A Four-Month Journey of Skills, Confidence & Community
- Jessica Birmingham
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
At Happy Day Plants, we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to contribute, build skills, and feel a sense of belonging. That belief is at the heart of our volunteer program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
Our volunteer program is more than simply helping out at the shop. Each volunteer role is a four-month journey designed to provide meaningful experiences, build confidence, develop new skills, and help participants work toward personal goals.
A Place to Start, Learn and Grow
Our volunteers find their way to Happy Day Plants in many different ways. Some are connected with us through the Colorado Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, while others first meet us through a school field trip, participate in our Happy Day Hangs programs, or are referred by job coaches and other community partners.
No matter how they find us, volunteers become an important part of the Happy Day Plants community. Depending on their interests and goals, they may help with plant care, watering, organizing, preparing the shop, customer-facing activities, events, or other projects around the store.
With guidance and support from our team, volunteers have the opportunity to practice workplace skills such as following directions, completing tasks independently, communicating with others, working as part of a team, and taking responsibility for their role.
But the impact goes beyond the tasks themselves. Volunteering provides an opportunity to build confidence, discover strengths, and experience the pride that comes from making a meaningful contribution.
From Volunteer to Employee
One of the most exciting parts of our volunteer program is seeing where the experience can lead. For some, volunteering is an important first step in discovering areas where they thrive. A number of our volunteers have gone on to become employees at Happy Day Plants.
And there is a real need for those opportunities. Almost every week, we hear from individuals and families looking for employment opportunities at Happy Day Plants. We wish we could hire everyone who reaches out to us. Our goal is to continue growing opportunties with additional grants and community support.
That's what we're growing at Happy Day Plants: skills, confidence, opportunity, and community. And sometimes, a four-month volunteer journey can be the beginning of something even bigger.
