VOLUNTEERS URGENTLY NEEDED IN DIFFICULT TIMES
CHILDREN
Tel: 323-876-0550
Provides services to at-risk
youth and families, including residential treatment programs, Foster Family
Agency, after school programs, non-public special education high school,
community mental health services and independent living skills. Volunteers are needed to lead recreation
activities with youth, tutor, assist in after school
programs and independent living programs. Clerical volunteers help with
research for funding sources and data entry.
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF GREATER LOS ANGELES AND THE INLAND EMPIRE,
800 S.
Figueroa St. Suite 620, Los Angeles 90017
Tel:
213-481-3611
http://www.bigbrothersbigsisterslaie.org
Serves boys and girls 7 to 14 years of age in the greater L.A. area. Provides these children with a positive role model who is referred to as a Big Brother or Big Sister. Bigs and Littles share one-to-one friendships, meeting twice a month for approx. 4-5 hours a meeting. Fly a kite, wash your car, go to a ballgame, visit the museum or just hang out and talk. You can introduce a child to a whole new universe and all you have to do is have fun! Bigs must be 18 years or older and have a reliable form of transportation.
CHILD ADVOCATES OFFICE OF LOS ANGELES
Los Angeles Superior Court
201 Centre Plaza, Suite 3, Monterey Park, CA 91754
Tel: 323-526-6666
In L.A. County there are over 32,000 children who have been removed from their homes due to severe abuse, neglect or abandonment and placed under the jurisdiction of the Los Angeles County Dependency Court. Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers are appointed to gather information about children’s circumstances in the foster care system and report their findings to the court. CASA volunteers advocate in court and in the community for the best interests of the children they serve. Must be at least 21 years of age and make a one-year commitment to approx. 5-6 hours a week. There is a 36-hour training program.
CHILDREN’S BUREAU OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
1910 Magnolia Ave, Los Angeles 90007
Tel: 213-342-0100
Gives children and families a chance to lead healthy and productive lives together. Through its community-based W.M. Keck Oakwood Family Center, Children’s Bureau is able to provide diverse specialized and comprehensive services that help ensure children will become caring and productive adults. With a strong emphasis on the development of parenting skills, the Family Center offers programs that strengthen families, as well as the community. Volunteers are needed to help in various programs, to assist or teach programs for the children or parents.
CHILDREN OF THE NIGHT
14530 Sylvan St., Van Nuys CA 91411
Tel: 818-908-4474
http://www.childrenofthenight.org
Dedicated to assisting children between the ages of 11-17 who are sexually abused and forced to prostitute on the streets for food and a place to sleep. Services include nationwide 24-hour free hotline, a street outreach program and a 24-bed shelter home with a private on-site school. Volunteers organize 2-hour presentations (crafts, make-up, acting, animation, first aid, dance, yoga, jewelry making, self-defense, etc. Professional health providers, psychiatric, social service, doctors, dentists, psychologists, clerical, public speakers, writers, artists, etc. are needed
LAUSD SCHOOL VOLUNTEER PROGRAM
333 S. Beaudry Ave., Los Angeles 90017
Tel: 213-241-6900
Recruits, trains and places parents and community volunteers in kindergarten through twelfth grade classes in the Los Angeles public school system. Volunteers assist teachers in the classroom, tutor children one-on one and provide administrative support, depending on their interests. The Reading by 9 program is dedicated to helping students achieve grade-level reading skills by the age of nine. Training provides volunteers with the tools and strategies to reinforce the standards-based instruction provided in the classroom.
PARA LOS NINOS
500 Lucas Ave, Los Angeles 90017
Tel: 213-250-4800
This family service agency is designed to raise at-risk children out of poverty through education and support. More than 1,000 children – ages 6 weeks to 18 years old – and 3,000 families every year benefit from services like child care, youth services, family support and after school programs. Volunteers assist teachers (for pre-school through high school) with activities that include education, recreation, arts and crafts and sports. There are several centers.
