Rescue Produce From Being Wasted with Food Forward at the Santa Monica Farmers Market
Recover produce, fight hunger, and build community at your local farmers market! Food Forward "gleans"---meaning they collect fresh, surplus produce that would otherwise go to waste--and donate 100% to local hunger relief organizations. Join the Volunteer Glean Team to help collect fruit and vegetable donations from vendors at the farmers market, and then box, sort, and weigh the donations. Volunteers should be comfortable carrying boxes of produce that may weigh up to 40 pounds, but can register to volunteer with someone who can help them lift if 40 pounds is too heavy. Volunteers don’t need to worry about bringing equipment or transporting the food. This opportunity is open to volunteers 12 years old and older, though children under 16 years old must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Please check out the Volunteer FAQ page on their website to learn more about what to expect at volunteer events.
Serve Hot Meals with New Friends Homeless Center
New Friends Homeless Center is looking for volunteers to help on Friday nights. They need kitchen staff, servers, and security volunteers to assist with preparing and serving hot meals. Every role plays an important part in making sure guests receive the food and support they need in a compassionate and respectful environment.
Support the Family Giveback Program with New Friends Homeless Center
The Family Giveback Program is a wonderful opportunity for volunteers under 18, accompanied by a parent or guardian, to make a meaningful impact in a safe and supportive environment. Young volunteers can help distribute essential donated items—such as clothing, blankets, sleeping bags, hygiene kits, pet food, and more—to those in need. As part of this program, families can also organize donation drives, such as collecting blankets, socks, or hygiene kits. Volunteers and their family & friends can gather gently-used or new items from their homes and schools. Then, they can personally hand them out. This is a great way for young people to get involved, give back, and experience the joy of helping others while fostering a spirit of generosity and community support!.
Sort Community Donations with Community Loving
Join them to help reorganize their storage unit! Volunteers will be sorting donated clothes into organized bags, rearranging the various boxes so priority items are easily accessible, and organizing pallets and boxes of donations onto their labeled shelves. This sorting day is crucial to providing the community with much-needed supplies in an organized manner. The bags sorted on this day will be transferred to Alondra Park and laid out by the community and for the community to access at the Free Store in the Park. All are welcome and no experience is needed.
Help Project Angel Food Provide Meals To Our Most Vulnerable Neighbors
Kitchen volunteers don’t need to be great cooks, simply take direction from their professionally trained chefs. You’ll join compassionate people in chopping vegetables, stirring sauces, mixing batter, baking cookies, and packaging the meals. They have shifts Sunday through Friday from 8:00 a.m.–Noon and 12:45–4 p.m. For the safety of all volunteers, staff and clients, all volunteers must be 14 years of age or older. Volunteers aged 14 or 15 years must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times. Volunteers aged 16 or 17 years must have a parent or guardian sign a liability waiver form.
Help Project Angel Food Provide Meals To Our Most Vulnerable Neighbors
Kitchen volunteers don’t need to be great cooks, simply take direction from their professionally trained chefs. You’ll join compassionate people in chopping vegetables, stirring sauces, mixing batter, baking cookies, and packaging the meals. They have shifts Sunday through Friday from 8:00 a.m.–Noon and 12:45–4 p.m. For the safety of all volunteers, staff and clients, all volunteers must be 14 years of age or older. Volunteers aged 14 or 15 years must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times. Volunteers aged 16 or 17 years must have a parent or guardian sign a liability waiver form.
Help Project Angel Food Deliver To Those in Need in the Westside
A delivery volunteer helps bring medically tailored meals and fresh fruit right to their clients' doors. Each delivery route maps out deliveries to 8-10 seriously ill neighbors and takes approximately two hours to complete. You can even do it with a friend! Pick-ups are from 9-10 a.m. and drivers must have a car, valid license and proof of insurance.
Help Project Angel Food Deliver To Those in Need in Glendale/ Burbank
A delivery volunteer helps bring medically tailored meals and fresh fruit right to their clients' doors. Each delivery route maps out deliveries to 8-10 seriously ill neighbors and takes approximately two hours to complete. You can even do it with a friend! Pick-ups are from 9-10 a.m. and drivers must have a car, valid license and proof of insurance.
