Most Durango nonprofits run on volunteers, and each has its own front door. Some want a packet. Some want a fee. One is not taking applications right now. This page lists the main options and the requirements each group posts. Pick the one that fits your schedule before you fill out a form.
Which Durango volunteer jobs are the easiest to start?
| Group | What you would do | How to start |
|---|---|---|
| Durango Food Bank | Sort and hand out food | Email a packet |
| Manna | Cook, sort, stock shelves | Call or email |
| Humane Society | Shelter help, foster care, thrift store | Application and orientation |
| Durango Trails | Build and fix trails | Register online |
| Turtle Lake Refuge | Pack microgreens, prep the cafe | Call or drop by |
Phone numbers and rules for each group follow.
What do the food bank and Manna ask of volunteers?
The Durango Food Bank holds distribution on Tuesdays in two shifts, 9 a.m. to noon and 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. It asks volunteers to commit to a full four-hour shift and encourages two shifts a month. Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. are non-distribution days for projects like restocking shelves and assembling boxes of dry goods (Durango Food Bank). New volunteers fill out the packet. Then they shadow on a training day. The food bank phone is 970-375-2672, and the packet goes to info@durangofoodbank.org. Court-ordered and SNAP work-requirement volunteers do not use the packet. They must call ahead and bring their paperwork, because drop-ins are not guaranteed a spot.
Manna says its volunteers sort donations, cook meals, stock shelves and pick up food. The minimum age to volunteer independently is 13, and individuals and groups are welcome (Manna). For community service hours, contact the Community Kitchen Manager at 970-385-5095 ext. 105. Both groups also have pages in our directory: Durango Food Bank and Manna.
Can you volunteer with animals?
Yes. The La Plata County Humane Society lists shelter help, foster care and a thrift store. Volunteers must complete an application, attend a mandatory orientation and pay a $25 application fee at orientation. Volunteers must be 18 or older. Minors at least 8 years old can help with a parent or guardian present (La Plata County Humane Society). The volunteer coordinator is Liza Brown. Her number is 970-259-2847 ext. 120. For the shelter's address and hours, see our answer on the humane society.
Can you volunteer outdoors?
Durango Trails, the local trail nonprofit, runs trail work days where volunteers join trained crew leaders. Registration is required, and the group provides tools, instruction, a safety talk, water and snacks. It asks you to wear closed-toe shoes or boots and long pants, and to leave dogs at home. It also recruits Trail Ambassadors. They stand at busy trailheads for shifts of about five hours, and you pick the location, date and time (Durango Trails). Our directory lists Durango Trails too. The City of Durango Parks and Recreation Department runs its own volunteer program with an application and a rewards program. Call 970-375-7321 and staff will match you to an opening (City of Durango).
What government volunteer jobs exist?
La Plata County lists four: the Senior Center, boards and commissions, 4-H, and Adopt a County Road. The Senior Center needs help delivering Meals on Wheels, answering the phone and serving lunch. The county appoints volunteers to more than 30 boards and commissions with over 200 residents. The county has over 600 miles of road. It asks volunteers to adopt two miles or more and pick up litter at least twice a year. The adopter's name goes on the signs (La Plata County). The Durango Public Library welcomes volunteers in principle. The city's page says it is not accepting applications right now, so check back (City of Durango).
Curious about the senior side? Our answer on the Durango Senior Center explains the programs your help would support. New to town? Start with the moving guide.