By definition, volunteering means “to freely offer to do something.” The Pember could really use your help!

Volunteering can take many forms. We have opportunities for you to volunteer in many ways. We are hoping one of these opportunities will be something you’d love to do and it would be so helpful to us. We have possibilities at three locations. The library, the museum and the nature preserve located in Hebron.

The day to day operations sometimes are all the employees can handle so other things that we would like to have happen, get postponed. If you are looking for something to occupy your spare time, if you want to make a difference in the world and you aren’t sure how, if you want to expand your horizons or take a leap out of your comfort zone, now is the time!!

Between the three entities there are many opportunities. The library needs help with shelving books, perhaps some cleaning that might now happen on nearly an often enough basis, assistance with programs and gatherings, decorating for holidays, working in the flower bed out front…all worthwhile jobs. We range from mindless opportunities to mind blowing ones.

The museum needs volunteers to man the exhibit on weekends or other times we are open and need extra people. The animals don’t need to be fed or cleaned up after but you can learn a lot about them and appreciate Franklin Pember’s passion for them. You will receive basic training to be knowledgeable about the museum and you automatically get a title!! You will be a “docent”. (a person who acts as a guide, typically on a voluntary basis, in a museum, art gallery, or a zoo.

The Pember preserve is located on Route 22 in Hebron NY. The schoolhouse needs to be manned on occasion, there is miles of trail work that can be done, a garden of native flowers that can be maintained and weeded, programs that are put on could always use more hands. And you are enjoying nature at the same time.

If have been inspired by this story, please contact the Pember Library at 518-642-2525 or the Museum at 518-642-1515. You can email maryj.pember@gmail.com. We will be happy to further enlighten you on these opportunities.

A volunteer meeting will be held in the near future for those who have committed to this or are still on the fence.