Be the change you wish to see

Donating money is wonderful, but engaging with a cause by giving your time and energy is likely to have an even greater impact – to that cause, and to you. It’s completely guaranteed that by volunteering you’ll be making the world a better place, and besides the obvious gratification of bringing about positive change for others, you’ll reap the benefits of connecting with others, which is proven to ward off depression and lower your blood pressure, and will generally make life more satisfying.  You’ll learn new skills, meet friends, feel part of something larger than yourself, discover a purpose, and become educated about your community

No experience is necessary; there’s a position for you. Here are a few organizations just a short distance from you – each one will be thrilled when you show up, pitch in, offer ideas, reach out your hand, and make it known you care.   

NIWOT NEEDS YOU

Jazz on 2nd Avenue A weekend event filled with local and international talent. Ticket sales raise money for the Colorado Jazz Group, a non-profit that provides jazz education to youth across the Front Range. How to get involved: Volunteer at the event taking tickets, giving information, and making sure things go smoothly in a variety of ways.Contact: http://www.JazzOn2ndAve.com

Left Hand Grange This community landmark is the oldest active grange in Colorado and preserves the agricultural heritage of Niwot and the surrounding area. It remains an important local gathering place for events, meetings, and celebrations for citizens of all ages. How to get involved: Become a member, offer to join the board of directors, help with maintenance of the building, and assist with events. Contact: [email protected], and for more information, visit http://www.LeftHandGrange.org. 

Niwot Business Association (NBA) A group of local business people and community members supporting the commercial and economic well-being of businesses and encouraging the preservation of the Niwot Historic District. How to get involved: If you’re part of a Niwot-area business, become a member and sign up to help with the organization’s efforts. If you want to lend a hand for the many events the NBA organizes, such as Enchanted Evening or the Holiday Parade, you can pitch in. Contact: http://www.Niwot.com/discover/associations/niwot-business-association

Niwot Cemetery Association Over 130 years old, the Niwot Cemetery is an historical resting place for many Niwotians. While all of the plots are sold, some of the grave sites are not yet filled. Along with maintaining the heritage of the cemetery, there are still some administrative tasks to tend to. How to get involved: Join the board and/or assist with maintenance and paying respect to veterans buried in the cemetery. Contact: Call JoAnn Bell at 303-772-5454 or Nancy Hindman at 303-530-7521.

Niwot Community Association (NCA) Niwot’s advocate organization, keeping Niwotians informed on issues that impact them on a local level both in town and within Boulder County, interfacing with government agencies and providing a forum for discussion. Among other special events, each year the association sponsors and organizes Clean-up Day, the July 4th Parade, and National Night Out. How to get involved:  Become a member, attend monthly meetings (the first Wednesday of each month at Mountain View Firehouse 8500 Niwot, Road), become an elected board member. This year’s elections will be held on Wednesday, April 3. Contact: For information on the positions up for election, write to [email protected] and visit http://www.Niwot.org

Niwot Cultural Arts Association (NCAA) Providing support and funding for cultural arts of all forms throughout town. Supports Niwot Children’s’ Park, Whistle Stop Park, Niwot Sculpture Park, Native American Tree Carvings, and Left Hand Chairs throughout town. Along with other special events, organizes and sponsors First Friday Art Walks, Let’s Wine About Winter, Why Not Niwot Juried Art Show, and Rock and Rails. How to get involved: Volunteer to help with projects and events. Contact: http://www.Niwot.com/discover/associations/niwot-cultural-arts-association or call 303-652-2433.

Niwot High School Education Foundation (NHSEF) Helping to bring specific NHS projects and events to fruition and awarding grants to teachers and scholarships to students. How to get involved: Volunteer at events, become a board member. Contact: http://www.NHSEFf.org

Niwot Historical Society (NHS) Committed to preserving, collecting and promoting the history of Niwot, the area, and Chief Niwot, including offering tours of the historic district and the Niwot Firehouse Museum, collecting photographs and artifacts, participating in celebrations, and hosting historical lectures. How to get involved: Become a member, join the board of directors and/or a committee, and attend lectures. Contact: http://www.NiwotHistoricalSociety.org

Niwot Youth Sports (NYS) Offering opportunities for kids age 4 to 18 to participate in baseball, softball, basketball, and flag football in the Niwot, Gunbarrel, and South Longmont areas on a year-round basis to encourage teamwork, improve skills, and build self-confidence. How to get involved: Volunteer to be a coach, maintenance person, team parent, helper, member of the board or a league commissioner. Contact: www.NiwotYouthSports.org

PeopleWeaver Local volunteers providing educational and economic assistance to impoverished Congolese girls and women in the Kyangwali Refugee Settlement in Uganda and in the Democratic Republic of Congo with the intent of helping them escape extreme poverty and live fulfilling lives. PW is focused on providing education and assistance with food, reading glasses, malaria nets, medicine, communication tools, water pumps, and cooperative grain mills. How to get involved: Website writer, promotional materials writer, grant writer, and fundraising. Contact: www.peopleweaver.org or Jeanne at 303-870-7125.

