My Nonprofit Reviews

Where else can you tell an orangutan that you are going to have to tell on her to a caregiver?
Although caring for orangutans and chimpanzees in need may not be high on everyone's priority list, for the dedicated volunteers at the Center for Great Apes, it is. Volunteers have no direct contact with any of the apes; we do, however, get to interact and form relationships with these amazing beings. Whether volunteers are hosing down night houses or preparing the next day's meals for the apes, whether covered in perspiration or relatively cool in the air-conditioned nutrition center, volunteers, like the caregivers, will beam and say "Fantastic! I'm visiting with my ape buddies" when asked how they are doing.
I personally have never worked in an organization where staff are thrilled to be at work; no matter how hard their jobs in the Florida heat and humidity, caregivers at the Center for Great Apes do seem thrilled to be caring for the well-being of our fantastic relatives.
Volunteers travel from around the world to spend time at the center and happily "give up" their vacations to work hard helping out; some have moved to be nearby (I did!). The center has a place for volunteers of all abilities and skill sets. If you are happy working with others, there is a job for you; if you enjoy teaching, there's a place for you; if you prefer to work alone, there is something for you too.
The first time I visited the center, I felt that I had come home; after several years of volunteering, I still do, every time I volunteer. It is my sanctuary, as it is for many of the other volunteers.
In response to the question I asked earlier, I noticed that orangutan Geri was chewing something that I thought she was not supposed to eat. So, after warning her, I did tell her caregiver; turns out, everything was fine. But I was thanked for being concerned. And that made me feel wonderful.