READING PARTNERS
1308 Factory Place, Ste.208,Los Angeles
Tel: 213-627-7820
http://www.readingpartners.org
Recruits and trains community volunteers to provide one-on-one tutoring for elementary school students reading below grade level. Reading Partners serve underresourced public schools and work closely with classroom teachers. Tutoring sessions lasts 45 minutes, once a week and Partners make a commitment of either one semester or one year.
SCHOOL ON WHEELS
28128 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu CA 90265
Tel: 310-589-2642
School on Wheels provides volunteer tutors for homeless children, kindergarten through Grade 12, of families living in shelters, motels, cars or on the street. There are 50 locations in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Tutors give one hour per week on a one-to-one basis. They concentrate on the scholastic weaknesses that have occurred either through the stress of being homeless or frequent moving of the family.
VISTA DEL MAR CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES
3200 Motor Ave., Los Angeles 90034
Tel: 310-836-1223
This is a residential facility that provides high quality care to severely emotionally disturbed, abused and neglected children. Volunteers are needed as tutors, special friends and playgroup buddies. Volunteers should be at least 21 years of age and willing to commit to six months of service either daytime, evening or weekend.
ALZHEIMERS ASSOCIATION
5900 Wilshire #1100, Los Angeles 90036
Tel: 323-938-3379
http://alz.org/californiasouthland
Mission is to eliminate Alzheimers disease through research and to provide care and
support for all affected and to reduce risk of dementia through promotion of
brain health. Volunteers
staff telephone helpline, an information referral service.
ANGEL FLIGHT
3237 Donald Douglas Loop South, Santa
Monica CA
Tel: 888-426-2643
The mission of Angel Flight West is to
arrange free air transportation on private aircraft in response to health and
other compelling human needs. Please
contact Angel Flight directly to find out what volunteer work is currently
available.
BRAILLE INSTITUTE
741 North Vermont Ave., Los Angeles CA
20029
Tel: 323-663-1111
http://www.brailleinstitute.org
Mission is to help visually impaired and
blind people become as independent as possible.
Volunteers serve as teachers and discussion group leaders, classroom
assistants in creative arts, readers, recorders and clerical work. Volunteers are asked to commit to two hours
per week between Monday-Friday, 8:30-5.
Free secure parking is provided.
COMMON GROUND
THE WESTSIDE HIV COMMUNITY CENTER
2012 Santa Monica Blvd. Ste. 190, Santa
Monica CA
Tel: 310-314-5480
http://www.commongroundwestside.org
Provides specialty services to people living with HIV/AIDS on the Westside. Also provides public HIV prevention education and outreach programs targeting youth and at-risk populations. Free anonymous HIV testing. Volunteers help with clerical support, front desk with phones, filing, typing, computer entry, community booths and special events. Training varies with each task.
DANIEL FREEMAN HOSPITAL
4650 Lincoln Blvd., Marina del Rey CA 90292
http://www.centinelafreeman.com
Volunteers assist staff with various
tasks. They interact with patients and
visitors, handle information desk and deliver meals to homebound people in the
community.
4760 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Culver City CA
90230
Tel:
310-390-6612
Provides mental health and
substance abuse treatment services throughout L.A. County. Volunteer opportunities include childcare;
working with older adults suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of
dementia; cooking; clerical work; activities with adults with mental illness;
leading music or movement classes; counselor on Suicide Crisis Line. Activities are available at multiple
locations. All volunteers work under
supervision of a staff member.
Volunteers must be fingerprinted, background
checked and have a TB test. Training is
provided.
LAC+USC MEDICAL CENTER
1200 North State Street, Room 1900, Los
Angeles 90033
Tel:
323-226-6941
Most patients are economically
disadvantaged. Volunteers, age 14 and
up, are “friendly visitors” to patients, work in the outpatient clinic, the
gift shop, read to pediatric patients, play with children in child care. Specialized volunteer opportunities are
available for both teen and college students who are interested in pursing
early childhood or medical careers.