Rescue Produce From Being Wasted with Food Forward at the Hollywood Farmers Market
Harvest food, fight hunger, and build community! Food Forward harvests beautiful, fresh fruit that would otherwise go to waste and donate 100% to local hunger relief organizations. Join the Volunteer Harvest Team to help harvest as much fruit as possible from trees, and then pack it into boxes to be donated. About this harvest: Help rescue lots of lovely Eureka lemons from a private grove with 150 trees! These lemon trees are on gravel and dirt, so please wear sturdy, closed toed shoes! Volunteers should be comfortable harvesting and carrying boxes or buckets of fruit that may weigh up to 20 pounds. All harvesting equipment is provided by Food Forward event leaders. Please be sure to bring water and wear sun gear! This opportunity is open to volunteers 5 years old and older, though children under 16 years old must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Please check out the Volunteer FAQ page on their website to learn more about what to expect at volunteer events.
Rescue Produce From Being Wasted with Food Forward at the Encino Farmer’s Market
Harvest food, fight hunger, and build community! Food Forward harvests beautiful, fresh fruit that would otherwise go to waste and donate 100% to local hunger relief organizations. Join the Volunteer Harvest Team to help harvest as much fruit as possible from trees, and then pack it into boxes to be donated. About this harvest: Help rescue lots of lovely Eureka lemons from a private grove with 150 trees! These lemon trees are on gravel and dirt, so please wear sturdy, closed toed shoes! Volunteers should be comfortable harvesting and carrying boxes or buckets of fruit that may weigh up to 20 pounds. All harvesting equipment is provided by Food Forward event leaders. Please be sure to bring water and wear sun gear! This opportunity is open to volunteers 5 years old and older, though children under 16 years old must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Please check out the Volunteer FAQ page on their website to learn more about what to expect at volunteer events.
Save Food and Stop Hunger with Food Forward at Ojai Farmers Market
Harvest food, fight hunger, and build community! Food Forward harvests beautiful, fresh fruit that would otherwise go to waste and donate 100% to local hunger relief organizations. Join the Volunteer Harvest Team to help harvest as much fruit as possible from trees, and then pack it into boxes to be donated. About this harvest: Help rescue lots of lovely Eureka lemons from a private grove with 150 trees! These lemon trees are on gravel and dirt, so please wear sturdy, closed toed shoes! Volunteers should be comfortable harvesting and carrying boxes or buckets of fruit that may weigh up to 20 pounds. All harvesting equipment is provided by Food Forward event leaders. Please be sure to bring water and wear sun gear! This opportunity is open to volunteers 5 years old and older, though children under 16 years old must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Please check out the Volunteer FAQ page on their website to learn more about what to expect at volunteer events.
Save Food and Stop Hunger with Food Forward at Studio City Farmers Market
Harvest food, fight hunger, and build community! Food Forward harvests beautiful, fresh fruit that would otherwise go to waste and donate 100% to local hunger relief organizations. Join the Volunteer Harvest Team to help harvest as much fruit as possible from trees, and then pack it into boxes to be donated. About this harvest: Help rescue lots of lovely Eureka lemons from a private grove with 150 trees! These lemon trees are on gravel and dirt, so please wear sturdy, closed toed shoes! Volunteers should be comfortable harvesting and carrying boxes or buckets of fruit that may weigh up to 20 pounds. All harvesting equipment is provided by Food Forward event leaders. Please be sure to bring water and wear sun gear! This opportunity is open to volunteers 5 years old and older, though children under 16 years old must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Please check out the Volunteer FAQ page on their website to learn more about what to expect at volunteer events.
Rescue Produce From Being Wasted with Food Forward at the Mar Vista Farmer’s Market
Harvest food, fight hunger, and build community! Food Forward harvests beautiful, fresh fruit that would otherwise go to waste and donate 100% to local hunger relief organizations. Join the Volunteer Harvest Team to help harvest as much fruit as possible from trees, and then pack it into boxes to be donated. About this harvest: Help rescue lots of lovely Eureka lemons from a private grove with 150 trees! These lemon trees are on gravel and dirt, so please wear sturdy, closed toed shoes! Volunteers should be comfortable harvesting and carrying boxes or buckets of fruit that may weigh up to 20 pounds. All harvesting equipment is provided by Food Forward event leaders. Please be sure to bring water and wear sun gear! This opportunity is open to volunteers 5 years old and older, though children under 16 years old must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Please check out the Volunteer FAQ page on their website to learn more about what to expect at volunteer events.
