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Serve Delicious 4-Course Meals to our Unhoused Neighbors at Friday Night Dinner
Serve a delicious 4-course meal to our unhoused neighbors. New Friends will brief you on the courses that will be served that evening, which usually consist of soup or salad, an appetizer, a main course & a dessert, plus a drink of choice ( coffee, water, lemonade). Your presence and volunteering will help meet an immediate & urgent need for a meal and share care and connection. Being friendly and ready to serve are the main requirements! All ages are welcome. Teams with members younger than 16 will participate with their guardians, during the shift.
Welcome and Serve at Hope the Missions Donors Dinner
We are looking for 4 volunteers to assist with our special donors dinner. We need support with greeting, welcoming, and serving our donors during this event. If you're interested in helping out, please let me know here. Your involvement will greatly enhance the experience for our guests. Volunteers 13+ are needed.
Practice Urban Gardening with Growing Hope Gardens Every Saturday
Join CORE as they partner with Growing Hope Gardens! Meet at their work hub and either be dispatched with their garden maintenance team or work at tending the compost and land at the hub. Please bring your own water bottle and garden gloves. Sign up directly on their website!
Help distribute food with africActive (Agency Site)- Saturday Shift
africActive is a non profit organization providing food and essentials to more than 200 families and individuals every Saturday from 10:30 am to 1:00 pm. With music and comradery, we love our community! Volunteers are needed to help with any of the following - set-up/take-down site, unload truck, box bag groceries, and help distribute food and essentials to the community. Must be 18+ to volunteer. No court ordered volunteers.
Support Downtown Women’s Onsite Day Center Mid-day Shift on Saturdays
The Day Center is the point of entry for women coming through DWC's doors: it provides access to three meals a day; clean bathrooms and showers, changes of clothes, an address for individuals to receive mail, case management; and medical services. Day Center volunteers support our Day Center team by welcoming participants; helping distribute donations, mail, toiletry items, and meals; participating in and/or leading enrichment activities; and helping create a safe, welcoming space for the women receiving services in our community.
Help at Downtown Women’s Center Onsite Kitchen Early Morning Shift on Saturdays
DWC's Kitchen served over 260,000 meals in 2020 alone: our incredible Kitchen team serves three nutritious meals seven days a week and offers an important space for women to connect and to share a meal with each other. Kitchen volunteers help with meal preparation (e.g. chopping and measuring); help keep the kitchen clean and organized (e.g. wiping counters, organizing the food pantry and cabinets); and serve our delicious meals to participants. Kitchen volunteering is a great fit for volunteers who like working in a team while also interacting with DWC participants.
Help Whip Up Some Breakfast for Vets at PATH Saturdays and Sundays
PATH provides meals to their residents in interim housing. When groups sign up to provide meals, it helps PATH focus its resources on providing housing and support services for their residents. Their male veterans in West LA love to have home-cooked meals from volunteers. Shifts are currently available at their West LA site. They understand not everyone is comfortable with on-site volunteering. If you want to support the male veterans, ask them about sponsoring a meal through a meal delivery service or catering!
Support Downtown Women’s Onsite Day Center Morning Shift on Saturdays
The Day Center is the point of entry for women coming through DWC's doors: it provides access to three meals a day; clean bathrooms and showers, changes of clothes, an address for individuals to receive mail, case management; and medical services. Day Center volunteers support our Day Center team by welcoming participants; helping distribute donations, mail, toiletry items, and meals; participating in and/or leading enrichment activities; and helping create a safe, welcoming space for the women receiving services in our community.
Help Sort and Pack Food in Gardena (Agency Site)- Saturday Shift
Gardena Genesis Community SDA Church, an agency partner, is looking for volunteers to inspect, sort, and pack food before it gets distributed to the community. Volunteers are needed for the 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month. Volunteers are needed to prepare bags of food for distribution. Must be 18+ to volunteer. No court ordered volunteering.
Be a Resident Host for Downtown Women’s Center Permanent Housing Program on Saturdays Morning Shift
DWC Permanent Supportive Housing Program provides 119 units of comfortable, safe, and affordable housing without time limits as residents work towards personal stability. Residence hosts provide a welcoming, supportive atmosphere in the lobby of DWC's permanent residences, welcoming and checking in with the women, signing for packages, answering the phone and door, and chatting with residents during downtime. This is a great fit if you're able to work independently and want to work directly with their residents.