5022 Hollywood Blvd. Los Angeles 90027
Serves students of all ages with
vision, physical or learning disabilities. Currently seeking
detail-oriented volunteers with basic computer skills, knowledgeable in school
subjects, especially math, science, computers, accounting and economics. Volunteers do the actual reading of the
textbooks. The organization trains in
all aspects of producing textbooks in accessible formats for students from
kindergarten through post-graduate levels.
All volunteers are asked to make a two-hour commitment per week. There are three recording studio locations
with day and evening hours and some Saturdays.
1328 – 22ND St., Santa Monica
CA 90404
Tel:
310-829-8208
Volunteers perform a variety of special
services in the following departments:
reception areas, Heart Institute, blood donor room, John Wayne Cancer
Institute, clerical services, emergency services, gift shop, handicraft, public
relations, nursing units, outpatient services, radiology, medical records,
dietary, escort.
They are supportive to the needs of patients, patients’ families,
visitors, physicians and Health Center personnel.
SANTA MONICA UCLA MEDICAL CENTER + ORTHOPAEDIC HOSPITAL
1250
-16TH St., Santa Monica CA 904404
Tel: 310-319-4614
Services
offered include maternity, pediatrics, emergency, geriatrics, internal medicine,
ICU, oncology, outpatient. Volunteers
perform meet & greet at information desk and surgical waiting areas. Also help at gift shop, recovery, assist on
units, clerical support, patient liaisons, newspaper
delivery.
604 Rose Ave., Venice CA 90291
Tel: 310-664-7532
http://www.venicefamilyclinic.org
Provides high quality health care
to the working poor and homeless and children who have no other access to such
care.
Volunteers needed are physicians, nurses, psychiatrists, pharmacists,
health educators, translators, clerical, fundraisers, nutritionists, child
activity assistants.
WESTSIDE CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING
12901
Venice Blvd., Los Angeles 90066
Tel: 310-3611
WCIL
helps people living with disabilities maintain self-sufficient and productive
lives through non-residential peer support services and training programs. Volunteers provide clerical support such as
data entry, filing and performing telephone surveys to consumers.
Ken Edwards Center
1527 4th
St. Second Floor, Santa Monica 90401
Tel:
310-394-9871
http://www.wiseandhealthyaging.org
Serves older adults with physical
limitations or mental impairments due to stroke, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s or
Huntington’s.
Volunteers help Activity Aides assist participants with a wide variety
of therapeutic activities, including arts and crafts, singing and dancing,
exercise, cooking, gardening, playing board games and educational events. The main program of structured activities is
10 am to 3 pm Monday through Friday but volunteers are needed throughout the
day. Training is provided.
AMERICAN RED CROSS
OF SANTA MONICA
1450 – 11TH St.,
Santa Monica CA 90401
Tel: 310-394-3773
http://www.redcrossofsantamonica.org
This is a humanitarian service
organization whose volunteers and staff have a committed belief in the values
of doing good for all people in the community. Provides relief to victims of disaster and
helps people prepare for and respond to emergencies. Works with and supports all age groups within
the city of Santa Monica by teaching classes and offering any support asked
for.
DAYBREAK
OPCC, 1453 – 16th
St., Santa Monica 90404
Tel: 310-264-6646
Provides
services to homeless mentally ill women. Offers meals, showers,
clothing, advocacy, resources and referrals, on-site health care, special
activities, support groups and transitional housing. Those in transitional housing receive
assistance with permanent housing placement, budgeting and job readiness
skills. Volunteers assist with meals, organize donations, teach small classes
and chat with the women.
DOWNTOWN WOMEN’S
CENTER
325 S. Los Angeles St., Los
Angeles CA 90013
Tel: 213-680-0600
Advocates for
ending homelessness for women. Provides permanent
supportive housing and a safe and healthy community. Services on a drop-in basis include three
meals daily, bathrooms and showers, day beds, laundry, mailing address, fresh
change of clothes. Volunteers help serve
lunch, prepare meals, plan birthday parties and help with donation drives.
