FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 20, 2020
Animal Friends Alliance recognizes National Volunteer Week
Over 1,000 active volunteers help Animal Friends Alliance provide
essential services for animals and the community
FORT COLLINS, Colo. (April 20, 2020) – Animal Friends Alliance recognizes National Volunteer Week this April 19 through 25. Though Animal Friends Alliance is currently operating with limited hours and by appointment only, it celebrates the contributions of its volunteers this week and throughout the year. Over the last 12 months, volunteers have contributed over 92,000 hours of service to Animal Friends Alliance and are integral to the organization’s role in the community.
Animal Friends Alliance was formed in 2020 through the merger of Animal House Rescue & Grooming and Fort Collins Cat Rescue & Spay Neuter Clinic. The organization now includes 1,016 active volunteers, including animal care, community engagement, foster homes, and other volunteer roles. During normal operation, volunteers contribute between 150 and 200 hours of service per day. This vital contribution allowed Animal Friends Alliance to care for 3,418 shelter cats and dogs in 2019. Volunteers also support community programs like the Kibble Supply Pet Food Pantry, which distributed almost 49,000 pounds of dry pet food in 2019. Additionally, volunteers are essential to fundraising and enabled Animal Friends Alliance to collect over $61,000 in in-kind donations through community supply drives last year.
“Every one of our programs and services benefit from the incredible dedication of our volunteers,” said Sarah Swanty, co-founder and executive director of Animal Friends Alliance. “Our volunteers have helped us get to where we are today, and are more important than ever.” During the COVID-19 crisis, Animal Friends Alliance volunteers have been unable to donate their time on-site, but continue to provide support for the organization from afar by making masks for staff, donating supplies, hosting fundraisers, and fostering animals in their homes. Currently 238 animals are in foster homes through Animal Friends Alliance. “We could not be more grateful to our volunteers for stepping up in our hour of need,” added Swanty. “Our volunteers enable us to pursue our mission through good times and bad. We’re grateful to them every day and we’re happy to recognize their awesome efforts during National Volunteer Week.”
VOLUNTEERING WITH ANIMAL FRIENDS ALLIANCE
If you’re interested in volunteering with Animal Friends Alliance, visit SavingAnimalsToday.org/volunteer. Due to the state stay-at-home order, Animal Friends Alliance has halted on-site volunteering, but will resume in-person orientations when it is deemed safe to do so. In the meantime, distance volunteering opportunities are listed on the website. If you have questions about volunteering, please email volunteer@savinganimalstoday.org.