Showing Up
There are lots of ways to connect with a community, and it starts with showing up. One shows up ready to help and believes in the shared goal or mission. Saranam is fortunate to have over 1,800 volunteers who do just that! Since 2004, individuals and groups have helped us in many ways. There are tasks each day that support our families, and each season brings big projects or decorating needs. We couldn’t get through these wonderful years without the strong hearts and arms of our volunteers.
Helping the Solution
As the needs and Saranam have grown, our volunteer base, thankfully, has grown. When people hear about Saranam they want to get involved in some way (and there are many ways) because they see how the program transforms a family’s path. As a volunteer, one sees our welcoming homes and campus life, they meet the hardworking families, and sees our mission in action. There is more than one solution to ending homelessness which Saranam does through housing, education, and supportive community. The COMMUNITY part is the “secret sauce” to the solution. It eliminates the feeling of isolation and families begin to build trust with their families and others.
“I volunteer with Saranam because I believe every family deserves the opportunity to feel safe, supported, and hopeful about their future. Being part of an organization that walks alongside families as they rebuild their lives has deeply touched my heart and reminded me how powerful compassion and community can be.” ~ Julia Miera
Impacts throughout the Year
Volunteers make an impact each day at Saranam. In a “typical” week, depending on the volunteer needs, we may see 25-35 volunteers on our campuses. They are in the donation center, reception area, at family nights (twice a week), and working on tasks around the campus. One weekly volunteer shared, “It gives me purpose. I’m out doing something for somebody else that is meaningful. Also, it helps the staff to make their jobs a little easier.”
During the changing seasons, that number increases. During the spring and fall, youth groups and community groups help with landscaping, painting, sorting, and repairs. In the summer, there are groups who travel to Albuquerque to help with outdoor projects and maintenance. In the winter, there are groups who plan and facilitate holiday parties and donate gifts. We are also thrilled to have local corporate partners to help with special projects. Most recently we worked with a few corporate groups to lay a patio of pavers near our Family Center. In June 2026, Deloitte and DWS had their Impact Day at Saranam to help with a various projects, including the patio project. Two months later, Movement Mortgage and Refuge Church helped finish the patio!
Decorator Season
In May and July, volunteer participation spikes. Decorator teams gather to make empty apartments warm and welcoming homes. With their lists in hand and direction from our fearless Housing Coordinator, Jen Clear, they “shop” at our Donation Center for all the household items. They decorate for 2-3 weeks before families cross the door’s threshold. From basics, like pots and pans and bedding, to items with a little flair, decorators create living areas for everyone in the family. In 2025, we had a total of 25 groups consisting of 249 volunteers who spent a total of 1,240 hours decorating. They decorated 21 homes in 2025.
“All the good things were out into my home: good energy, decorations and detail,” said a Saranam mom. She went onto say, “my son’s room is perfect for him, and he can play and crawl wherever he wants. It is a huge breath of fresh air; I could feel the encouraging energy put into it. I am extremely grateful.”
Our volunteers’ presence is felt throughout the year, and we could not finish the to-lists and dream projects without their support.
Shifting to Staff
What happens when volunteers fall in love with our mission? They sometimes become staff! “As a volunteer, I fell in love with Saranam’s mission and am blessed to be working in the background supporting the families we serve,” said Facilities Manager, Dede Walden. She is not alone.
Over the years there have been a handful of staff members that began as volunteers. “I was inspired to jump from volunteer to staff as I saw that the work at Saranam matched the mission statement. It wasn’t just words, but programming backed by thoughtful consideration and research,” said Family Activity Coordinator, Stephanie Pankratz. Pankratz went on to share, “As I made that shift, I was able to see even more the work that went on behind the scenes. I have been able to participate in those discussions around what would benefit families and individuals. Decisions are informed by years of experience and changing landscape, needs of families and the community, desire to give grace and hold to standards that promote growth. Volunteers are essential to family nights!”
During family nights, there are many opportunities for volunteers to assist our families. From helping small kiddos plate their dinner, to engaging conversation with a teen who wants a break from their parents, or helping toddlers with the night’s activity while a parent tends to another child, volunteers are community role models. They assist with activities and are a watchful eye to distract, engage, or guide a child in their choices. Research shows that when children connect with supportive adults in the community, it boosts their brain development and social skills, while reducing their parent’s stress.
Get involved
Volunteering is an exciting way to learn about your city and community. At Saranam, you are helping your neighbors. Be the one who shares hope and inspires confidence with another person.
Sign up for our bi-monthly volunteer newsletter and check out the online calendar of opportunities and shifts. If you’d like to work directly with our families, there is a training session to be completed before scheduling a shift. Contact our Volunteer and Community Coordinator, Shannon Trujillo for more information.