April is Volunteer Appreciation Month—a time to pause, reflect, and celebrate the remarkable individuals who give their time, energy, and hearts to The Gathering Place. At TGP, our volunteers are more than just helpers—they are an essential part of our community, showing up week after week to support women, gender-diverse people, and their children in their journeys toward stability.
From sorting donations and serving meals to supporting members in the art studio, helping with mail distribution, and offering a listening ear at the front desk, our volunteers wear many hats—and they wear them with compassion, grace, and commitment. Every hour spent here lightens someone’s load. Every kind word spoken reminds our members that they are seen, valued, and not alone.
Last year alone, over 300 volunteers gave thousands of hours of service to The Gathering Place. According to Independent Sector, the estimated value of a volunteer hour in Colorado is over $31. That means the time our volunteers donated last year equates to well over $100,000 in contributed value—resources that allow us to stretch our funding further and ensure more members have access to meals, hygiene items, community, and care.
Whether they were helping serve breakfast in our cafeteria, distributing mail to hundreds of members, sorting and organizing clothing donations in Bridget's Boutique, facilitating art projects in the Art Program, distributing fresh veggies through our pantry, or supporting special events, our volunteers made a real, tangible impact. Their time and presence help us create a space that is grounded in dignity, choice, and connection.
Many of our members recognize volunteer faces. They form relationships. They become part of the daily rhythm and fabric of this space. It’s not unusual to hear someone say, “I came back today because of the person who helped me yesterday.” That’s the power of showing up.
The truth is, we couldn’t do this work without them. Our volunteers allow us to meet more needs, offer more individualized support, and maintain the low-barrier environment that is central to our mission. They are an extension of our values—generosity, inclusivity, safety, and hope in action.
To every volunteer who has walked through our doors: thank you. Your time, kindness, and energy are priceless. You help us move people from crisis toward stability every single day.
Happy Volunteer Appreciation Month. We see you, we appreciate you, and we’re so glad you’re part of The Gathering Place family.
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With deep gratitude,
The Gathering Place Team
