Special Volunteers Making a Difference for Special Nonprofit
April 18, 2017: April is National Volunteer Month and our community is reaching out generously giving their time and resources. Through volunteering, people can take positive action to make a difference to a cause they care about.
Special Kids Special Families (SKSF), a local nonprofit providing programming for children and adults with disabilities, was fortunate to have dedicated volunteer groups working hard this month to make a difference at their programs. Griffis/Blessing employees participated in their annual “Volunteer Day” choosing to spend their time at SKSF in lieu of their normal daily activities. This group of generous volunteers assisted at the SKSF Adult Services facility, cleaning buses, working in the gardens and organizing the kitchen and common areas. “Volunteering has always been a part of Griffis/Blessing tradition. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to support local organizations in the communities we are involved in,” says William J. “B.J.” Hybl Jr., Griffis/Blessing President and COO.
Another group of 20 middle and high school age children from Vista Grande Baptist Church volunteered their time during their spring break at Zach’s Place center, a program of SKSF providing respite and childcare for children with disabilities. They spent hours with the kids at Zach’s Place playing games and assisting with craft projects. Michael Lusk, Youth Pastor who headed the group said, “I want to show my youth group how important it is to volunteer in the community and we chose Zach’s Place because of the good work they do in our area.”
“We can’t place a value on the generous time people have given us. When groups and individuals help us out, as a nonprofit, we save thousands of dollars every year, so giving time to lend a hand saves us money,” says Linda Ellegard, SKSF Executive Director. “We can’t thank our volunteers enough – they are the heart of our organization.” In 2016, SKSF had 500+ volunteers assisting their programs and events giving over 5,000 hours of time. According to the independent sector, the average volunteer is worth $23/hour. Using this estimate, SKSF has saved the work value of over $115,000 in 2016 alone!
Consider volunteering. When we share our time and talents we help improve lives, connect to others and transform our own lives. SKSF offers several opportunities ranging from participating on their board or fundraising committee to assisting with office/clerical work, yard work, building maintenance, transportation assistance and cleaning. Individuals or corporate, church, school or military groups who are interested in volunteering can contact SKSF at sksf@sksfcolorado.org, visit www.SKSFcolorado.org or visit the SKSF Volunteer Network Facebook page: www.facebook.com/SKSFVolunteerNetwork.
