Spark Positive Change: Ways to Volunteer in Your Community
The difficult times we are facing as a society seem to be heightened more than ever, and it might cause us to feel paralyzed and useless. Sometimes it feels as if there isn’t anything we can do to improve, not only our community, but ourselves and how we move through this world. It’s easy to get caught up in the frenzy rather than take action towards advancement. It’s important to remember that even the smallest step toward driving change is more rewarding than not doing anything at all. The following are ways in which you can serve your community by volunteering.
Community
Homeboy Industries - Originally being part of a job program at the Dolores Mission in 1988, Homeboy Industries provides training and support to formerly gang-involved and previously incarcerated men and women. They offer free services and programs, and operates several social enterprises that serve as job-training sites. You can support Homeboy Industries by donating clothing, electronics, volunteering skills such as tutoring, mental health programs, tattoo removal, as well as through their social enterprises like the Homegirl Cafe.
LA Green Grounds - A grassroots organization, LA Green Grounds works with residents of South Los Angeles to convert front lawns and parkways into edible landscapes and urban farms. They teach sustainable practices and offer wellness activities. Volunteer opportunities typically take place on Saturdays and are provided with the tools necessary to garden. In order to volunteer, one must RSVP as spots tend to fill up quickly. We should all have access to healthy and organic foods, and it is even better when the community comes together to make it possible by giving their time in order to create these local food gardens.
Beauty Bus - Founded in memory of Melissa Marantz Nealy, Beauty Bus offers to provide in-home beauty and grooming services to enhance the quality of life for those who are seriously ill. Before passing away due to a degenerative neuromuscular disease, Melissa found solace as her family lifted her spirits by arranging manicures, haircuts, and facials. Beauty Bus welcomes new and sealed products such as make-up, hair care, skin and nail care. You can find volunteer opportunities here.
Children
826LA - A non-profit writing and tutoring organization, 826LA encourages students age 6-18 to explore their creative and expository writing skills and become avid readers and writers. In addition to this, they provide after-school tutoring, evening and weekend workshops, in-school tutoring, help for English language learners, and assistance with student publications. Volunteer opportunities include tutoring, mentoring, and being positive role models. Located in Echo Park and Mar Vista, you can check out their calendar for upcoming events.
Reading to Kids - A grassroots organization, Reading to Kids has a reading club on the second Saturday of every month at eight Los Angeles elementary schools where pairs of volunteers read aloud to small groups of children. In addition to this, they also include training for parents in order to encourage their kids to read at home. For about a decade now, Reading to Kids has also provided various school libraries with book donations, as well as providing children who attend the reading clubs with books to have as their own.
CoachArt - CoachArt is an organization that provides arts and athletics to children with chronic illness. By matching them with volunteers who will provide one-on-one or group experiences, CoachArt supports these families by offering free recreational lessons that bring a sense of normalcy back into their lives. If you are skilled in either athletics or art, you can volunteer your abilities.
School on Wheels - Striving to improve public knowledge, increase self-esteem, and self-confidence, School on Wheels is a California non-profit that provides a homeless student an opportunity to meet with a volunteer once a week for an hour. Upon receiving the Minerva Award in 2009, Agnes Stevens, founder of School on Wheels, challenged the audience to “do something in their community until there is no homeless child living on the streets.” In addition to volunteering, this organization accepts donations of school supplies in order to issue children backpacks full of necessities that are occupied at school.
Richstone Family Center - Founded in Hawthorne CA, Richstone Family Center is dedicated to preventing child abuse and violence in families, schools and communities. Their services include community and school programs, classes such as anger management, parenting, and health and wellness. They also have additional locations in Torrance and Inglewood. This organization is also partnered with Ralph’s supermarket and earns rebates when you register and use your rewards card.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America - Aiming to create positive relationships between adult volunteers (“Bigs”) and children (“Littles”), ages 6 through 18, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America has a vision to see all children achieve success in life. They provide a match for children across the nation who are facing adversity with a supportive mentor that’ll help them achieve educational success and avoid risky behaviors.
Animals
Best Friends Animal Society/NKLA - An initiative led by Best Friends Animal Society, No Kill Los Angeles (NKLA) was launched in order to turn LA into a no-kill shelter city. They provide spay/neuter services so fewer animals go into shelters, and increase adoptions so that more animals are placed into new homes. Wanting to expand nationwide, Best Friends Animal Society aims to have the country be no-kill by 2025. You can get involved through their volunteer sign-up here.
Rescue From the Hart - Founded by Annie & Joseph Hart, this rescue is dedicated to finding abandoned and abused animals from local shelters and the streets loving homes. They provide each rescue with medical and emotional care. Rescue From the Hart’s efforts include spay/neuter programs and educating the public in order to eliminate pet overpopulation. You can apply to foster a dog here.
Mutt Scouts - The Mutt Scouts is a non-profit dog rescue that is committed to helping homeless, abused and abandoned animals. Their approach is to save all types of dogs, regardless of age, breed or medical/behavioral needs. Headquartered in San Diego, the Mutt Scouts also serve the communities of Los Angeles as well as New York. Their volunteer opportunities include dog training, fundraising, adoption event, transporting, and more.
Hope For Paws - Despite not having volunteer opportunities, Hope For Paws is a non-profit animal rescue organization that aides dogs, cats, and other types of animals who are neglected and suffering on the streets. Working to raise awareness for abandoned animals, HFP founder Eldad Hagar uses YouTube as a platform to share rescue stories, gaining 3M subscribers to this date. You can help this organization by donating here.
Combatting Homelessness
Midnight Mission - Midnight Mission was established a little over a century ago with aiming to offer “a bridge to self-sufficiency for people experiencing homelessness through recovery services, counseling, education, training, workforce development and continued care services. Volunteer opportunities include meal service prep, clothing sorting, tutoring, plus professional services such as tax preparation and legal services. You can volunteer anywhere from once a year to weekly.
Downtown Women’s Center - The Downtown Women’s Center (DWC) is the only one of its kind throughout the Los Angeles county whose focus is on serving and empowering women experiencing homelessness and formerly homeless women. Its mission is to end homelessness for women in greater Los Angeles through housing, wellness, and advocacy. DWC provides supportive housing and an onsite health clinic providing health screenings and workshops. DWC has a Day Center that offers clean private bathrooms, showers, meals, laundry facilities and fresh clothing. Their social enterprise MADE is a unique boutique selling items created by DWC residents.
The People Concern - Formerly known as LAMP Community, The People Concern is set to provide services to the most vulnerable and traumatized members of the community who are in need of assistance – individuals who are chronically homeless, dealing with severe mental or physical illness or substance addiction, victims of domestic violence and challenged youth. Their services include finding housing, mental health care, medical care, substance abuse services, wellness life skills and programs, and outreach and engagement.
VolunteerMatch & LA Works - If you are not in the Los Angeles area, VolunteerMatch makes it easier than ever to help you find volunteer opportunities that best suite you. LA Works is another source that’ll help you narrow down options for volunteering.
We hope that you feel inspired and are willing to take action to help and support your community! Our power is heightened when we come together.
