What are event & facility Volunteers?

Event Volunteers help our events run smoothly and raise awareness for our life-changing service dogs. As an Event Volunteer, you’ll play a key role in ensuring the success of our events. You’ll assist with setup and breakdown, accept donations, sell SDV merchandise, and more. Your efforts directly support the training and placement of our incredible service dogs. Additionally, you'll have opportunities to share SDV’s mission and raise awareness about the impact service dogs have on the lives of individuals in need.

What Event Volunteers Do:

  • Assist with event setup and breakdown

  • Help accept donations and manage SDV merchandise sales

  • Share SDV’s mission and raise awareness about service dogs

  • Support event staff to ensure everything runs smoothly and efficiently

Facility Volunteers work out of our office in Charlottesville, VA to help us maintain a clean, safe, and welcoming space for our service dogs, staff, and clients. If you're passionate about helping others and want to support our mission in a hands-on way, we’d love to have you join us!

What Facility Volunteers Do:

  • Taking out recycling and do laundry

  • Making homemade dog treats

  • Cleaning dog water bowls and crates

  • Assisting with dog toileting

  • Performing light administrative tasks (filing documents, checking mail at the post office, purchasing supplies)

  • Helping staff with additional needs around the facility

What We’re Looking For:

  • Volunteers who are 18 years or older

  • Enthusiasm for supporting SDV’s mission and engaging with the community and our staff

  • Able to help with physical tasks, such as lifting, light cleaning, and setting up event materials

  • Event volunteers must be comfortable interacting with attendees, accepting donations, and selling merchandise.

  • Facility volunteers must be very comfortable being around, and interacting with, dogs. They run our office, the rest of us jus work here.

Time Commitment:

  • Flexible schedules—The list of opportunities is updated online every 4-6 weeks. you’ll be able to sign up for events or shifts that fit your availability

  • Opportunities to volunteer range from 1-10 hours per month.

We are NOT currently accepting new applications for Facility or Event Volunteers. Please check back soon or visit our Volunteer Opportunities page for other volunteer options.

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Event & FACILITY Volunteers

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Faculty & Event Volunteer FAQs

  • No, you can sign up for as many or as few volunteer opportunities as you’d like.

  • Each event and facility volunteer opportunity varies slightly. You will have the chance to view the description of each opportunity once you have access to the online signup sheet.

  • Facility volunteers work out of our office in Charlottesville, VA. during the work week.

    The location of events vary, but they are typically in the greater Charlottesville area. Occasionally we attend events in Richmond. Some events take place during the working week and some take place in the evenings or on weekends.

    You can review the days and times of each event once you have access to the online signup sheet.

  • Once you have submitted your application and it has been reviewed by our staff, you will receive access to our online list of facility and event volunteer opportunities. You can review the opportunities and decide which ones you’d like to attend.

  • Submit an online application by clicking the Apply Now button below. Once your application has been received and reviewed, you will be provided access to the online signup sheet.

  • No, new event volunteers are always paired with an experience volunteer or a member of our staff to show you the ropes. Facility volunteers will be in our office with a staff member to answer questions and help you out.