Our team works tirelessly to improve children’s lives through arts education, but they also volunteer their time and talents to furthering the missions of other amazing organizations. Follow our monthly #SuperStaff feature to learn more about the causes that our staff members give back to! This February, check out Programs Associate Amy Knutson’s work with NKLA.
By Programs Associate Amy Knutson
Part of my role as Programs Associate at P.S. ARTS is coordinating our in-class and community event volunteers (Shout out to our volunteer team! We’re so thankful for you!). This past year, in researching best practices for volunteer programs, I stumbled upon No-Kill Los Angeles (NKLA) and was immediately drawn to their mission of establishing Los Angeles as a no-kill city for pets. NKLA is an initiative led by Best Friends Animal Society in partnership with over 105 different LA animal rescue groups and organizations who are dedicated to bringing the number of animals killed in shelters to zero. Since launching NKLA in 2012, the number of pets being killed in LA city shelters has decreased by 56%, which is astounding. Once I started learning more about their initiative and volunteer program, I knew I had to get involved.
I’ve been really inspired by how NKLA relies on volunteers not only to be advocates for their mission, but also to help out with their daily operations. The shelter is composed of up to 100 different cats and dogs rescued by a number of different organizations who rotate their animals into NKLA’s center in hopes of them being adopted quickly. As a volunteer with NKLA, I work at the Adoption Center in West Los Angeles doing anything from playing with (or as their staff say “socializing with”) dogs and cats, folding clean laundry, washing toys and Kongs, or answering guests’ questions about the adoption process during open hours. Knowing that the time I spend working with these animals is helping them get adopted into a new home, and that — as a volunteer — I am actually contributing in a tangible way, has been such a powerful realization. I love NKLA and their work, and I strongly encourage you to check them out!
Meet one of my favorite new furry friends, Sir Charlie!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5kl297ywyI
Learn more about No-Kill LA at nkla.org
