Want to Cook for Others? Provide Dinner to Residents with the Guest Chef Program at Ascencia
The Guest Chef Program is an incredible way for you to help their efforts, and is a tremendous savings to their operations on a day-to-day basis! Every day at Ascencia's shelter, volunteers prepare and serve hot meals for unhoused families and adults in their Emergency Housing program. For breakfast, lunch, or dinner, their "Guest Chefs" give their time and energy, generously donating food and a great deal of compassion with each plate. Their Guest Chef Teams will plan the menu, purchase, and prepare the ingredients, then cook and serve the meal to their shelter residents. Volunteers in their Guest Chef Program commit to preparing meals for approximately 40 shelter residents on a daily basis. Their Guest Chefs maintain a sanitary kitchen environment, complying with health regulations in the handling of food, including washing of hands and wearing gloves before preparing and serving food. You can help by bringing disposable plates, cups, napkins, forks, spoons, and knives. Don't have time to cook and prepare the meal? Many of their Guest Chefs pick up food from local restaurants! For dinner, Guest Chefs are requested to prepare hot, lower-sodium meals for dinner that are rich in protein and/or healthy vegetables, such as stews, chili, pasta, or meatloaf, and must include a vegetarian option. Beverages like water, iced tea, or juice should also be provided. Dinner is served at 6:00 pm, meaning teams should aim to arrive around 5:00 pm to begin meal preparation.
Help End Hunger & Homelessness with Rescue Mission Alliance San Fernando Valley
You can help end hunger and homelessness in the San Fernando Valley by giving a financial gift of any size to the Rescue Mission Alliance San Fernando Valley. Your gift will help provide meals, clean clothing, vocational training, shelter, and life-changing services to their homeless neighbors.
Support Inner City Muslims through Islah LA
Islah LA is a leading community of Muslims in the South LA Inner City. Their purpose is to revive, renew, and restore the South LA community, which has been plagued by systematic problems for generations, such as cycles of poverty, incarceration, broken homes, and lack of educational opportunity.
Prepare and Serve Dinner Meals with Union Rescue Mission at Angeles House
Help prepare and serve dinner at Union Rescue Missions Angeles House (South LA)! Angeles House is their new campus that opened in April 2022. Angeles House is the home of about 86 families in South Los Angeles. Help them prepare and serve breakfast meals, to those that are sheltered within their facility. You must be at least 14 years to volunteer in the kitchen. Volunteers under the age of 18 are required to have an adult chaperone present. The chaperone also must be registered.
Prepare and Serve Dinner Meals with Union Rescue Mission and Hope Gardens Family Center
Help prepare and serve dinner 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.
Donate to Build New Homes for Low-Income People with West Hollywood Community Housing
West Hollywood Community Housing Corporation (WHCHC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit affordable housing development corporation founded in 1986. With the stability of housing, they transform the lives of low-income individuals and families. Today, WHCHC continues to serve West Hollywood and has expanded into Los Angeles and neighboring areas. Please donate to help them continue their projects
Support Foster Youth at United Friends of the Children
In-kind contributions are a great way to support the current and former foster youth United Friends serves. Gather your friends, family, and colleagues together to host a fundraising drive! You can also donate gift cards to help pay for food, clothing, alarm clocks, backpacks and much more.
Provide Sack Lunches for Union Station Homeless Services
Union Station Homeless Services need volunteer groups to provide lunches for the shelter residents and community members in need. If your family, corporation, faith-based, civic or social group would like to provide sack lunches, please contact them!
Prep and Serve Meals with Union Station Homeless Services
Interested in food prep and meal service? Union Station Homeless Services needs your help! These volunteer shifts are an integral part of maintaining an efficient and successful kitchen and meal program. Volunteers must be at least 13 years old to volunteer in the kitchen with a chaperone and 16 to volunteer without one.
Help Foster Community Connections at Union Station Homeless Services
Volunteer at Union Station Homeless Services (USHS) as a Community Accountability Partner to provide an additional support network to clients. This role allows you to foster community connections, share specialized skills, and maintain accountability through the development of meaningful one-on-one relationships. You will help clients build on their social skills and move forward on their journey out of homelessness.
Donate to Union Station Homeless Services
Union Station Homeless Services has developed a Housing First model that addresses homelessness at its core. By prioritizing stable housing, they lay the groundwork for individuals to reclaim their lives. With a housing retention success rate of 97%, their approach is not just a temporary fix; it's a proven pathway to a sustainable future for those they serve. Because of your support, doors have opened, lives have been stabilized, and community ties have been strengthened. But the journey doesn't end here. They need your help to continue this vital work. The ripple effect of your donation extends far beyond the walls of a home—it restores a sense of belonging and purpose. Make your mark in the fight against homelessness. Donate today!
