On April 24th, The Lyric Cinema hosted Trout Tank: a Volunteer Match-a-Thon, an Arula sponsored event, that focused on bringing local nonprofits and community members together. The focus of the event was to spotlight nonprofits and social impact groups from around the area that were in need of a variety of volunteer positions. Each organization “fishes” by pitching their mission to an enthusiastic audience of “trouts” of whom were all on the lookout for a wide range of opportunities to make a difference in their community. The evening turned out to be prosperous for many individuals and a unique experience for all that attended.

In this week’s blog, we are highlighting the five incredible nonprofits that participated in the event and the overall Volunteer Match-a-Thon experience.

Why Volunteer?

Volunteering is an essential part of community engagement and can be a great way to give back to your local community. Nonprofits often rely on volunteers to carry out their missions, from providing direct services to fundraising and administration. By volunteering for a local nonprofit, you can make a positive impact on the community and help those in need. Volunteering also provides a unique opportunity to learn new skills, meet new people, and gain valuable experience in the nonprofit sector. Overall, volunteering is a great way to get involved in your community and make a difference. For more information on volunteering, check out our Founder and Owner, Alex’s, blog post, What Every Good Volunteer Needs to Know.

The Participants

Rocky Mountain Raptor Program – The Rocky Mountain Raptor Program has a mission to inspire the protection and appreciation of raptors and the spaces where they live through excellence in rehabilitation, education, and research. Their mission is to inspire the protection and appreciation of raptors and the spaces where they live through excellence in rehabilitation, education, and research. 

Friends of Lackota Animal Sanctuary – The Friends of Lackota Animal Sanctuary is a Colorado-based organization that rescues horses, donkeys, and other animals from kill auctions and provides them with the care they need to regain their health and trust. They aim to give these animals a second chance at life, whether that means finding them a forever home or providing them with a permanent sanctuary.

Living Her Legacy Living Her Legacy creates a community that recognizes, supports, and empowers girls and women. This nonprofit was created to inspire women and girls to discover themselves in the many talents, contributions, and achievements of women, both past and present. ‘Inspiring Women and Girls to Create Their Own Legacies.’ They are creating a generation of change makers who will impact their communities and the girls who come behind them, with their women’s art exhibit and education programs for girls.

FoCo’s Juneteenth – Juneteenth is a day of liberation and joy. Cities across the country celebrate liberation and freedom with food, music, art, and being in the community. The holiday serves as a reminder of the resilience and tenacity of our ancestors and honors their legacies. Fort Collins will be commemorating 2023’s Juneteenth from June 16 – 18th. 

Health4Heroes – Health4Heroes is a 501(c)(3) organization that exists to give service members and public safety personnel a hand up to take command of their overall well-being. They build community connections, coordinate social events, organize partner networks, and provide educational programs focused on health and wellness throughout Northern Colorado for Veterans, First Responders, and their families suffering from post-traumatic stress.

What People Are Saying

The Trout Tank Volunteer Match-a-Thon was not only an opportunity for nonprofits to showcase their missions, but also for community members to learn about the various ways they can give back. Many attendees shared their positive experiences with us. Arula staff member Hannah stated, “The setup really lent itself to a presentation by the nonprofit and then a conversation after, versus someone just talking at you trying to convince you to volunteer.” Christina, another Arula employee, shared her newfound interest in volunteering with Friends of Lackota Animal Sanctuary, saying, “The nonprofit that stood out to me and my guest was Friends of Lackota Animal Sanctuary because of a few reasons: first was the presenter, Thom (one of the founders) and how he spoke of his organization. There was a deep passion there that I think resonated with many audience members. Also, I just love animals!”

The Trout Tank event was a seriously great experience. […] The amount of support that we have received from attendees has been insanely great. We have already had volunteers spend the day learning the routine at Friends of Lackota Animal Sanctuary and several more lined up. We are so grateful to Arula for their invitation and unwavering support, and we’re also appreciative of the Lyric for hosting this event. We hope that we will be invited to attend the Trout Tank event again in the future.”

– Thom Munholland, Founder of Friends of Lackota Animal Sanctuary

Arula CEO, Kendra, shared her thoughts on the event as well. “It is amazing to see how well received the Trout Tank series, and the volunteer match-a-thon in particular, have been by both the nonprofits and community members involved. Having a place where nonprofits can accessibly seek the resources they need is extremely important and is somewhat lacking in Northern Colorado.” 

In a Nutshell

In conclusion, the Trout Tank: Volunteer Match-a-Thon was a resounding success with a room full of exceptional people coming together to support their local community from both sides. The nonprofits that participated were able to connect with potential volunteers, board members, and sponsors, filling in their ranks and strengthening their organizations. 

It’s clear that events like this are vital for building stronger communities and supporting the important work of nonprofits in Northern Colorado. We look forward to the next Trout Tank event and encourage everyone to continue supporting their local nonprofits in any way they can.