Opportunities
Ways to Get Involved
Scroll down to see what events and volunteer opportunities we and our affiliates are hosting that YOU can be a part of!
Click to view by One-Time Serving,Focus Area, or Region
One-Time Serving Opportunities
WHERE: City Heights
WHEN: Saturday, August 8th from 10:30a-2:30p
San Diego Refugee Tutoring is hosting a Back to School Bash for their students. Volunteers are needed to help run craft stations, hand out lunch, help with the inflatable obstacle course, and do face painting.Â
17 volunteers needed
WHERE: Vista
WHEN: Saturday, August 8th from 9:30a-1:30p
Solutions for Change is hosting Unity Day for the families in their program who are on their journey of leaving homelessness. Volunteers will be helping to run the team competitions, such as the sack race and three legged race!
20 volunteers needed
At-Risk Youth
WHERE: Solana Beach, Escondido, City Heights, or Poway
WHEN: Weekly, semester-long commitments requested
A Step Beyond, San Diego Refugee Tutoring, Casa de Amistad, UrbanLife, and Abraxas High School 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: 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: 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
WHERE: Vista
WHEN: Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, or Saturday
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: Pacific Beach
WHEN: Year-round
*18 month commitment*
Circles San Diego, is a community-driven program dedicated to empowering families and individuals to overcome poverty, prevent homelessness, and achieve long-term economic stability. We’re currently seeking Circle Allies—compassionate volunteers who play an active role in supporting a Circle Leader’s (families/individuals in the program) commitment to climb out of poverty and achieve their goals.  Allies serve as friends and mentors, walking alongside Circle Leaders to provide guidance and support.Â
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.
WHERE: Old Town
WHEN: Tuesday evenings
We See You San Diego needs help hosting their Dinner Parties for people experiencing homelessness. They have different teams you can serve on- set up, food, clothing, and clean up. Great opportunity for community groups!
WHERE: National City
WHEN: Wednesday evenings
Join us for Lighthouse Connections, a weekly volunteer event that brings fun, friendship, and community to the guests at the South County Lighthouse. Each week, your group leads a fun activity for about 50 residents. You’ll be responsible for choosing the activity, bringing supplies, snacks, and small prizes, and running the event.
Â
WHERE: Downtown and South County
WHEN: Every day
Serve lunch and a smile to the men, women and children in our 12-month residential rehabilitation program and the women and children in our 30-day emergency shelter.
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WHERE: Downtown
WHEN: Sundays
Serve lunch and a smile to the men, women and children in our 12-month residential rehabilitation program and the women and children in our 30-day emergency shelter.
Â
Anti-Trafficking
WHERE: Coronado
WHEN: Dependent on volunteer role
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 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!
WHERE: Escondido
WHEN: Monday nights
Provide Monday night dinner for the ladies in Alabaster Jar Projects residential program, Grace House!Â
WHERE: Downtown
WHEN: Every weekday between 2-2:30pm or 5-6:30p
In a critical step to combat sex trafficking, Olive Crest has launched a comprehensive initiative for the Prevention and Restoration of Minors Impacted by Sexual Exploitation (PROMiSE).
Their Drop‑In Center provides immediate, no‑strings‑attached access to basic needs, safety, and essential services — including meals, clothing, counseling, educational support, and vocational training.
Volunteers are needed to drop off lunches for around 10 youth.Â
WHERE: Grossmont
WHEN: Every weekday between 9a-4p
The Well has a variety of opportunities on their team. Join their Little Wellies, Events Team, Admin Team, be a Workshop Teacher, or tell them what YOU love to do!
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: Mondays at 12pm
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: Mid-City Nazarene Church, City Heights
WHEN: Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays
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: Escondido
WHEN: Every day between 8am-4:30pm
Food is our most basic human need, yet thousands of residents in North San Diego County are food insecure. Each day at Interfaith sack lunches are distributed to people as needed and available. Interfaith distributes 300+ sack lunches daily.