Help at Downtown Women’s Center Onsite Kitchen Morning Shift on Saturdays
DWC's Kitchen served over 260,000 meals in 2020 alone: our incredible Kitchen team serves three nutritious meals seven days a week and offers an important space for women to connect and to share a meal with each other. Kitchen volunteers help with meal preparation (e.g. chopping and measuring); help keep the kitchen clean and organized (e.g. wiping counters, organizing the food pantry and cabinets); and serve our delicious meals to participants. Kitchen volunteering is a great fit for volunteers who like working in a team while also interacting with DWC participants.
Help at Downtown Women’s Center Onsite Kitchen Afternoon Shift on Saturdays
DWC's Kitchen served over 260,000 meals in 2020 alone: our incredible Kitchen team serves three nutritious meals seven days a week and offers an important space for women to connect and to share a meal with each other. Kitchen volunteers help with meal preparation (e.g. chopping and measuring); help keep the kitchen clean and organized (e.g. wiping counters, organizing the food pantry and cabinets); and serve our delicious meals to participants. Kitchen volunteering is a great fit for volunteers who like working in a team while also interacting with DWC participants.
Prep and Deliver Delicious Sandwiches for Folks in Need Offsite Tuesday
LAFH needs you to make Sandwiches! Volunteers are needed to make sandwiches for LAFH's outreach efforts. Volunteers would purchase the necessary ingredients to assemble sandwiches at their living place and deliver them to LAFH. Preferred sandwiches include Peanut butter and jelly, Ham and cheese, and turkey. Please be aware that if you are participating in this volunteer opportunity to fulfill volunteering hours, every 20 sandwiches equals 1 hour of volunteering. In making these sandwiches, you are aiding our outreach team to build trust and bridge connections to further assistance. Your contributions will help our unhoused neighbors leave with a full stomach and an even fuller heart. Must be able to purchase the ingredients for sandwich preparation as LAFH does not provide them. Must assemble the sandwiches at your place of residence or other location. LAFH facilities are not available for this opportunity. Deliver sandwiches to our LAFH office during specified operating hours; we do not offer donation pickups. Must be individually wrapped.
Prep Meals on the Weekends with Hollywood Food Coalition’s Community Dinner
Hollywood Food Coalition's Community Dinner is their signature and longest-running program. They serve nightly to anyone in need of a hot, nutritious meal. Their consistency builds trust with their guests, which helps connect them with further services. Our daily meal preparation is "creative cooking" -- We see what has been donated that day and from those ingredients we create our meal -- no recipes included. During your meal preparation shift, we offer a variety of Kitchen jobs to create a meal which will be served that evening. We encourage you to choose jobs based on your strengths in order to make it the best experience possible. Kitchen leads will be there to guide and support you throughout the shift.Consider helping out with their Community Dinners on Saturdays and Sundays! Kids 10+ are welcome with adult accompaniment.
Be a Resident Host for Downtown Women’s Center Permanent Housing Program on Saturdays Evening Shift
DWC Permanent Supportive Housing Program provides 119 units of comfortable, safe, and affordable housing without time limits as residents work towards personal stability. Residence hosts provide a welcoming, supportive atmosphere in the lobby of DWC's permanent residences, welcoming and checking in with the women, signing for packages, answering the phone and door, and chatting with residents during downtime. This is a great fit if you're able to work independently and want to work directly with their residents.
Help Serve Meals on the Weekend Community Dinner with Hollywood Food Coalition
Hollywood Food Coalition's Community Dinner is their signature and longest-running program. They serve nightly to anyone in need of a hot, nutritious meal. Their consistency builds trust with their guests, which helps connect them with further services. On Saturday and Sunday, we pack the meals in the kitchen at our Community Dinner program, load the meals into our van, and drive to our distribution point on N. Orange and Romaine (90038). Volunteers can join us at the kitchen at 5:30 pm to help pack or at the street at 6:15 pm to help set up and serve. Kitchen leads will be there to guide and support you throughout the shift.Consider helping out with their Community Dinners on Mondays through Friday!
Prepare and Serve Lunch Meals with Union Rescue Mission and Hope Gardens Family Center
Help prepare and serve lunch meals to those at the Hope Gardens Family Center in Sylmar. Hope Gardens Family Center provides 3 hot meals per day to all guests. Volunteers are needed to help prepare and set-up for each meal, serve, as well as assist in the clean-up process. Meal serve volunteers are required to be at least 14 years of age. Volunteers under the age of 18 are required to have an adult chaperon present. The chaperone also must be registered.
