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
New Volunteers
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
- Volunteers are asked to make a regular commitment to coming out for a shift weekly.
- Shifts are scheduled in advance and being on a set schedule is highly encouraged.
- Most shifts are 2 hours in length and available 7 days a week between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. (depending on what area).
- Depending on what area you are volunteering, you may need to be able to be on your feet most of your shift, bend, lift, work around cleaning products, provide great customer service and/or get a little dirty.
- Reliable transportation to the Greenhill Road shelter location is necessary.
- Volunteers 12-15 years in age can join the team with a parent/guardian see our Youth Volunteers tab for details.
- Ages 16+ are welcome to come out on their own.
We have many different volunteer opportunities at the shelter including helping in animal care and administrative spaces.
To see a list of our volunteer team positions with descriptions, 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. For Volunteering under the age of 12 – please see the Cubs Corner tab.
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.
- Make colorful bandanas for dogs and drop them off at the shelter.
- Make dog and cat toys and drop them off at the shelter. Check our kids craft guide for ideas!
- 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.
Court Mandated Community Service
A person wanting to volunteer to fulfill court mandated community service can apply by registering at this link > Community Service Registration. A minimum of 10 service hours is required. There is a one time program fee of $50 to participate in the Greenhill Court Mandated Community Service Program. This fee is required and is not able to be waived.
Program Rules & Requirements
Greenhill Humane Society does not accept those convicted of violent crimes or animal neglect/abuse crimes into this program.
We are not able to bring in any volunteers with the following charges on record:
- Crimes against minors or other vulnerable populations
- Charges of theft or assault within the last 7 years
- Felonies from any time period
- Instances of animal abuse / cruelty from any time period
- *Others are subject to review case by case
Student Volunteer Community Service
A student wanting to volunteer to fulfill school required service hours can apply by registering at this link > Student Volunteer Community Service. We are not able to sign off on any paperwork documenting service until at least 10 hours have been completed doing volunteer shifts. The first 20 hours of service must be completed in a cleaning role.
Program Rules and Requirements
All student volunteers must be 12 or over. Student volunteers ages 12 through 15 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times. Students 16 and over must be able to provide photo identification. Parent / guardian signatures are required for anyone under 18.
Volunteer time may be spent performing the following duties:
• Laundry• Washing dishes/litter pans• Washing/disinfecting animal crates• Cleaning/sweeping in kennel
Shifts are available throughout the day and are generally 2 hours in length.
Greenhill Humane Society provides a unique opportunity for groups to spend time together serving the community and contributing to the welfare of shelter animals. A Group Volunteer Project is a great way for organizations to support their staff giving back!
For a suggested donation of $30, your group will get to; participate in a group project, receive a full shelter tour, spend time in the adoption spaces with animals, and get a group photo posted on social media.
Visit our Group Volunteering Projects page to learn more!
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
April 2024
Kylia
Meet Kylia, our Volunteer of the Month for April! Kylia has volunteered with Greenhill since January 2023 and has given more than 330 hours of her time to the animals. Each month, Kylia contributes more than 10 hours apiece to two different Greenhill departments as a front office assistant and a specialized species assistant in both the rabbit and guinea pig/other rooms.
Kylia enjoys being able to both directly work with the animals and provide customer service by volunteering in multiple positions. She says, “There is always something new to learn and I enjoy the opportunity to challenge myself.” In the front office, she has enjoyed learning about all the programs and services Greenhill provides to the community. As a specialized species assistant, she not only cleans the animals’ living spaces but is also the first face the animals see at the start of the day, and one of her favorite parts of that position is “getting to be one of the first people to greet the animals in the morning, saying hi to each of them before I start cleaning.”
Kylia grew up in Eugene and shares her home with three very sweet cats who were adopted from Greenhill as kittens: Flash (2014), Cosmos (2014), and Sherlock (2015). In her spare time, she enjoys reading, listening to music, and studying foreign languages, though nothing beats curling up for a nap with one of the cats—particularly Sherlock, who “loves to cuddle and will walk up to you purring when he wants attention.” She also loves to travel and has been to Europe twice; with so many of the countries so close together, she’s been to more European countries than U.S. states!
Volunteering at Greenhill has been Kylia’s first volunteer experience as well as her first chance to take care of small animals, and the community at Greenhill has stood out as a highlight of her experience. In her words, “All of the staff members and volunteers I’ve met have been very kind and welcoming. I know there’s always someone I can ask if I have a question and I enjoy hearing stories about the animals from the other volunteers.”