HEAL THE BAY
1444 9th St., Santa
Monica 90404
Tel: 310-451-1500, ext.145
Environmental organization
dedicated to making Southern California coastal waters and watersheds safe,
healthy and clean for humans and marine life through research, education,
community action and advocacy. Volunteer
opportunities include beach cleanups, speakers bureau,
community outreach and Santa Monica Pier Aquarium.
LOS ANGELES
REGIONAL FOOD BANK
1734 East 41st St.
Los Angeles 90058
Tel: 323-234-3030
Solicits, receives, stores and
distributes donated food and grocery products to more than 1,000 charities that
provide food to over 400,000 people each week.
These include soup kitchens, food pantries, child care centers, senior
centers and battered women’s shelters. Volunteers are needed to sort, clean and
repackage food, to help with food drives and special events,
They also work in The Kids Café for needy children and The Brown Bag program
for low income seniors, disabled and infirm people. Many of the departments use interns for
charity relations, event planning, product donations, marketing, public
relations and nutrition education. Also
experts in the food, banking, legal and other industries are needed.
MEALS ON WHEELS – Santa Monica-Malibu
PO Box 7001, Santa Monica CA
90406
Tel: 310-394-7558
http://www.mealsonwheelswest.org
Volunteers deliver meals to
ill, elderly and other homebound people, a service that enables them to live
independently. Volunteers act as drivers
or helpers and work between 11 am and l pm.
Volunteers work one day a week or as substitutes.
SOJOURN SERVICES
FOR BATTERED WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN
PO Box 7081, Santa Monica CA
90406
Tel: 310-264-6646
Dedicated to
providing domestic violence victims with a safe place to stay and comprehensive
support services. Volunteer opportunities for women are
available on the 24-hour Hotline Program, Outreach Program (facilitating
support groups), OCEAN (On Call Emergency Advocate Network) Program, Court
Accompaniment Program and the Children’s Program. Male volunteers and 14-18
year old female volunteers are welcome to participate in the Children’s
Program.
ST. JOSEPH CENTER
204 Hampton Dr., Venice CA
90291
Tel: 310-396-6468
This is a multi-social service
agency providing emergency services, case management and educational programming
to homeless people and low-income individuals and families. From infants to seniors, there are eleven
programs that provide hope through empowerment.
Volunteer opportunities are available in the child care centers for
toddlers, infants and pre-school age, or to help in the Bread and Roses Café
for homeless or to distribute groceries at the Family Centers. Help in the office is always needed.
TURNING POINT
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING
1447 – 16th St.,
Santa Monica CA 90404
Tel: 310-828-6717
This is a transitional housing
program for adult homeless men and women.
Guests who stay at Turning Point receive personal guidance in setting
long-term goals and plans for self-sufficiency.
Volunteers answer phones, perform light office duties, help with serving meals.
A WINDOW BETWEEN
WORLDS
710 – 4TH Avenue #5,
Venice CA 90291
Tel: 310-396-0317
Dedicated to
bringing the healing power of the creative arts to battered women and children. Through art,
survivors of domestic violence learn safe ways to tap into their own
imagination, self-worth, hopes and visions.
Volunteers assist with mailings, data entry, filing, copying and other
general administrative jobs as well as some art-related tasks.
This website www.volunteerlosangeles.com
provides information for prospective volunteers to find opportunities to serve
in Los Angeles County. If you have an
ongoing need for volunteers and would like to be included in this guide, please
request a submittal form by sending an email to: administrator@volunteerlosangeles.com
NOTICE TO VOLUNTEERS. This website is a general information
resource about volunteer opportunities but does not match volunteers to
organizations. Prospective volunteers
should contact the organizations directly to ascertain up-to-date accuracy and
discuss information according to individual needs.