Welcome & FAQs

Welcome!

As your Volunteer Coordinator, I’d like to personally welcome you to Simply Cats. I intend for you to have an enjoyable and rewarding experience as a volunteer and I look forward to supporting you in whichever volunteer position you hold. I realize that you could choose to spend your free time anywhere and I appreciate you very much for choosing to spend that time with us. Thank You!

Jennifer Brownstein
Volunteer Coordinator

Frequently Asked Questions

1. I love volunteering with Simply Cats and want to bring my dad/sister/friend. May I?
Visitors are always welcome at our facility. However, we ask that you do not bring a friend or relative with you while on your shift. Should you want to volunteer with a friend, etc. encourage him or her to fill out a volunteer application. The Volunteer Coordinator will make every attempt to schedule you for the same shift.

2. How old do I have to be to volunteer?
Volunteers must be 16 years of age to volunteer on their own (with parental permission). Children between the ages of 12 and 15 are welcome to volunteer and are required to volunteer with a parent or legal guardian.

3. My Girl Scout troop/summer camp/special program wants to volunteer at the shelter. Can that be arranged?
We do not offer in-shelter volunteer opportunities to groups. We have found that group work at the shelter does not work out too well for us. That is why we love to have groups such as the Girl Scouts work on special projects for us such as making cat toys or doing a “wish list” fundraiser for us. Those are things we really need all the time, are so appreciated and are perfect projects for groups.

4. I can’t make the volunteer orientation. Can I just start and do the orientation later?
It is Volunteer Program policy that all new volunteers attend the mandatory volunteer orientation before beginning their first shift.

5.    I have a community service project to do. May I complete it at Simply Cats?
Every applicant needs to attend an orientation session before volunteering and receives one-on-one training once they begin their work at the shelter. Community Service Projects are most often short-term and don’t work out too well for us due to the amount of training required.

6. I’m sick and can’t make my shift. What do I do?
Please call or email the Volunteer Coordinator as soon as you know you cannot make it. The same also goes for vacation. With proper notice we can plan accordingly!

7. I have heard I can get tax deductions for volunteering. Is that true?
Yes! Tax benefits are available for volunteers under the general charitable contribution deduction of the Internal Revenue Code. Among other things, volunteers may deduct unreimbursed out-of-pocket expenses incurred while doing volunteer work for certain groups approved by the Internal Revenue Service. Simply Cats is an approved organization. Please ask for details, and check with your tax consultant about what is eligible for deduction.