Opportunities
CURRENT NEED: LA fire relief efforts
Right now there are no volunteer needs and ash donations are most critical to keep the infrastructure of relief efforts funded. Full recovery will not be quick! We’re heartbroken to see so many neighbors suffering in the wake of destruction. đź’” This is the perfect time to rally around our greater SoCal community.
- Â Clothing (all ages, sizes, men, women, toddlers and infants)
- Â Undergarments (new only; all ages, sizes, men, women, toddlers)
- Â Kitchenware (bowls, pots and pans, plates, cutlery, etc.)
- Â Tennis shoes (men, women, kids)
- Â Pillows + pillow cases
- Â Blankets
- New socks and underwear
- New bed sheets, blankets
- New towels
- Toilet paper, paper towels
- Air purifiers
- Canned goods
- Toiletries
- Non-perishables
Please email Macy, our Volunteer Coordinator, if you have any questions or need support.
Our friends at Bridge Thrifts are donating all gift card purchases *and* matching dollar for dollar with an additional gift card. These funds will go toward helping victims of the Eaton / Altadena fire.
They’re partnering with local organizations and churches in the Altadena/Pasadena area to provide these Bridge Thrift gift cards for those needing clothing and household goods as they begin to rebuild their lives.
Bridge Thrift is forwarding any gift cards purchased and giving them directly to our LA community partners who are engaged in response efforts.
We’ve worked alongside Bridge Thrift for years and love the ways they’re always giving back to the local San Diego (and now LA) community!Â
Visit their stores in Clairemont or Spring Valley and find out more here.
Ways to Get Involved
See what events and volunteer opportunities we and our affiliates are hosting.
At-Risk Youth
Where: Solana Beach, Escondido, or City Heights
When: Weekly, semester-long commitments requested
A Step Beyond, San Diego Refugee Tutoring, Casa de Amistad, and UrbanLife are looking for tutors to come alongside underserved students. Tutoring opportunities can look like weekly sit down sessions or holiday party set up! Fill out the sign-up form to learn more!
Where: Mira Mesa
When: 1st and 4th Thursday of the month
Prepare and hand out food packages at Love Acts’ monthly food distribution at Mira Mesa High School and Christ Community Church. Vulnerable neighbors in the community are highly impacted by this generosity each month!
Where: County-wide
When: Start with a volunteer orientation, every 3rd Thursday of the month
Support teens in foster care who are aging-out of the system and most often overlooked. Just In Time For Foster Youth hosts volunteer info sessions each month and then will help match you with a youth for mentoring.
Homelessness
Where: Solutions For Change, Vista
When: Any day of the week
Prepare a meal for families who have recently left homelessness and are newly joining the Solutions community.Â
*Good Opportunity for Groups!*
Where: North County, South County
When: Last Wednesday and Thursday of the month (every other)
Attend one of San Diego Recuse Mission’s monthly Huddle events to learn about the ongoing needs of the houseless in North County. There is always a story from a graduate, special guest from the county, and lunch included.
North County’s Huddle events will be the last Wednesday of every other month and South County Lighthouse Huddle event will be the last Thursday of every other month.Â
Where: San Diego Rescue Mission, Downtown
When: Any Monday night
Join SDRM’s weekly program for residents of the Rescue Mission. You’ll have a chance to get to know residents and help facilitate the activities for the evening. This is a great opportunity for groups!
*Good Opportunity for Groups!*
Where: San Diego Rescue Mission, Downtown
When: 2nd Saturday of the month from 10am-12:30pm
Groups help with a variety of tasks at the mission, and will have a chance to engage with other volunteers, SDRM staff, and residents. Minimum age to participate is 12 years old.
*Good Opportunity for Groups!*
Where: Vista
When: Monday & Tuesday evenings; Saturday mornings
Come and hang out with kids at Solutions for Change! You’ll connect with them by playing games, doing crafts, and having fun.
This gives parents the opportunity to participate in their mandatory classes or workshops at Solutions for Change.
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Where: Downtown
When: Year-round
*12 month commitment*
San Diego Rescue Missions mentoring program, “Walk With Me”, pairs volunteers to walk alongside a man, woman or family enrolled in their 12-month Mission Academy program. Training is provided.
