

Roice-Hurst Humane Society is always looking for volunteers to help with dog walking, dog and cat grooming, socialization, transporting, event help, fundraising, greeting visitors, answering phones, and other office help. For more information, please contact our Events & Volunteer Coordinator, Laura, at 970-434-7337 ext 102. [email protected]. The new website is rhhumanesociety.org

Roundup River Ranch offers old-fashioned, pure fun camp experiences for children with serious illnesses and their families. Here, children are not defined by their illness. At our beautiful Colorado ranch and through year-round activities, we offer our campers and families the chance to enjoy the most extraordinarily ordinary joys of childhood. For more information, please visit their website

Salvation Army is looking for volunteers to help with the operation of their organization. For more information, please visit their website or contact Sybil Marsh at 970-242-7513

Special Olympics Colorado offers more than 400 events throughout the year in four different regions. There are always plenty of ways to get involved and make a difference. Whether you are looking to help out at a single event or you are seeking a more long-term commitment, such as a coach or unified partner, we would be thrilled to have you join the Special Olympics Colorado family.

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS FOR OUR UPCOMING EVENTS!

Get a Free Shirt
Have a ton of Fun
Support your community
Make a difference

To sign up and for more date information follow this link. For questions email Michelle Pewters at [email protected]

St. Mary's Hospital is always looking for volunteers to help in a variety of capacities including: call in help, clerical, customer service, fall prevention, greeter, hospitality house, lobby musician, support services, nursing units, and many others. For more information, please contact them at 970-298-2012 or visit their website.

STRIVE (Mesa Developmental Services) is looking for volunteers to help with group home visits, peer companions, teaching hobbies, sharing talents, working in their retail store, clerical work, and helping with Special Olympics. For more information, please contact Michael at 970-256-8612.

The HOUSE is a local shelter for homeless teenagers and is always looking for volunteers to help homeless teens build relationships, connect with community resources, help with homework and work help. For more information, please contact Holly Reimer at 970-812-3143 or visit their website.

United Way of Mesa County is looking for volunteers to hold positions on their allocation panel, campaign team, and planning committee. For more information, call them at 970-243-5364 or visit their website.

VA Medical Center needs help from volunteers in a variety of areas. For more information, please contact them at 970-244-1336 or visit their website.

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society is reaching out to your group in need of volunteers for our Walk MS: Grand Junction event on Saturday, May 6^th at Canyon View Park- 730 24 Rd. Grand Junction. We are expecting nearly 200 participants to attend and to ensure a successful event, we are looking for volunteers to help with various activities.

We are offering the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of people affected by multiple sclerosis, while also receiving a "stylish" blue t-shirt, water, snacks, friendship, and good times helping with a great cause. Plus, your group will be recognized in our live program as a valued partner in the fight against MS.

Shifts Include:

May 6, 2023: Saturday First Shift Volunteers (6:00am-10:00am)

Greet Participants, talk to folks at the tables & hand out shirts
Help at the food/beverage tent
Act as a Host at the Top Fundraiser Tent or Teams Tent
Cheer the riders on as a member of our Spirit Team

May 6, 2023: Saturday Second Shift Volunteers (10:00am-2:00pm)

Work closely with National MS Staff while loading our supply truck
Tear down barricades
Break down EZ tents, tables, and chairs
Pull down banners and clear signs and decorations
And so much more!

If you have any questions or wish to sign up your group, please email me at [email protected].

Your time is valuable, and we appreciate any help you can provide. Join us in making a difference this Saturday and let's Walk MS: Grand Junction together!