Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers are the heart of Garfield’s Rescue, Inc.!    Have fun and meet new friends while supporting the vision of GRI.  There are many unique and fulfilling volunteer positions to fit your skills and interests.  Contact GRI if you have questions, comments or inquiries. 

Cat Socializers:  Like to play with cute cats?  Help cats get adopted faster by keeping them healthy and happy. You’ll exercise (play with), socialize, and groom our feline residents so they can be at their best for potential new families.  Shy cats need time with humans so if you are a cat lover, this is your calling!

Cat Fosterer:  A loving foster home gives young and shy cats a time to socialize before moving on to their forever homes.  This is a short-term commitment but an essential opportunity to support a cat’s transition from community life to their furever home.  More about being a Cat Foster for GRI is available on our Foster page .

Adopter Visit: Assure our cats go to safe homes.  This is an important part of the adoption process.  Volunteers conduct home checks prior to adoption or follow-up shortly afterward to ensure a smooth transition to the new home.

Animal Transporter:  Transport animals to and from vet appointments, adoption events, to other shelters and rescue organizations. This volunteer position requires reliable transportation and proof of insurance. 

Fund Raiser:  GRI operates solely on donations and fundraising.   These volunteers are excited to generate ideas and then spearhead fundraising events with the support of a brigade of volunteers.

Colony Caretakers:   On the approximately 800 square miles of the Northern Neck there are many cat colonies.  The cats in these colonies need food and clean water daily.  Feeding and watering is done on a rotating basis, so commitments are only one to two times a week.  More about being a Colony Caretaker for GRI is available on our Caring for Community Cat Colonies page .

Community Educator:   Educating the community and changing people’s perception of homeless/community cats is vital to the success of the GRI vision. Opportunities may include presentations at a school or community groups to discussing TNR solutions with community leaders.  Presentation materials and scripts will be provided. 

Click here for a PDF of our Volunteer Application Form or here for our On-Line Form.