Volunteering Search Engines
volunteermatch.org
idealist.org
volunteermatch.org and idealist.org are two of the of the most extensive volunteer search engines. You can even select Covid-19 volunteer work to help directly with the pandemic or Virtual volunteer work to help others from a distance
Environmental
Japanese Friendship Garden San Diego
Contact: email volunteer@niwa.org or call (619) 232-2781 and visit niwa.org/ to apply.
Opportunities: Garden assistant, general office assistant, departmental assistant, and more!
San Diego Coastkeeper
Contact: Visit sdcoastkeeper.org/act for details.
Opportunities: Water quality monitoring, beach cleanups, water quality lab volunteer, plastic debris and fish-gut analysis special projects, and more!
San Diego Oceans Foundation
Contact: Visit sdof.org/become-a-volunteer/ for details.
Opportunities: Canyon hikes, environmental champions, lobster field assistant, fish tagging volunteer, summer snorkeling volunteer, fundraising committee member, and more!
The San Diego River Park Foundation
Contact: (619) 297-7380 or volunteer@sandiegoriver.org. For more information, visit sandiegoriver.org/volunteer
Opportunities: Garden leader, trail team, river rescue team, education docent, special event planning, and more!
Surfrider Foundation – San Diego
Contact: For more information about the events and beach cleanups, visit https://sandiego.surfrider.org/beach-cleanups/
Opportunities: Beach preservation, foundation 5K run events, garden committee, and more!
Wild Willow Farm
Contact: Visit http://www.sandiegoroots.org/farm/volunteer.php for more details.
Opportunities: composting (hands-on learning every week), watering, bed prep, weeding, mulching, animal care, planting and tending a huge range of plants, and more!
Food
San Diego Food Bank
Register: sandiegofoodbank.org/volunteer/
Opportunities: Cleaning/packaging produce, assembling food packages for various programs, inspecting/labeling food donations, Emergency Food Assistance Program.
Mama’s Kitchen
Contact: email gigi@mamaskitchen.org for more information on the required orientation or call (619) 233-6262. Visit mamaskitchen.org/volunteer for more details.
Opportunities: Prepare meals, pack grocery bags, answer phones, assist Pantry clients with their shopping, delivery, and food drives.
Feeding San Diego
Contact: Visit https://feedingsandiego.org/get-involved/volunteer/regular-opportunities/ for more information about open positions.
Opportunities: Front desk volunteer, program volunteer, team leader, painter, photographer, warehouse volunteer, and more!
Wild Willow Farm
Contact: Visit http://www.sandiegoroots.org/farm/volunteer.php for more details.
Opportunities: composting (hands-on learning every week), watering, bed prep, weeding, mulching, animal care, planting and tending a huge range of plants, and more!
Urban Angels
Contact: Visit http://urban-angels.com/volunteer/ for more details.
Opportunities: Connections housing and salvation army volunteers. Help serve meals buffet style, engage in conversation with residents, clean, network, & build memories.
Homeless Population
Father Joe’s Villages
Contact: call (619) 645-6411 or email volunteer@neighbor.org and visit https://my.neighbor.org/volunteer/ for more details.
Opportunities: Specific volunteer opportunities for long term volunteers are presented at the volunteer orientations, which are held on the first Tuesday of each month (excluding November and December) at St. Vincent de Paul Village, 1501 Imperial Avenue, San Diego, CA, 92101, from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
Home Start
Contact: email volunteeropportunities@home-start.org and visit https://home-start.org/volunteer/ for more details.
Opportunities: Maternity Shelter Program, Family Self Sufficiency Volunteers, Community Service Projects, Special Event Volunteer Opportunities
San Diego Rescue Mission
Contact: Debbie Krakauer at (619) 819-1897 or dkrakauer@sdrescue.org, visit sdrescue.org/ways-to-give/donate-your-time/
Opportunities: Recuperative care unit, women’s transitional housing, tutor, thrift store, warehouse, and more!
Working with People with Mental Disabilities
The Arc of San Diego
Contact: Leah Testone who is the Volunteer Program Coordinator: ltestone@arc-sd.com
Website: https://www.arc-sd.com/home
Autism Tree Foundation
Contact: info@autismsocietysandiego.org
Website: https://www.autismsocietysandiego.org/
Gigi’s Playhouse
Contact: info@gigisplayhouse.org
Website: https://gigisplayhouse.org/
Opportunity: There are a lot of virtual opportunities that you can participate in. They need math tutors and people to help in holiday events.
PALS Summer Program
Website: https://www.palsprograms.org/summer
Opportunity: PALS creates transformative experiences with individuals with and without Down syndrome. Their inclusive programming changes attitudes, builds friendships, and inspires a world of belonging.
Working with Kids
Voices for Children
Contact: email volunteer@speakupnow.org or call (858) 598-2243
Requirements: To become a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), one must attend an Information session, fill out an application, interview, and complete trainings. More information can be found at speakupnow.org/volunteer-2/
Opportunity: CASAs devote their time to a single child or sibling group and help them through their court case by gathering information required by the court.
YMCA of San Diego
Contact: Visit https://www.ymca.org/get-involved/volunteer for the application.
Opportunity: Administrative/Customer Service, childcare/education, day camp, ambassadors, aquatics, social services, health & fitness, and more!
San Diego Youth Services
Contact: Visit https://sdyouthservices.org/get_involved/volunteer/ for more information.
Opportunity: Assist in creating a safe and supportive environment, reinforce drop-in center policies and procedures as needed to ensure the safety of the youth, interact with youth as a role model, assist in socializing the youth and redirecting behavior when appropriate, and assist staff in maintaining the cleanliness of the facility.
