Give Young People A Happy Holiday by Shopping My Friend’s Place’s Wishlist
Our annual Holiday Party and in-kind drive is a way for young people ages 12 to 25 who are impacted by homelessness can enjoy themselves and receive both presents and essentials. Our biggest need is donations of items on our Holiday Wishlist, linked below, as we want to provide young people with as much as possible while also stocking up on items for distribution throughout the next year. Monetary contributions can be made via our website as well. Questions can be directed to [email protected]
Donate to the Immediate Items Needed by Hollywood Food Coalition
Hollywood Food Coalition helps to fulfill immediate practical needs of people experiencing homelessness and general poverty! People experiencing homelessness and general poverty often need basic items just to survive each day. These items are hard to keep for long periods of time and also difficult to keep clean making frequent replacement necessary.
Donate to Support Manna Conejo Valley Food Distribution Center
Manna Conejo Valley Food Bank is a unique food pantry started more than 52 years ago to support families in the Conejo Valley that were struggling with food insecurity. We serve an average of 300+ families each month and distribute more than 275,000+ pounds of food each year. Manna serves as a safety net for our neighbors struggling to make ends meet due to job loss, underemployment, disability or fixed incomes. We serve our neighbors with dignity by providing a well-stocked free grocery store. Our shelves are full of pantry staples, our refrigerators offer fresh produce and dairy, and our freezer holds frozen chicken and variety of other frozen selections. Please help Manna by making a tax-deductible donation today to help support the pantry, its programs, and to purchase food.
Prepare and Serve Lunch Meals with Union Rescue Mission at Angeles House
Help prepare and serve lunch 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 Breakfast Meals with Union Rescue Mission
Help prepare and serve breakfast at Union Rescue Missions kitchen! At this time they are serving our guests indoors and their unsheltered guests are receiving grab and go meals. They cannot do it - without YOU! The age requirement to volunteer in the kitchen is 14 years old. Volunteers under the age of 18 are required to have an adult chaperone with them at all times. The adult chaperone also must register.
Help at Downtown Women’s Center Onsite Kitchen Early Morning Shift on Fridays
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.
Prepare and Serve Breakfast Meals with Union Rescue Mission at Angeles House
Help prepare and serve breakfast 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.
Make and Donate Sacked Lunches at North Hollywood Interfaith Food Pantry Every Monday and Every Friday
Prepare and deliver sack lunches. Lunches should include: a sandwich (PB & J, turkey, or ham and/or cheese) a piece of fruit (oranges are best) chips and/or cookies (small bag) a drink (water or juice box) and a napkin. Energy bars or a box of raisins are also good. Brown or white paper sack bags and please label OUTSIDE with the type of sandwich. Sack lunches need to be delivered to the food pantry between 7:00am and 7:15am on the date for which you have signed up.
Be Part of the Pet Food Kit Team at North Hollywood Interfaith Food Pantry Every Monday and Every Friday
The Pet Food Kit Team makes pet food kits for hungry dogs and cats at home and delivers them to the First Christian Church. Sign up to help out.
Assemble Essential Toiletry Kits for DWC Participants Offsite Monday – Friday
Toiletry Kits are essential to the women we serve at DWC. Our Day Center provides daily access to showers for women experiencing homelessness, making Toiletry Kits an everyday need for the women we serve. You can review our Toiletry Kit guidelines here: https://downtownwomenscenter.org/help-from-home-kits/ We accept scheduled Toiletry Kits Monday Ð Friday between 8:00am to 1:00pm.
Assemble Essential Cleaning Home Kits for DWC Residents Offsite Monday – Friday
Clean Home Kits provide DWC residents with essential cleaning supplies as they move from homelessness into housing. Your thoughtful contribution will help these women create a safe space that they can call home. You can review our Clean Home Kit guidelines here.: https://downtownwomenscenter.org/help-from-home-kits/ We accept scheduled Toiletry Kits Monday Ð Friday between 8:00am to 1:00pm.
Purchase, Assemble and Donate Hygiene Kits Offsite Monday – Friday
We help over 11,000 people a year and most of them are in need of basics like shampoo, soap, toothpaste, etc. So we go through a lot of hygiene kits! Your donation of these kits helps these folks to not only stay clean and healthy, but also to uphold their dignity. Create hygiene kits for our participants transitioning out of homelessness. Purchase the items yourself or host a drive, then assemble the items into kits. Please click on this link to view the items we would love for you to put into the hygiene kits. https://lafh.my.salesforce.com/sfc/p/6A00000396MT/a/RP000000XfMB/U3ZUVzuY_OiFrAQluQXHXbAm4JicJHEUtH34GPzlUFk. Once your kits are assembled, a drop-off time must be scheduled between the hours of 9am and 5pm, Monday through Friday.
Help at Downtown Women’s Center Onsite Kitchen Morning Shift on Fridays
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.
Prepare Delicious To-Go Snack Packs for DWC Participants Offsite
Snack Packs are essential to the women we serve at DWC. They allow us to ensure that participants have a nutritious snack or meal to take with them before leaving the Day Center each afternoon. You can review our Snack Pack guidelines here https://downtownwomenscenter.org/help-from-home-kits/ Please reach out to with details of your snack pack building event and to schedule your delivery.
Help at Downtown Women’s Center Onsite Kitchen Afternoon Shift on Fridays
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 Monday
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.
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.
Drive with the North Hollywood Interfaith Food Pantry Transportation Team 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 Transportation Team transports the loaded grocery bags from the packing site at Temple Beth Hillel to the food distribution site at First Christian Church. The entire process of transporting 150 to 200 pre-packed bags takes about one hour. Bags are transported in Pantry owned vehicles. You must drive yourself between Temple Beth Hillel and First Christian Church.
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.
Featured Projects
Get Your Hands Dirty at Garden School Foundation’s Community Garden Day
Garden School Foundation,
[email protected],
(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,
[email protected],
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,
[email protected],
(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.