Support Downtown Women’s Onsite Day Center Mid-day Shift on Sundays
The Day Center is the point of entry for women coming through DWC's doors: it provides access to three meals a day; clean bathrooms and showers, changes of clothes, an address for individuals to receive mail, case management; and medical services. Day Center volunteers support our Day Center team by welcoming participants; helping distribute donations, mail, toiletry items, and meals; participating in and/or leading enrichment activities; and helping create a safe, welcoming space for the women receiving services in our community.
Prepare and Serve Breakfast Meals with Union Rescue Mission and Hope Gardens Family Center
Help prepare and serve breakfast meals to those at the Hope Gardens Family Center in Sylmar. Hope Gardens Family Center provides 3 hot meals per day to all guests. Volunteers are needed to help prepare and set-up for each meal, serve, as well as assist in the clean-up process. Meal serve volunteers are required to be at least 14 years of age. Volunteers under the age of 18 are required to have an adult chaperon present. The chaperone also must be registered.
Help at Downtown Women’s Center Onsite Kitchen Early Morning Shift on Sundays
DWC's Kitchen served over 260,000 meals in 2020 alone: our incredible Kitchen team serves three nutritious meals seven days a week and offers an important space for women to connect and to share a meal with each other. Kitchen volunteers help with meal preparation (e.g. chopping and measuring); help keep the kitchen clean and organized (e.g. wiping counters, organizing the food pantry and cabinets); and serve our delicious meals to participants. Kitchen volunteering is a great fit for volunteers who like working in a team while also interacting with DWC participants.
Featured Projects
Get Your Hands Dirty at Garden School Foundation’s Community Garden Day
Garden School Foundation,
join-us@gardenschoolfoundation.org,
(802) 779-2889
Garden School Foundation provides in-depth garden-based education to youth at Title I schools in Los Angeles, strengthening connections between food justice, environmental stewardship, and community health. By using the full transformative potential of school gardens as teaching sites, we nurture a healthy and mindful generation of children who care for their bodies, their communities, and the earth. We currently serve ten Title I elementary schools, reaching over 3,200 students and their families each year. As a GSF volunteer, you’ll play a indispensable role in maintaining our historic school garden at an elementary school in West Adams. Your work will help us maintain a space that is both educational and beautiful, and will positively impact both the environment and student growth. Join us to learn new skills, connect with nature, and enjoy a fulfilling and rewarding day with our local community. Together you’ll work alongside GSF staff and school families to weed the garden, refresh mulch pathways, harvest veggies from our production farm, build new raised beds, and more! After a morning of hard work and good vibes, we’ll share a light lunch together (provided by our partners at Sprouts) under the fig trees. Volunteers should wear close-toe shoes and loose, comfy clothes that are school-appropriate. Complimentary t-shirts will also be provided. We encourage volunteers to bring their own water bottles and sun protection.
Serve Christmas Meals to Adults Transitioning out of Homelessness in Los Angeles
LA Family Housing,
Volunteer@LAFH.org,
Help adults transitioning out of homelessness enjoy their own Christmas celebration. Serve a festive holiday meal, host a cheerful bingo game, and hand out gift cards and prizes to bring extra joy to this special time of year! YOUR IMPACT: For many adults experiencing homelessness, the holiday season can feel isolating. Additionally, the cost of a Christmas meal is often out of reach for our participants. By providing a full holiday meal and organizing a fun, community-focused activity, you’re helping spread joy and create lasting memories for individuals in need.
Distribute Food, Clothes, and Essentials to Those in Need with Long Beach Community Table
Long Beach Community Table,
LBCTVolunteers@gmail.com,
(562) 548-0774
Every weekend, volunteers with Long Beach Community Table deliver fresh produce, nutritious food, toiletry essentials, shoes, socks, and clothing directly to individuals in areas of great need throughout Long Beach. This essential outreach effort ensures that vulnerable community members, including homeless individuals, low-income families, seniors, and those with disabilities, receive vital resources to support their health and well-being. By participating in this impactful initiative, volunteers play a crucial role in combating food insecurity and providing essential supplies to those who need them most, fostering a sense of community and support in the heart of Long Beach.