Most folks are aware of the work the Suffolk Humane Society does to protect animals in the community. The organization is well known for its spay and neuter events, for its adoption events in connection with Suffolk Animal Control and PetSmart and for its fostering programs designed to rescue animals that might have been euthanized and then find them suitable homes.

But the organization does more than that, including helping families that have fallen on hard times to get the food and veterinary care their animals need. Teresa Crocker, who is the new executive director for Suffolk Humane, said this week that this type of aid is one of the more important things the organization does, and calls for such help come on a weekly basis.

When a family falls upon hard times, “people forget what happens to the animals,” Crocker said in an interview with the Suffolk News-Herald. “We’re helping people who are in desperate need of feeding their animals.”

The flow of such calls is just one bit of evidence that Suffolk Humane has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years, and its latest growth spurt has caused the nonprofit group to look for new accommodations. A move from the current Driver location to an office on Kings Fork Road is afoot. That site will give volunteers a place to meet and train and will be more centrally located to all of the city.

But Crocker and Suffolk Humane face a great need, and that is for more volunteer help. Volunteers are the lifeblood of this organization. They are responsible for everything from writing thank you notes to making telephone calls to helping during adoption events. Without its volunteer helpers, Suffolk Humane would not have been able to accomplish nearly as much in terms of saving animals as it has done in recent years.

Folks who might be interested in volunteering can call 538-3030 or visit www.suffolkhumanesociety.com. You can help, even if you have only a couple of hours a week to spare.