Volunteer Information
Without our volunteers, Greenhill could not provide its current high level of service to the animals and people of our community!
Current Volunteers
Ready to Volunteer?
Volunteer Member Team Values
- Compassion and responsibility for all animals
- Consistency and reliability to help us care for our animals
- Commitment to reducing animal overpopulation
To see a list of our volunteer team positions, click here!
The Youth Volunteer Program provides 12 – 15 year olds a long-term volunteer opportunity at Greenhill Humane Society. While at the shelter youth volunteers must be under the supervision of a parent or guardian over the age of 18 at all times, no exceptions.
Children can be great supporters of the animals and the work we do at Greenhill Humane Society. Because of staffing concerns and safety issues, we are unable to offer volunteer positions to people under 12 years of age; but there are many ways to help without actually being at the center. Please see our Cubs Corner page to see other ways to help.
Volunteer Requirements:
• Supervision of a parent or guardian who is willing to participate in the activity of choice
• Able to commit to volunteering for two hours a week for six months
To learn more about available volunteer positions, please click here.
If you would like more information about volunteering with Greenhill, please call 541.844.8824 or email volunteer@green-hill.org.
If you are 12 years old or under please consider some of the ways you can help and/or make a contribution:
We understand that many young people would love nothing more than to visit with our animals all day and perform a community service for the shelter. However, safety guidelines prohibit children under the age of 16 from volunteering on their own at Greenhill without direct adult supervision. Children ages 12 through 15 must volunteer with a parent or guardian. Volunteers 16 and older can volunteer on their own.
Here are some other ways you can help:
- Participate in our on-site Read to Cats program! Children ages 6-12 years are welcome to sign up to read to the cats in our cattery. Click here!
- Make colorful bandanas for dogs and drop them off at the shelter.
- Make dog and cat toys and drop them off at the shelter. (Felt -not knitted- toys are preferred for kitties; please see our wish list to learn about needed dog items).
- Fundraise for the animals by hosting a lemonade stand, yard sale, or bake sale in your neighborhood!
- Collect bottles or cans that have a CRV and donate through BottleDrop or pick up a blue fundraising bag from us at Greenhill.
- Raise funds at school: get creative and think of fun or unique things/items to sell to raise money for the shelter.
- Organize a food or supply drive. Greenhill can provide you with a “Buddy Barrel” to collect items or pet food. You and your classmates can decorate the barrel however you like.
- Birthday parties: Ask friends/family to bring presents, gift cards, or donate money in your name for the animals. You can bring items to the shelter and give them to the animals yourself!
We are happy to help you by providing brochures, a Greenhill banner, or any other materials you request to help your fundraiser or project. We can also provide you and/or your family or friends with a personalized tour of the shelter and the kennel, cattery and small animal room. Please contact our Community Outreach Department by calling (541) 689-1503 ext 134 if you have questions regarding fund raising and food/supply drives. Items you make or collect can be brought to the shelter during open hours.
Locations and Hours of Operation
Become a Foster Family!
Sometimes we receive animals that are too young or too sick to be adopted. Your family can foster these animals in your home where they can get well and grow. You return them to the shelter after a specified time of care (depending on the animal’s needs) and then we find a loving home for them! Learn more here.
Ready to Volunteer?
Please read this list of volunteer requirements before applying.
Pay for your volunteer registration fee using the link below. Be sure to select the package that fits the type of volunteering you will be doing! Pay Volunteer Registration Fee
After payment is processed you will receive an email to initiate your background check or with next steps (for those under 18).
Volunteer Spotlight
July 2022
Charles B.
Meet Charles, our Volunteer of the Month for July! Charles started volunteering in March 2022 as a Cattery Aide and has already contributed over 60 hours of service to Greenhill. The Cattery staff commented, “He’s always such a pleasure to have in the cattery. He’s always willing to stay to get dishes and pans done if we don’t have additional volunteers, he is also willing to help out in central laundry, and he’s super sweet. It’s really fun to have conversations with him and he asks a lot of questions about the cats we have, and cats in general, just trying to learn more. Overall, he’s a great guy, we’re glad he’s a cattery volunteer.” Charles hasn’t volunteered anywhere else but has always lent a helping hand to neighbors, friends, and even strangers.
Charles’s favorite aspects of volunteering are, “how friendly and grateful everyone is to me and the other volunteers who help out at Greenhill. I really like the interaction with staff and other volunteers. I always feel like they are positive, and everyone is very encouraging. Even though it’s not the most glamorous job, I like volunteering as a Cattery Aide because I find the work satisfying and I appreciate how thankful everyone is when I come in to help.”
From volunteering at Greenhill Charles has learned, “how fast kittens get adopted. I used to think they would be at Greenhill for a little while but now I know that most get adopted as soon as they are available.”
Charles grew up in Amherst, Massachusetts. He first came to Eugene to visit friends and liked it so much he decided to move here in 1977. His hometown is a college town, so he felt Eugene had the same atmosphere and he finds Eugene beautiful. Charles is retired but previously worked as a cook and handyman. He says, “I feel like I’ve come full circle since I was used to doing dishes when I was a line cook and now, I am able to help out with cattery dishes.”
Charles enjoys birdwatching and gardening. He doesn’t currently have any pets but has had dogs and cats throughout his life. His most recent pet was a cat, Beauty, he adopted from a stray cat that had given birth in a friend’s garage.
