Top 5 Opportunities to Give Back

It is important to give back whether it is on a large scale or in your local community. For those who live in the Denton area, there are plenty of organizations that offer opportunities to volunteer and help out those who need it right in your own area. Here are some of the top opportunities to give back.

Stream Clean
Stream Clean is an annual fall event in the city of Denton. Every year, the city and the Keep Denton Beautiful organization work together to host the event where volunteers work to clean up the waterways around Denton. It is important to remove the litter and debris that makes its way into the storm drains and drainage ditches to keep it from getting into the lakes and rivers. The 2017 Stream Clean event is tentatively scheduled for a Saturday in October. Those who want more information can fill out the volunteer form on the City of Denton website.
 
CASA of Denton
CASA is an organization that advocates for the safety of children. A CASA volunteer or Court Appointed Special Advocate are trained and then appointed by the court to represent children and their best interests in the child protection system. CASA volunteers work with individual children or siblings and get to know them to help judges and the courts make sure they stay safe from abuse and neglect. You can become a CASA volunteer in the Denton area in several different ways whether it is becoming an advocate, working special events, or volunteering as a Champion for CASA. The CASA Denton website has information on all the different volunteer opportunities.
 
Denton Library
The Denton Public Library has several volunteer opportunities. Both teens and adults can volunteer their time by sharing resources, working with peers, or helping to promote learning. All library volunteers must pass a background check and attend an orientation session.
 
Linda McNatt Animal Care & Adoption Center
The animal shelter in Denton is always willing to take volunteers. If you are under 18 years old a parent or guardian must go with you to the shelter to fill out the paperwork. All volunteers must submit the necessary paperwork and participate in an orientation. To find out when the shelter will hold their next orientation session, you can call or contact the shelter directly. If you don’t have the time to volunteer, you can also help out by donating supplies. They always have a need for kitty litter and food for dogs, puppies, cats, and kittens, and they always need towels and bath mats.
 
Denton Mobile Food Pantry
The Denton Mobile Food Pantry provides fresh produce and shelf-stable items for free to those in need at the First Baptist Denton on Malone Street. It sets up in the parking lot on the second Saturday of every month and volunteers are always welcome. Just fill out the form on the Serve Denton website.
 
These are just a few of the many volunteer opportunities around the Denton area. There are many more ways you can donate your time and expertise to those in need.
Image via Flickr by Icseiler | Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 | Cropped from original