Opportunities From: City of Thornton - Volunteer Programs

Yardbusters is a summer volunteer program running from June 1 through October 1 that brings neighbors together to support income-qualified seniors and income-qualified individuals with disabilities. Volunteers are matched with a resident for the entire season and help with basic yard care such as mowing lawns, raking, light hand pruning, and weed removal. This assistance helps residents maintain safe, well-kept properties and remain in compliance with municipal codes.

Residents provide the needed tools and lawn equipment, and gloves are available to volunteers upon request. To meet code requirements, volunteers typically visit each home about twice per month during the growing season. Volunteers are welcome to participate on their own, with family members, or as part of a team—making Yardbusters a meaningful way to give back and strengthen our community.

For more information about becoming a Yardbuster, contact Belia at 303-255-7831.

9/11 Day of Service

September 11 is observed as the National Day of Service and Remembrance and this year marks the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 events.  This Day of Service is focused on inspiring Americans to give back through community service.  

This year's National Day of Service and Remembrance community volunteer project will take place on Saturday, September 12, at Big Dry Creek Open Space. Volunteers will help improve the open space by participating in trail building, collecting data during a BioBlitz, planting native grass seed, and completing other stewardship projects.

We will provide tools, gloves, water, snacks, and a light lunch. If you plan to participate in the BioBlitz, please download the iNaturalist app before the event, if possible.

Schedule

Please wear closed-toe shoes and bring sunscreen for your comfort and safety.

"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." — Helen Keller

Questions? Contact Belia Dameron at 303-255-7831 or Belia.Dameron@ThorntonCO.gov.

Community Connections will be hosting a Produce/Food Box distribution for community members in need, and we are looking for volunteers to help make the event welcoming and successful! Volunteers will assist with greeting residents, helping with check-in at the registration area, carrying boxes to vehicles when needed, and supporting the overall flow of the event. Your time and kindness will make a meaningful difference for families in our community.

Meet at Community Connections located at 9471 Dorothy Blvd.

Join Ward 1 Councilmembers Cherish Salazar and Justin Martinez for a community clean-up at Niver Open Space!

Niver Open Space is a valued community space, and we’d love your help keeping it clean, beautiful, and welcoming for everyone to enjoy. Come out, lend a hand, and help make a difference in our community!

Gloves and water will be provided. Please wear closed-toe shoes and come ready to help make a difference.

Date:  Sunday, September 20

Time:  10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Please meet at the North Creek pavilion - 498 W. 91st Circle.

Step outside, explore, and discover the incredible biodiversity right in your backyard at Niver Open Space! Join us for a hands-on BioBlitz, where community members team up with scientists to identify as many plant and animal species as possible—all in just a few hours.

With guidance from experts at the Butterfly Pavilion, you’ll learn how to spot and identify local vegetation, insects, and wildlife while contributing valuable data that supports conservation and helps us better understand our natural spaces.

We’re hosting two exciting BioBlitz events:

Whether you’re a nature enthusiast or just curious to learn something new, this is a great opportunity to connect with the outdoors, support local science, and be part of something meaningful. Come ready to explore!

Meet at the parking lot located at 88th and Conifer (north side of 88th Ave).  Water will be available. 

Volunteers are needed to help make our annual Harvest Fest a fun and welcoming experience for all participants! Volunteers will assist festival attendees with selecting pumpkins and provide support at the pumpkin decorating tables, helping participants with supplies and keeping the activity areas organized.

Date: October 3
Volunteer Duties: Pumpkin selection assistance, decorating table support, participant assistance, and general event support.

Come be part of this fun community event!

Meet at the pumpkin giveaway area at Community Park (2141 E 95th Ave.) at 9:30 am.  Festival begins at 10:00 am.   

Join Ward 2 Councilmembers Roberta Ayala and John Alge for a community clean-up at Grandview Ponds! This popular fishing and trail area is a valued community space, and we’d love your help keeping it beautiful for everyone to enjoy.

This is a wonderful opportunity to give back, connect with neighbors, and make a positive impact in the community. Gloves and water will be provided. Please wear closed-toe shoes and come ready to help make a difference!

Date:  Saturday, October 10

Time:  9:00 am - 11:00 pm

Trunk-or-Treat Event Support

Join us for a fun, family-friendly Trunk-or-Treat event and help us create a spooktacular experience for the community!

We’re looking for volunteers to lend a hand with setup and teardown of our festive decorations and haunted walking trails.

“Garden of the Ghouls” haunted walking trail

Children’s “Boo Bayou” haunted walking trail

Help tear down and pack away decorations for storage following the event.

This volunteer opportunity involves physical work, including moving, setting up, and taking down event décor.

Get into the holiday spirit and help make this a memorable event for local families!

