City of Colorado Springs highlights efforts of volunteers

The City of Colorado Springs recognized April 20-26 as Volunteer Week, highlighting the efforts of volunteers citywide who help improve neighborhoods, waterways, park facilities, recreational programming, and more.

On Tuesday, Colorado Springs City Council passed a resolution acknowledging the thousands of citizen volunteers who in 2024 donated over $6.1 million dollars in service to the community when calculated at the latest state volunteerism rate of $36.36 per hour.

“Volunteering strengthens your community and can help create purpose, connection, and belonging. These serve as powerful tools in the fight against loneliness and depression,” said Councilmember David Leinweber. “When you give your time, you can gain perspective, connection, and joy. It’s the best trade you’ll ever make for your mental health.”

Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services’ volunteers contributed more than 123,067 hours of service to the community. Volunteer efforts included the distribution of 106,645 pounds of food and removal of 1,897 bags of trash. Volunteers coached a total of 64,534 games, fostering connections among 9,478 adults and 7,284 youths. Additionally, volunteers conducted 98 after-school tutoring sessions, educated more than 31,500 guests at local cultural sites and adopted more than 270 acres of parkland and nearly 30 miles of trail. 

Volunteers also contributed more than 125,000 hours of time through initiatives like the Adopt-A-Waterway Program, which in 2024 had over 840 volunteers participate in 39 events, removing 55,285 pounds (27.6 tons) of debris from our waterways.

In the Public Safety’s Community Advancing Public Safety Program (CAPS), volunteers provided 41,613 hours of civic engagement to advance public safety through the Colorado Springs Police Department, the Colorado Springs Fire Department and the Pikes Peak Regional Office of Emergency Management. Finally, the Colorado Springs Airport had 51 volunteers contribute more than 2,800 hours of service to the community. 

The City of Colorado Springs offers many ways to volunteer. This includes 50 boards, commissions and committees, the Neighborhood Cleanup Program, the Colorado Springs CAPS (Community Advancing Public Safety) Program, the COS Airport Ambassador Volunteer Program, various positions in the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department, and through the Stormwater’s Adopt-a-Waterway Program.

For more information on ways to volunteer, visit ColoradoSprings.gov/Volunteer.