Prepare sack lunches for Interfaith to distribute throughout the day to people in need of a meal. Any amount prepared is appreciated.
WHERE: Barrio Logan
WHEN: Tuesday and Thursday mornings
Alma Community Care provides comprehensive care to families and residents of the Greater Logan Heights area. Alma provides free parenting seminars focused on mental health education. Volunteers are needed to help support parenting seminars at local schools with set up and break down and providing food.
County-wide
WHERE: Solana Beach, Escondido, City Heights, or Poway
WHEN: Weekly, semester-long commitments requested
A Step Beyond, San Diego Refugee Tutoring, Casa de Amistad, UrbanLife, and Abraxas High School 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: 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.
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: 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
North County
WHERE: 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
WHERE: Vista
WHEN: Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, or Saturdays
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: 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!
WHERE: Escondido
WHEN: Monday nights
Provide Monday night dinner for the ladies in Alabaster Jar Projects residential program, Grace House!Â
WHERE: Escondido
WHEN: Every day between 8am-4:30pm
Food is our most basic human need, yet thousands of residents in North San Diego County are food insecure. Each day at Interfaith sack lunches are distributed to people as needed and available. Interfaith distributes 300+ sack lunches daily.
Prepare sack lunches for Interfaith to distribute throughout the day to people in need of a meal. Any amount prepared is appreciated.
East County
WHERE: Grossmont
WHEN: Every weekday between 9a-4p
The Well has a variety of opportunities on their team. Join their Little Wellies, Events Team, Admin Team, be a Workshop Teacher, or tell them what YOU love to do!
South County
WHERE: Barrio Logan
WHEN: Tuesday and Thursday mornings
Alma Community Care provides comprehensive care to families and residents of the Greater Logan Heights area. Alma provides free parenting seminars focused on mental health education. Volunteers are needed to help support parenting seminars at local schools with set up and break down and providing food.
WHERE: Coronado
WHEN: Dependent on volunteer role
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: National City
WHEN: Wednesday evenings
Join us for Lighthouse Connections, a weekly volunteer event that brings fun, friendship, and community to the guests at the South County Lighthouse. Each week, your group leads a fun activity for about 50 residents. You’ll be responsible for choosing the activity, bringing supplies, snacks, and small prizes, and running the event.
Â
WHERE: Downtown and South County
WHEN: Every day
Serve lunch and a smile to the men, women and children in our 12-month residential rehabilitation program and the women and children in our 30-day emergency shelter.
Â
Central
WHERE: City Heights
WHEN: Mondays at 12pm
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: Mid-City Nazarene Church, City Heights
WHEN: Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays
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: Downtown
WHEN: Every weekday between 2-2:30pm
In a critical step to combat sex trafficking, Olive Crest has launched a comprehensive initiative for the Prevention and Restoration of Minors Impacted by Sexual Exploitation (PROMiSE).
Their Drop‑In Center provides immediate, no‑strings‑attached access to basic needs, safety, and essential services — including meals, clothing, counseling, educational support, and vocational training.
Volunteers are needed to drop off lunches for around 10 youth.Â
WHERE: Pacific Beach
WHEN: Year-round
*18 month commitment*
Circles San Diego, is a community-driven program dedicated to empowering families and individuals to overcome poverty, prevent homelessness, and achieve long-term economic stability. We’re currently seeking Circle Allies—compassionate volunteers who play an active role in supporting a Circle Leader’s (families/individuals in the program) commitment to climb out of poverty and achieve their goals.  Allies serve as friends and mentors, walking alongside Circle Leaders to provide guidance and support.Â
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.
WHERE: Old Town
WHEN: Tuesday evenings
We See You San Diego needs help hosting their Dinner Parties for people experiencing homelessness. They have different teams you can serve on- set up, food, clothing, and clean up. Great opportunity for community groups!
WHERE: Downtown and South County
WHEN: Every day
Serve lunch and a smile to the men, women and children in our 12-month residential rehabilitation program and the women and children in our 30-day emergency shelter.