Create Enrichment Activities for Union Station Homeless Services
Hold a community event at one of USHS' 16 locations to help bring residents and the community together. By fostering one-on-one relationships and social networks, USHS hopes to combat isolation to support wellness and community stability. Activities can include art sessions, a book club, pizza & prayer.
Adopt-An-Item for Union Station Homeless Services
Are you looking for an easy way to give back? Union Station Homeless Services' Adopt-an-Item program is a simple way to make a positive impact in your community. By adopting an item, you provide essential ingredients that help their kitchen staff cook delicious and nutritious meals for their residents.
Adopt-a-Meal at Union Station Homeless Services
Union Station Homeless Services relies on the support of volunteer groups to provide daily home-cooked meals to shelter residents and community members in need. If your family, corporation, or civic group would like to cook and serve a meal at one of their shelters, consider sponsoring an Adopt-a-Meal!
Volunteer to Make a Difference at The Midnight Mission
Volunteers are an integral part of how The Midnight Mission is able to continue serving those in need across Los Angeles. Volunteering with them gives their guests and program participants much needed support to build a bridge to self-sufficiency and is an extremely rewarding experience for you. Groups of volunteers are needed every day to help with meal services, giveaways and other special projects!
Donate to the Midnight Mission
Make your gift today to support The Midnight Mission’s fight against poverty and homelessness. Thanks to caring donations, they are able to provide individuals and families experiencing homelessness with a secure place to sleep and three nutritious meals a day. Their job training classes, medical services, addiction recovery program, domestic violence counseling, and the wide range of other essential services that they provide are designed to get people off the streets and into productive new lives. At The Midnight Mission, they know the important difference between a hand-up and a hand-out. Every day, with your help, they help people turn their lives around and thrive!
Donate Clothes, Hygiene Essentials, and More to Project Ropa
By donating, you directly support Project Ropa's programs and enable them to continue making a difference in the lives of those in need. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps to restore hope and dignity. They gladly accept in-kind donations of hygiene products, adult size clothing, shoes and accessories. Please review the list of items they’re looking for and fill out their donation form to schedule a donation drop off or pick up.
Join the Packing Team with North Hollywood Interfaith Food Pantry Every Friday
North Hollywood Interfaith Food Pantry distributes more than 1,300+ bags of food monthly as the number of people coming to the North Hollywood Interfaith Food Pantry has significantly increased. The Packing Team fills the bags and sorts them in the basement of Temple Beth Hillel. Sign up to help out.
Donate to Bundles of Kindness WIsh List
Bundles of Kindness was established in 2018. Bundles of Kindness' mission is to provide substantial care packages to the Los Angeles homeless community. These packages are delivered through the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, food pantries, shelters, safe parking programs, and directly to people who are living on the streets of LA. Care packages typically include: umbrellas, rain ponchos, blankets, hats, gloves, scarves, hand warmers, t-shirts, socks, underwear, flip flops, toiletries, facial wipes, dental hygiene products, menstrual products, sunscreen, individually wrapped shelf stable food, water, juice, and information about community resources. Additionally, pet supplies, jackets, sweatshirts, and shoes are made available. Donations can be made through the Bundles of Kindness Amazon Wish List and/or by emailing support@bundlesofkindness.org.
Support Crime Survivors Resource Center’s Backpack Program
Support education for children, youth, teens and adults. Crime Survivors has donated more than 2,500 Backpacks with School Supplies to victims of crime and their Families, partnering agencies and nonprofits throughout Southern California. Join the Survivors Hope Backpack Program and provide school supplies to the youth.
Featured Projects
Help Make Holiday Meal Baskets for the PATH Community
PATH (People Assisting the Homeless),
PATHvolunteers@epath.org,
(323) 644-2200
Help PATH meet their goal to assemble and distribute over 800 Holiday Meal Baskets to those in need. Help make sure that everyone in the community – housed and unhoused – can enjoy a special meal! By donating items to the food drive, you will help provide enough food to assemble “Holiday Meal Boxes” to help PATH teams enrich the holiday experience of members of the community. The relationships you help build with food donations can be vital in helping neighbors feel secure and supported. Email PATH at PATHVolunteers@epath.org to schedule a date/time to drop-off or shop the Amazon Link: https://a.co/hBgLUY7 and food will be delivered directly to PATH.
