Volunteer Opportunities

Do you have some extra time on your hands? Are you looking to make a meaningful difference in your community? If so, look no further than Benefits in Action. Benefits in Action is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping individuals with their food and health-related needs by providing application assistance for health benefits such as Medicare and Medicaid, delivering food to homebound individuals, and connecting folks facing social isolation to others in their community. Does this sound interesting to you? If so, then keep on reading.

We offer numerous volunteer opportunities at Benefits in Action. First and foremost, we are a health benefit navigation and application assistance site. This means our staff and volunteer navigators help individuals navigate the world of health benefits such as Medicare, Medicaid, Connect 4 Health Colorado, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). They educate them about the benefits for which they may be eligible, help them apply for those benefits, and make sure that individuals understand and can use their benefits. 

We also operate a Food Delivery Program, which delivers food to homebound individuals. We have numerous volunteer positions available as part of the Food Delivery Program. These positions include volunteer delivery drivers and volunteer warehouse workers. If you are looking for a job that is physically active and can keep you in shape, then this is the opportunity for you. Volunteers in the Food Delivery Program often lift boxes of food and carry them to individuals’ doorsteps. They also pack boxes of food at our warehouse.

We also have volunteers who work with our Connectedness program as volunteer connectedness callers. These volunteers call individuals facing social isolation and discuss a variety of topics. However, these volunteers do not take the place of licensed mental health counselors. The volunteers are simply a friendly voice for individuals who need a connection to their community. 

We also have numerous other opportunities. For example, we conduct outreach related to these programs, meaning we travel to different locations to present educational sessions about them. We also have volunteers who answer telephone calls and help us schedule our benefit navigation appointments. If you would rather work on the back end, we also have volunteer data entry opportunities, as well as grant research and writing opportunities. We are looking for volunteers who are willing to take the initiative to manage some of our many programs. 

So, what is it like to work as a volunteer? Being a volunteer involves working to your strengths and developing your own potential while helping our organization flourish. This takes many forms, whether that is communicating with different individuals or working on the back end. It also feels good. Knowing that you are making a positive contribution to someone’s life provides meaning and purpose that may otherwise be elusive. 

What does it take to become a volunteer? Honestly, not much other than a drive and willingness to make a difference in your community. After you apply for and interview for the position, all you need to do is pass a background check and complete a few quick training sessions. Once you are done training, you can work remotely or in person. All we ask is that you commit to working at least four hours a week for a minimum of six months. 

Volunteering is very important. Many individuals do not even know of the benefits for which they may be eligible or have misguided beliefs about the benefit system perpetuated by popular culture. Others are in desperate need of food, but cannot leave their house due to illness, transportation barriers, frailty, or needing to supervise young children. Others are lonely and need a friendly voice on the other end of the telephone. These are gaps in our social safety net that you can help fill. 

Do you want to become a volunteer for Benefits in Action? If so, contact BIA for more information on our services, including how to become a volunteer. You can reach us at 720-221-8354 or by email at volunteers@benefitsinaction.org. We look forward to hearing from you.