Rock and Rails Co-operated by the NBA and the NCAA, Rock and Rails hosts a free weekly concert for the community each Thursday from June through August at Whistle Stop Park. How to get involved: Be a greeter, help with set up or break down, work in the beer-wine tent. Contact: email [email protected] to volunteer and for more information, visitwww.Niwot.com/events/rock-rails

Rotary Club of Niwot Making a difference in the community through service projects and by raising money for local charities. In addition to the many ways in which the group provides service to others, they organize several well-loved annual events such as the Peach sale and the Wine, Cheese and Chocolate fundraiser. How to get involved: Become a member, help with service projects, and attend a fundraiser. Contact: www.NiwotRotary.org  

NEARBY ORGANIZATIONS NEED YOU

BeadforLife Connecting Americans with women living in deep poverty in Uganda through the sale of recycled paper bead jewelry. The beads provide income to the women who create the jewelry, and profits contribute to entrepreneurial training so women can launch micro-businesses and transform their lives. How to get involved: Become a community partner, volunteer, host a party or bring beads to a festival or event. Contact: www.BeadForLife.org

Cultivate (Formerly Boulder County Care Connect) Helping seniors and veterans and their families with various tasks such as grocery shopping, transportation to medical appointments, home repairs, yard maintenance, and snow shoveling. How to get involved: Volunteer in a number of capacities. Contact: www.cultivate.ngo

Habitat for Humanity & ReStore  Providing affordable housing and maintenance for low-income families in Longmont, Lyons, Estes Park and Dacono by building and funding construction for qualified participants. How to get involved: Help on-site with construction, fundraise for the organization, offer administrative assistance, or work at ReStore accepting donations, helping shoppers, and organizing the inventory. Contact: www.stvrainhabitat.org orwww.stvrainhabitat.org/restore 

HOPE for Longmont  A resource for the homeless population providing outreach, meals, shelter, clothing, and basic needs. How to get involved:  A variety of volunteer positions including bringing help to homeless on the streets, cooking meals for nightly dinners, working at nighttime shelters, sort and organize donations, working at fundraising events. Contact: www.hopeforlongmont.org

Lefthand Watershed Oversight Group (LWOG) Monitoring and protecting the water sources and quality of the water that reaches over 20,000 water users in the watershed. How to get involved: Volunteer to monitor water quality and for projects that lead to restoration and protection of the watershed. Contact: www.LWOG.org  

Longmont Humane Society Caring for the needs of homeless animals and helping to place them in good homes. How to get involved: Feeding, walking, washing, and loving on the animals, fundraising, administrative assistance and more. Contact: www.LongmontHumaneSociety.org

Meals on Wheels (MOW) Supplying healthy hot meals and checking on elderly and disabled people in Longmont and Niwot, or in Gunbarrel and Boulder. How to get involved: Volunteer to cook or deliver meals, join the board of directors. Contact: www.LongmontMeals.org or www.mowboulder.org   

OUR Center For members of our community who need resources for housing, employment, meeting food and clothing needs, health care, legal needs, learning life skills, and a variety of support to become self-sufficient. How to get involved: A variety of volunteer positions in the kitchen, market, clothing closet, picking up donations, and more. Contact: www.OurCenter.org

Schools Every school needs volunteers. Call one near you to see where your skills and energy can best be put to use. 

Voices for Children (CASA – Court Appointed Special Advocates) Providing trained Court Appointed Special Advocate volunteers to work on behalf of abused and neglected children in Boulder County. Helping children to get and stay on-course with education and basic needs and giving children the benefit of a consistent positive adult in their lives. How to get involved: Become an advocate. Contact: www.vfccasa.org

Wildlands Restoration Volunteers (WRV) Working on wildland conservation projects throughout Colorado and the northern Front Range, eliminating invasive plant species and improving wildlands through spreading seeds, planting trees, and trail maintenance. How to get involved: Volunteer on a particular project or long-term, become a leader or do community outreach to inform others about wildlands and volunteering. Contact: www.wlrv.org