Give to the Crime Survivors Resource Center’s Thanksgiving Drive
Crime Survivors Resource Center,
info@crime survivors.org,
(844) 853-4673
Help make Thanksgiving Day a festive occation for families in need. Your donatoin will help Crime Survivors Resource Center purchase grocery store gift cards for all the fixins needed by families. There are many ways to help including sponsoring a family and hosting a corportate challange.
Host a Thanksgiving Food Drive For Families at Union Station Homeless Services
Union Station Homeless Services,
volunteer@unionstationhs.org,
(626) 240-0720
Make a difference this Thanksgiving and host a food drive in your community! Collect items like stuffing, mashed potatoes, Velveeta cheese, and more. USHS kindly request all items be dropped off one of the locations listed on their website no later than November 18th.
Help Host a Thanksgiving Celebration at PATH
PATH (People Assisting the Homeless),
PATHvolunteers@epath.org,
(323) 644-2200
Participate in an on-site volunteer activity to celebrate Thanksgiving with PATH residents. They are looking for individuals and/or groups who can donate some or all of the following items and help organize PATH Thanksgiving celebrations: Bring a Thanksgiving meal to serve to PATH residents ($1500-$3000), Bring Thanksgiving-inspired desserts (approx. $250-$275), Bring/play group games (Bingo, Uno, Trivia), Organize a raffle-prize giveaway. Date/Time: TBD based on site and group/individual availability. You can take a special role in making this Thanksgiving special for many members of the PATH Community. Please sign-up and reach out to learn more about this holiday opportunity! Email them at: PATHVolunteers@epath.org
Help Donate Turkeys For Families at Union Station Homeless Services
Union Station Homeless Services,
volunteer@unionstationhs.org,
(626) 240-0720
Help USHS collect 750 frozen turkeys for families in need this Thanksgiving! Drop off days will be Nov. 17th and 18th.
Take Photographs for A Place Called Home’s Thanksgiving Event
A Place Called Home,
volunteer@apch.org,
(323) 232-7653
Volunteer will serve as event photographer to capture photos in shot list provided by A Place Called Home. Volunteer will provide 6-8 edited select shots to APCH within 48 hours after the event, and will provide full take edited shots to APCH within 5 business days after the event. APCH will credit photography as desired in publications.
Help Setup, Facilitate and Breakdown A Place Called Homes Thanksgiving Distribution & Dinner Event
A Place Called Home,
volunteer@apch.org,
(323) 232-7653
Volunteers will support all aspects of event setup, facilitation and breakdown alongside the A Place Called Hometeam to help create a welcoming, festive environment as APCH welcomes hundreds of South Central families and neighbors to the APCH campus for their annual Thanksgiving event. In addition to celebrating community, this event provides hundreds of turkeys and grocery bags with all the Thanksgiving fixings for members of their South Central community. Please Note: Role may include moving, bending, walking, light-medium lifting and extended periods of standing. Please let the APCH team know if there is anything they can do to make this project more comfortable for you.
Join Us for Big Sunday’s Annual Thanksgiving Stuffing Event!
Big Sunday,
info@bigsunday.org,
3235499944
Each year we collect and pack big bags full of Thanksgiving dinner for thousands of people! We need folks to donate food, as well as pack everything up and distribute it. And yes, everyone is invited to join together for a community breakfast, too! A true festival of gratitude. We also need folks to lead food collections in their community!
Host a Winter Holiday Celebration at PATH
PATH (People Assisting the Homeless),
PATHvolunteers@epath.org,
(323) 644-2200
ueroHelp make the holiday season bright for PATH residents by hosting a Winter Holiday celebration at one of their sites! They are encouraging the community to get involved in celebrating this holiday season with those at PATH residences who may need an extra support and encouragement during this especially trying time. By hosting a holiday celebration, you have the opportunity to: Sponsor a meal/snack to provide for community celebration,Bring cookies and decorate them in holiday-inspired themes (approx. $250-$275), Bring Holiday decorations and decorate common room of PATH building, Host a holiday movie night and bring popcorn and treats for guests, Bring group games (Bingo, card games, trivia, etc.) to play with residents, Organize a raffle-prize giveaway. Date/Time: December 1st – December 12th – TBD based on site and group/individual availability. Please email them at PATHVolunteers@epath.org for available dates and locations if you are interested in bringing the holiday spirit to the community and ensuring that everyone – housed or unhoused – can enjoy a festive and cheerful holiday. Kids Welcome: Varys by site.