Volunteer

There are plenty of ways to help us continue our mission of saving and rescuing animals! Have a look at the many opportunities, from volunteering at the sanctuary, to providing the tools, supplies, food, outreach, and traditional monetary donations that keep our sanctuary up and running.

Volunteering

Peace Ridge Sanctuary is always looking for dedicated, hardworking volunteers who do not mind getting dirty, and who share our passion for farmed animal rescue. This work is NOT EASY, but it is all for a very important cause, and it just might be the hardest work you will ever love. Plus, you will have the chance to be around the animals while you work!

We need people who are:

  • Dependable and committed to volunteering on a regular basis (at least once per week) with a regular schedule.
  • While we'll consider seasonal volunteers on a case-by-case basis, our preference is for year-round/young-term volunteers
  • Willing to do hard physical labor in all seasons and all types of weather (the animals depend on us to take care of them every day--even when it is snowy, rainy, hot...)
  • Able to follow detailed instruction, including safety instructions being around the animals
  • Able to work independently (typically our volunteers are 18+, but we consider minors who will be coming with a guardian on a case-by-case basis)
  • Compassionate, dedicated and eager to tend to the basic needs of animals who might have once been abused or neglected
  • Good at communicating and following instructions

Volunteer responsibilities may include (but are not limited to):

  • Cleaning barns and pastures
  • Loading and unloading supplies, grain, etc.
  • Washing dishes, janitorial duties
  • Animal grooming
  • Yard work and groundskeeping
  • Additional volunteer tasks are considered on a case-by-case basis, based on experience and need

Process to Volunteer:

  • Review PRS website, social media, etc. to familiarize yourself with the nonprofit
  • Review this volunteer website and if you're in agreement, fill out an Application
  • Volunteer Coordinator will conduct a preliminary phone interview
  • If it seems like a good fit, Volunteer Coordinator will send a copy of our Policy Manual to review
  • If in agreement with the Policy Manual, Volunteer Coordinator will set up an orientation/training session for you with one of our caregivers
  • Upon successful completion of a training, you may set up a weekly volunteer schedule with our Volunteer Coordinator
  • If you're unable to come to one of your scheduled volunteer shifts, you must notify the Volunteer Coordinator right away so we can adjust our schedule accordingly
  • Volunteers to do not follow sanctuary policies or who repeatedly call out for emergencies may be asked to terminate their volunteership

Please note: due to our busy schedules at the sanctuary, we cannot typically accommodate visits for prospective volunteers unless they have already completed an application, a preliminary phone screening, and reviewed our policy manual. After completing these tasks, if it seems like a good fit, prospective volunteers will be invited for an orientation/training day. If you'd like to visit the sanctuary prior to applying to volunteer, you may come to one of our Open Houses or other events listed on our Visiting Page.  

Does this sound like something you are up for? If so, we would love to hear from you! Please start the process by completing our Volunteer Application and we'll be in touch as soon as we can.

Host a Personal Fundraiser

Regardless of how much experience you have, we're always looking for people who want to help us raise funds to help take care of the animals. Here are some fun ideas for ways you can help

  • Social Media Fundraisers
    • Create a birthday, holiday, or other Facebook fundraiser with Peace Ridge Sanctuary set up as the beneficiary
  • Bottle drive
    • Ask your school or employer if you can set up a bottle collection bin, and check with friends and family about donating their returnables, too!
  • Yard Sale
    • Everybody loves a chance to get rid of unused things or collect new treasures for a good cause. Host a yard sale on our behalf and we will supply you with a kit filled with Peace Ridge brochures, a poster and more to help make your sale a success.
  • House party
    • Whether it's a formal affair with wine and hors d'oeuvres or a simple afternoon potluck, house parties are a great way to meet like-minded people, share ideas and have some fun. We'd love to send someone from Peace Ridge to attend your event and talk to your guests about who we are and what we do!
  • Other Volunteer-Organized Fundraiser Ideas
    • Host a special benefit event at a local vegan restaurant or other animal-friendly business
    • Host a raffle benefiting the sanctuary
    • Host a vegan bake sale, lemonade stand, etc.

*If you would like to receive brochures, posters, or other PRS literature and information for your special fundraiser event, just let us know! Call us at 207-722-3035 or email melissa@peaceridgesanctuary.org

Host a Sanctuary Work Day

Do you have a group of friends or co-workers who would like to spend a day at the sanctuary helping with projects? Peace Ridge always has ongoing projects and welcomes groups who want to spend time doing non-animal related work. Projects depend on the season but can include:

  • Painting barns
  • Raking/gardening
  • Small construction
  • General clean-up

This is a great way to spend a day with friends while helping the animals. Interested? Reach out to at 207-722-3035 or email info@peaceridgesanctuary.org

Consider Going Vegan

Veganism is much more than a diet; it is a way of life whereby animal products and the exploitation of animals are avoided in the consciousness that animal suffering of any kind should not be supported.

Adopting a vegan lifestyle is the best way to help animals, while also protecting the planet, and the proliferation of vegan products on the market today make it easier than ever! If you are just starting out, there are many vegan companies out there from which to choose. You will have no problem eating similarly to how you did before, and you will be supporting a more compassionate and healthful lifestyle. Once you become more familiar with vegan foods and vegan cooking, you will quickly realize how delicious and easy it is to make the switch! The majority of vegans will tell you that their only regret about becoming vegan is that they did not do it sooner.

Fortunately, there is a lot of information available for people who want to go vegan, and a great educational website about the nitty-gritty of doing so is Vegan Outreach.

For those of you who are thinking about making the change, Peace Ridge offers FREE vegan cookbooks and other resources to help with your transition. Contact us at info@peaceridgesanctuary.org for more information.