By Sue Fegelein, Executive Director of LiftUp of Routt County
Do you want to feel a deeper connection with our amazing community? Volunteering is a meaningful way to make friends, serve neighbors, learn new skills, prevent isolation, and even reduce depression. There are hundreds of local opportunities for volunteerism. If you want to spend some time helping neighbors in need, consider volunteering with LiftUp of Routt County. LiftUp is the go-to basic needs nonprofit in Routt County. Respecting the dignity of every person, LiftUp serves our community by providing resources and assistance to meet basic human needs and strengthen self-sufficiency. Volunteers have been critical to LiftUp since it’s founding 29 years ago. Volunteers helped LiftUp serve one in seven Routt County residents in 2024 through its two Food Banks, Emergency Financial Support programs, Hope for the Future Scholarships and Thrift Store vouchers. Over five hundred amazing volunteers served our community through LiftUp in 2024 by: transporting Grocery Rescue foods from stores and restaurants, assembling Rocket Pack healthy snacks for over 700 hungry local children, serving thousands Food Bank clients, sorting clothes in the Donation Center, merchandising affordable Thrift Store shopping items, serving on the Board and Committees, and more.
Locals of all ages choose to volunteer at LiftUp for a variety of reasons. Jackie Thornberry has volunteered for seven years in multiple LiftUp departments because, “I enjoy meeting and working with the people in our community who make a difference, and I also treasure my interactions with the wonderful people who receive the many benefits of the love and empathy LiftUp represents.” LiftUp holds monthly fresh produce “ProDo” drives at City Market, spearheaded by volunteer Bridget Ferguson in 2018. Bridget and her husband Paul continue to facilitate these drives, often with other groups and businesses assisting. Bridget is passionate about ProDo drives because they, “give us an opportunity to contribute to those who are food insecure in Routt County with the added benefit of being able to interact with the generous people at City Market in Steamboat Springs.” LiftUp has a dedicated group of volunteers affectionately known as the FOBS (Friends of Bob), named for former LiftUp Board President and fourteen-year volunteer Bob Schuellein. Bob chose LiftUp because, “I feel it is important to help our fellow citizen who may need some assistance. LiftUp has a great reputation in our community for helping those in need, and it is a great time to get together with my friends to serve and be social.” For years, the FOBS have been unloading food trucks and loading the Donation Center pass-on truck, which carries unusable donated items to nonprofit New Horizons in Cañon City. The FOBS hope that new volunteers can replace them at LiftUp in the near future.
The need for assistance has grown along with the cost of living in Routt County. LiftUp must expand to meet the increased need, and volunteers are key to sustainable growth. Individuals, parents with children, couples, and groups are all welcome to volunteer at LiftUp. Volunteering with coworkers, a sports team or even a book club can be a great team-building experience. LiftUp provides flexible volunteer opportunities every day of the week except Sundays. You can even catch some music by volunteering to collect food donations at Snow Bowl’s summer concerts on Wednesday nights!
Volunteering is a fantastic way strengthen your connection with our community. Apply to join LiftUp’s volunteer team by contacting Volunteer Coordinator Mackenzie Dotson at volunteer@liftup.org, or visit https://liftuprc.org/ways-to-give/volunteer/. Help make a difference in Routt County, and maybe in yourself, through volunteering.