Margaret Carpenter Park and Open Space 

11100 Colorado Blvd. 

Join us for one of Thornton’s most vibrant cultural events! We are looking for enthusiastic, dependable volunteers to help bring our Día de los Muertos celebration to life through art, tradition, and community connection.

Event Details

Date: Saturday, November 1, 2026

Location: McAllister Park Center

Event Hours: 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM (Shift times vary between 7:00 AM and 6:45 PM)

Check-In: Report to the RED Welcome Tent in the center of the main parking lot 15 minutes prior to your scheduled shift start time to check in and receive your assignment.

Perks of Volunteering

Free meal voucher valid at any of our 5 local food trucks between 12-5PM while trucks are on-site.

Hands-on experience supporting local arts, culture, and community programming.

Event tote bag and light refreshments during shifts.

Volunteer Roles

Setup & Décor (Shift: 7:00 AM – 9:30 AM | Arrival: 6:45 AM): Unload equipment, set up tables, chairs, and tents. Decorate outdoor stage and indoor event space. Must be able to squat, lift, and carry items of various size and weight.

Vendor Load-In Support + Greeter (Shift: 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM | Arrival: 9:15 AM): Greet incoming mercado vendors and food vendors, direct traffic, and assist with unloading. Then assist at the welcoming table. Answer any questions and direct guests when needed.

Event Photographer (Shift: 12 – 5:00 PM | Arrival: 11:45 AM): Capture candid photos of performances, craft stations, and community engagement throughout the day. Ideal for someone who is comfortable with a DSLR camera.

Vendor Area Assistant (Shift: 11:41 AM – 5:15 PM | Arrival: 11:26 AM): Serve as a liaison for booth vendors, and assist with general inquiries.

Indoor Crafts Assistant (Shift: 11:45 AM – 5:00 PM | Arrival: 11:30 AM): Facilitate hands-on art stations and keep craft areas organized and clean.

Parking Logistics (Shift: 11:46 AM – 5:00 PM | Arrival: 11:31 AM): Stationed at the parking lot entrance: Direct incoming vehicular traffic for accessible spaces, provide information, and guide pedestrian safety.

Surveyor & People Counter (Shift: 11:50 AM – 5:00 PM | Arrival: 11:35 AM): Staff the welcome table, track attendee counts at entry, and gather quick feedback surveys from attendees.

Strike & Event Tear-Down (Shift: 4:45 – 7 PM | Arrival: 4:30 PM): Pack up decorations, take down tables/canopies, and assist with venue cleanup. Must be able to squat, lift, and carry items of various size and weight.

This opportunity is for volunteers interested in helping with one or more various Adaptive and Inclusive Recreation (AIR) Programs. This may include assisting with Art Classes, Social Activities, Gymnastics, Dance, Boxing, Archery, or Sports. One hour per week for 5-10 weeks is the general commitment depending on the program. Volunteers assist with set-up/clean-up at the programs, encouraging participants, giving reminders of the instruction, demonstrating the skills, playing as a teammate or partner, at times pairing up 1:1 to assist with the skills. 

A brief disability awareness training for all volunteers and background check for volunteers over 18 are required. 

Join us in making your neighborhood entrance or a local park bed shine! This is a great chance to connect with Mother Nature and improve your community. Whether you choose to work alongside neighbors or enjoy some solo time, let’s discover who has a green thumb! Help us by adopting an area that you’d love to see transformed and bring some extra beauty to the space.

This position assists teachers in working with preschool children between the ages of 3-6 in a formal, licensed program.  Requires fingerprinting and background checks.

Volunteers are needed to sit on two public art review panels. Each public art project has a unique selection panel to help advise on the artist review process. Volunteer panel members will meet twice, with one meeting to review and score artist application materials, and a second meeting to recommend the artist (or artist team) that best meets the scope of the project. Learn more about the Public Art Goals and Commission Process.

Questions: Contact PublicArt@ThornotonCo.gov or call (720) 977-5881

Special Event volunteers play a vital role in making events smooth and enjoyable for attendees. We need help with assisting with tasks like decorating for events, set-up, clean up, registration, providing information, along with meet and greet. Volunteer hours are typically week day afternoons from 12p-5p, but we do have a few weekday time events too. 

An inclusion partner helps to include an athlete with diverse learning needs and abilities in general city recreation programs. They may assist with giving reminders, demonstrations, and encouragement while working with the  participant and others in the lesson. The inclusion partner also helps the participant to interact with their peers and is sure not to lead a separate lesson from the rest of the group. This is a great way to have fun with a sport or activity you enjoy while helping out and gaining meaningful volunteer experience. 

Contact becky.post@thorntonco.gov for more info and fall opportunities.