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Volunteer

Volunteer at the Farm
Volunteer in Your Community
Walk for Farm Animals Volunteer

Volunteer at the Farm

Like the idea of spending time in the country, gathering with like-minded people for a worthy cause, and hanging out with lovable critters all in the same day? Why not have your veggies and eat them too by signing up for a Volunteer Work Party at Farm Sanctuary's New York or California Shelters.

Work Party Goals
The Farm Sanctuary Volunteer Work Party provides compassionate folks with a fun, positive opportunity to meet new friends, pitch in with chores and projects, spend time with rescued farm animals, and learn more about our sanctuaries and efforts to protect animals from abuse.

Work Party Chores
Work party chores and projects are determined according to our greatest and most timely needs. All work party days are devoted to activities that help us operate our sanctuaries, contribute to the success of our education and visitor programs, and further our campaign and fundraising efforts on behalf of farm animals. Farm chores and projects may include activities such as shelter maintenance and beautification (i.e., cleaning, raking, painting, or gardening) or administrative activities like stuffing envelopes. Work party chores are not glamorous and may be physically demanding and/or repetitious; however, every task assists us with carrying out our daily mission of rescuing, protecting and caring for farm animals in need.

Work Party Logistics

Watkins Glen, NY

• The Watkins Glen work parties are hosted on the second Saturday of each month, April through November.
• Due to hazardous and unpredictable weather, volunteer work parties will not take place in December, January, February, and March.
• Work parties begin at 9 a.m. with a mandatory volunteer orientation, and end at 4 p.m.
• All volunteers receive a complimentary tour of Farm Sanctuary during their visit.
• Volunteers are encouraged to bring a vegan dish to share for a work party potluck lunch. This is a great time to get to know other compassionate individuals. If you have any questions about vegan food, please let us know and we would be happy to help.
• Due to the nature of shelter work, we may not be able to accommodate groups of 6 or more. Large groups will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Orland, CA

• The Orland work parties are hosted on the second Saturday of each month, year round.
• Due to hot weather, volunteer work parties may not take place in July and August. Please check back in June for more information.  
• Work parties begin at 9 a.m. with a mandatory volunteer orientation, and end at 4 p.m.
• All volunteers receive a complimentary tour of Farm Sanctuary during their visit.
• Volunteers are encouraged to bring a vegan dish to share for a work party potluck lunch. This is a great time to get to know other compassionate individuals. If you have any questions about vegan food, please let us know and we would be happy to help.
• Due to the nature of shelter work, we may not be able to accommodate groups of 6 or more. Large groups will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Acton, CA

• The Acton work parties are hosted on the second Saturday of each month, year round.
• Work parties begin at 10 a.m. with a mandatory volunteer orientation, and end at 3 p.m.
• All volunteers receive a complimentary tour of Farm Sanctuary during their visit.
• Volunteers are encouraged to bring a vegan dish to share for a work party potluck lunch. This is a great time to get to know other compassionate individuals. If you have any questions about vegan food, please let us know and we would be happy to help.
• Due to the nature of shelter work, we may not be able to accommodate groups of 6 or more. Large groups will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Underage Volunteers
For important safety reasons, young adults (ages 12 to 17) must be accompanied by a parent or guardian in order to work inside any animal housing barns.

Children under 12 are not allowed to volunteer on the farm.

Work Party Sign-up
If you are interested in participating in a Volunteer Work Party, please help us learn more about you and any special skills you would like to share by filling out a volunteer application. After we receive your application, one of Farm Sanctuary's volunteer coordinators will contact you directly about signing up for an upcoming work party.

If you would like additional information about our Volunteer Work Party opportunities, please email intern@farmsanctuary.org or call 607-583-2225 ext. 274.

Volunteer in Your Community

Can't make it to one of our shelters? Then bring the sanctuary to your town by volunteering with Farm Sanctuary's Compassionate Communities Campaign! If you care about farmed animals, one of the most effective things you can do to help them is by educating people in your community about the reasons for and ways to move towards a vegan diet. Every person who goes vegan or vegetarian will spare over fifty animals a year from a lifetime of daily misery. By persuading others to eat with compassion, you will save the lives of hundreds or thousands of farm animals every year! To visit the Compassionate Communities website and begin making your community a more compassionate one, please click here. 

Join the Walk for Farm Animals!
Want to do more for farm animals? This is your chance to participate in Farm Sanctuary’s life-saving work! We are looking for volunteer coordinators in select cities for the 2012 Walk for Farm Animals. Volunteer coordinators are the heart of the Walk for Farm Animals, and theymanage their city’s event at the local level. Interested in joining our team? To learn more about becoming a volunteer coordinator, please click here.