Volunteer and membership
How to become a volunteer or member…
You must be at least 15 years of age to become a volunteer. If you are between the ages of 15-17, skip to step 2. If you’d just like to become a member, skip to step 2.
For questions throughout the process, please call 631-875-0433.
*Individuals seeking community service hours MUST contact Christina@spiritspromiserescue.org BEFORE beginning the volunteer process.
*WE ARE NOW ACCEPTING NEW VOLUNTEERS! PLEASE FOLLOW THE STEPS BELOW.*
Step 1.
Complete an online background check CLICK HERE (Only required for adults 18+ - *$19 fee is required). You must create your own account with Sterling Volunteers. Please use the GOOD DEED CODE: WA987E8.
*Additional fees may apply for those living outside of Suffolk County.
Step 2.
Once your background check is approved via email, complete your Membership Application by clicking HERE
*Note: A resident is a resident of Riverhead Town. All new volunteers are required to become members. The membership renews automatically each year unless you cancel it.
Step 3.
Search our calendar for **orientation dates by clicking HERE
**Please note: New volunteers MUST complete a Saturday morning orientation BEFORE beginning barn duties. The next orientation will be held on Saturday, December 7 at 10am. New volunteers are accepted from April through December. No new volunteers will be accepted during the months of January, February, and March.
Step 4.
Complete a two-hour training session at our farm. This will be occur immediately following your orientation. Once you have completed your orientation and training, you may sign up for volunteer hours by emailing our Chief Operating Officer, Christina@spiritspromiserescue.org.
Being at SP makes me feel alive and full of life. Knowing that I am helping the horses to live well, and that I am helping the wonderful and amazing people who assist these rescued animals, helps me to feel good inside. It is my hope that while I am working at SP to help care for the animals, that in some small way, I am also contributing to the mission of providing therapy for people struggling with hardship. As if these feelings weren’t reward enough in themselves, being around these beautiful animals- stroking their faces, rubbing their ears, petting their coats, listening to their hooves as they walk out of the barn or their jaws as they work on chewing hay, or their gentle whiny (or mournful moo in the case of Oden the cow), and looking into their brown glass-like, yet soulful eyes, just reaches deep into my heart and I am blessed with joy! For this opportunity to give back blesses me, and I am extremely thankful to Marisa, and all who work at the barn to teach me how to help the horses and the other animals at Spirit’s Promise!
- Linda Shannon
I first came to Spirits Promise to be around horses - not something I know anything about but I felt like I wanted to be in their presence and learn. I went on a farm tour, met Izzy and the horses, and I was hooked. I signed up to volunteer that day. I immediately felt that I wanted to be a part of this place. I stayed out front with Indy for half an hour after my tour…..I just didn’t want to leave!
In the short time I’ve been here, Spirits Promise has claimed a piece of my heart. I love to be around the horses and the people that care for them. Being here brings me a sense of peace that I can’t explain. I am so grateful that I found this community. It is a special place.
- Darlene
“I found SP in quite a serendipitous way. I had been longing for some “horse energy” for quite awhile. I had ridden horses on occasion throughout my life, but I was longing to get up close and personal with horses, and felt a calling to get to KNOW a horse, in some way for their benefit and in some way for my own. As months passed I also was thinking about how I could give back to the community in an animal volunteering capacity. I had been praying to God for quite awhile to lead me and to show me the way. Then, one day I clicked on the computer to locate volunteering opportunities and much to my amazement, SP, which I had never heard of before, just appeared on my computer screen. As I read about Marissa and the SP mission, I was amazed and knew at once that I was spiritually led to this special place. The fact that I had been praying to Spirit to lead me and this equine rescue farm is named Spirit’s Promise, did not go unnoticed by me. I believe it was Spirit’s promise that led me to Spirit’s Promise Equine Rescue.”
- Linda Shannon