Animal Friends celebrates new volunteer program

Animal Friends welcomed College of Engineering representatives at a celebration to kick off their new partnership. Faculty and staff are invited and encouraged to volunteer with Animal Friends or a second partner organization, the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, as part of the new volunteer program in the college that will benefit both two-legged and four-legged friends in our community.

Dean Bill Sanders, who spoke at the event, said, “I am particularly pleased that the new community we are about to engage with will also include the many pet dogs, cats, and rabbits that Animal Friends cares for …  and that we all care about.”

“Volunteers are the life blood of our organization. We couldn’t operate without them,” said Sarah McKean, the board chair at Animal Friends, who is pleased to be a part of Carnegie Mellon’s College of Engineering volunteer program.

In 2023, volunteers donated nearly 350,000 hours of volunteer service to Animal Friends, which equates to roughly 166 full-time staff members.

McKean explained that the new partnership with the College of Engineering is somewhat unique. While there are numerous organizations whose employees will participate one time in an annual Day of Service type event, the program with Carnegie Mellon is set up to be more ongoing and flexible.

Samuel Boyer, senior director of organizational development, has been working with both organizations to create the new volunteer opportunities and told the audience, “If my initial meetings are any indication of future success, we are all in for a truly enthusiastic and productive journey together.”

Faculty and staff who wish to volunteer with Animal Friends have several options.

They can volunteer as animal handlers at the 75-acre campus in Ohio Township. Learn more about this volunteering opportunity.

Individuals or groups can also organize a day of service, coordinate a pet food drive, or plan an event to make toys or puzzles for the pets. For more information about planning group events, contact Kristyn Miller, manager of volunteer and administrative services, by emailing her at KMiller@ThinkingOutsideTheCage.org or by calling 412.847.7040.

In addition to adoption, affordable care, and the pet training and therapy services they offer, Animal Friends also operates a Chow Wagon Pet Food Bank, which provides free pet food to those in need in an effort to promote pet retention and reduce surrenders. They partner with dozens of area food banks, including the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, which is also a new partner with the College of Engineering volunteer program.

Faculty and staff who wish to volunteer for the foodbank also have several options, which include working a morning or afternoon weekday shift at the Volunteer Engagement Center in their Duquesne location sorting and packing food that will be distributed to community members. Another option is to work on site at The Market, a grocery-store-style experience, where volunteers stock shelves or assist shoppers. Volunteers can also sign up to work at one of the drive-up or walk-in direct distribution centers.

To volunteer individually or organize a group with the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, sign up online.

Pictured, top: Animal Friends volunteer Teresa Hasak with Maggie, an Animal Friends therapet—a companion animal who has been specially trained to provide comfort to someone other than their owner.