Opportunities
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. Most tutoring roles begin in August with the start of the new school year, but there are also several opportunities to help out with summer camps. 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.
*Good Opportunity for Groups!*
Where: North County, various locations
When: Last Wednesday of the month
Attend one of San Diego Recuse Mission’s monthly North County 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.
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: Solway Church, Pacific Beach
When: Every Tuesday evening
Cook a meal, serve food, or hand out clothes at We See You’s weekly dinner for those experiencing homelessness. You & your group can serve once or weekly! All ages are welcome.
*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.
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.
Where: Pacific Beach
When: Year-round
*18 month commitment*
The goal of Circles Allies is to help support someone as they leave poverty for good and end the cycle of generational poverty. Allies will offer their experience, networks, and friendship as they live beside a Circle Leader for 18 months.
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 area
When: Fall ’24 Semester
San Diego Refugee Tutoring needs more volunteer tutors to help students in their program this fall! Sign up to join a volunteer orientation on October 30th.
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 October 16th, November 12th, November 14th, and November 20th.
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.
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!
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 entrée, 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!