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Where: Pacific Beach
When: Year-round
*18 month commitment*
A Circle Ally is a person who volunteers to play an active role in supporting a Circle Leader’s commitment to climb out of poverty and achieve his or her goals. As an Ally you have the opportunity to come alongside a Circle Leader and build an intentional friendship and support system.
You won’t be doing this alone. At Circles, there is a large community of volunteers and resources to help you and the Circle Leaders in your journeys together. You will have the opportunity to gain new perspectives and experiences of your community and work for broader community change in the effort to reduce poverty.
Where: Downtown
When: Thursdays at 5pm
Circle USA needs volunteers for their community, recruitment, jobs & education, services, and big view resource teams. When resource teams are in place, the Circle program can run smoothly and larger systemic issues can be addressed.
Immigrants & Refugees
Where: County-wide, most often East County
When: Start with a virtual volunteer orientation
World Relief needs volunteers to serve as English tutors, offer career support, or be a friendship partner for a refugee. Sign up for an orientation to find out which opportunity is right for you.
Where: City Heights
When: Spring ’25 Semester, 5-6:30pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays
San Diego Refugee Tutoring needs more volunteer tutors to come weekly to help students in their program this spring! Sign up to join a volunteer orientation!
Where: Mid-City Nazarene Church, City Heights
When: Mondays at noon
Many refugees & immigrant children entering San Diego County schools lack formal education skills and English proficiency that hinder their academic progress. The emotional distress from fleeing their home country can pose further obstacles.
Cafe English is a once-a-week, drop-in conversational English hour. Volunteers will get paired with one of our clients, and no prior ESL experience is necessary.
Where: Logan Heights
When: Weekday mornings
The Greater Logan Heights area is one of the most diverse yet impoverished communities in San Diego. Alma Community Care provides mental health counseling, parenting education and seminars, and scholarships for individual therapy.
Volunteers are needed to help support parenting seminars at local schools with set up and break down and/or by providing dinner or breakfast.
The next opportunities are February 11th, 13th, 19th, March 11th, 13th, 19th, April 15th, 17th, and 23rd.
Where: Mid-City Nazarene Church, City Heights
When: every Thursday between 1:00-6:00pm
Mid-City Nazarene Church is located across the street from a large day shelter for migrants. They need help running their Fresh Food Market, a small community grocery store whose goal is to meet the needs of neighbors who lack access to affordable and healthy foods. You’ll help sort through and organize food donations, restock items, carry bags for shoppers, or check guests schedule their next appointment.
Where: Across San Diego County
When: Year-Round
*6-12 month commitment!
Help a recent refugee or asylee family or individual adjust to American life by walking alongside them with a group of volunteers (a small group of your friends and/or fellow church members). You’ll be their guide from the very beginning, from meeting them at the airport, to helping enroll them in social services, to building a relationship.
Where: Across San Diego County
When: Year-Round
Host Home Volunteers donate a comfortable space for refugees, asylees, and others in a time of transition so that they have a sense of safety and security. Times of stay can be as temporary or long-term as volunteers are able to provide. Sign up here to learn more information from a World Relief staff member.Â
Where: City Heights
When: June 14th, 16th-20th
City Heights Math Camp is a free summer camp for grades 2-11. Featuring interactive classroom instruction and one on one tutoring, City Heights Math Camp focuses on building on core math concepts so that each student will excel at their grade level. In addition, City Heights Math Camp seeks to inspire a love for learning which allows each student to dream about a future of education/career success.
Anti-Trafficking
Generate Hope believes community plays a key role in helping women experience love and dignity. From mentoring, on-campus support, creative services, and professional partnership — there are so many unique ways to help out!Â
Sign up to fill out a volunteer application and get matched with a service opportunity.
Where: Escondido
When: Thursday nights
Each week, Alabaster Jar Project needs a volunteer to provide a meal, including an entrĂ©e, salad and or bread, drinks, and a dessert for their peer support group attendees, as their meeting is a dinner meeting. You can sign up to do this weekly, once a month, or one time only. It’s up to you!