Rescue Produce From Being Wasted with Food Forward at the Atwater Village Farmer’s Market
Harvest food, fight hunger, and build community! Food Forward harvests beautiful, fresh fruit that would otherwise go to waste and donate 100% to local hunger relief organizations. Join the Volunteer Harvest Team to help harvest as much fruit as possible from trees, and then pack it into boxes to be donated. About this harvest: Help rescue lots of lovely Eureka lemons from a private grove with 150 trees! These lemon trees are on gravel and dirt, so please wear sturdy, closed toed shoes! Volunteers should be comfortable harvesting and carrying boxes or buckets of fruit that may weigh up to 20 pounds. All harvesting equipment is provided by Food Forward event leaders. Please be sure to bring water and wear sun gear! This opportunity is open to volunteers 5 years old and older, though children under 16 years old must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Please check out the Volunteer FAQ page on their website to learn more about what to expect at volunteer events.
Save Food and Stop Hunger with Food Forward at Channel Islands Harbor Farmers Market
Harvest food, fight hunger, and build community! Food Forward harvests beautiful, fresh fruit that would otherwise go to waste and donate 100% to local hunger relief organizations. Join the Volunteer Harvest Team to help harvest as much fruit as possible from trees, and then pack it into boxes to be donated. About this harvest: Help rescue lots of lovely Eureka lemons from a private grove with 150 trees! These lemon trees are on gravel and dirt, so please wear sturdy, closed toed shoes! Volunteers should be comfortable harvesting and carrying boxes or buckets of fruit that may weigh up to 20 pounds. All harvesting equipment is provided by Food Forward event leaders. Please be sure to bring water and wear sun gear! This opportunity is open to volunteers 5 years old and older, though children under 16 years old must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Please check out the Volunteer FAQ page on their website to learn more about what to expect at volunteer events.
Assist LA Family Housing with Kitchen Duties and Prepping Meals – Dinner Shift
Volunteering in the kitchen can be a great way to give back to your community. Whether you're helping to prepare meals for those in need, or assisting with kitchen duties such as food serving, bussing, or greeting, your time and effort can make a significant impact on those transitioning away from homelessness. Please keep in mind that you will be asked to also tend to the dining area where you will interact with the participants that LAFH serves. Provide quality service by serving nourishing meals for those who may not otherwise have access to them. You can also help to create a welcoming and inclusive environment where people can gather and connect over a warm meal. Dress code: Pants, closed-toed shoes, and clean shirt. All volunteers will be wearing a hairnet and gloves. Volunteers need to be 18 plus.
Assist LA Family Housing with Kitchen Duties and Prepping Meals – Dinner Shift
Volunteering in the kitchen can be a great way to give back to your community. Whether you're helping to prepare meals for those in need, or assisting with kitchen duties such as food serving, bussing, or greeting, your time and effort can make a significant impact on those transitioning away from homelessness. Please keep in mind that you will be asked to also tend to the dining area where you will interact with the participants that LAFH serves. Provide quality service by serving nourishing meals for those who may not otherwise have access to them. You can also help to create a welcoming and inclusive environment where people can gather and connect over a warm meal. Dress code: Pants, closed-toed shoes, and clean shirt. All volunteers will be wearing a hairnet and gloves. Volunteers need to be 18 plus.
Provide Healthy Social Interaction with a Family Game Night at LA Family Housing
Volunteers play board games and chat with families transitioning out of homelessness at interim housing sites in Los Angeles County. One of the most powerful ways to help participants transitioning out of homelessness is to give them opportunities for healthy social interaction. It may seem like you are just playing checkers, but you are helping someone practice their communication skills and heal their interpersonal relationships. REQUIREMENTS: Must first attend their required (but awesome) training. Must be over 18. They do not fulfill court-ordered volunteer hours.
Make and Donate Pet Food Kits at North Hollywood Interfaith Food Pantry
Please help the hungry furry friends in the community - they need food too! Make 5 "pet food kits" by filling a gallon sized ziploc bag full of dry dog or cat food (sign up slots are specific to DOG or CAT). Put the sealed ziploc bag into a plastic or paper grocery bag, and add 3 cans of corresponding wet food into the grocery bag. Please do not open the canned food, or put the canned food into the ziploc bag. They should be separate. Treats may also be added. Each "slot" signed up for is for 5 bags of pet food. Label the bags "DOG" or "CAT" appropriately. Finished pet kits must be dropped off the morning of distribution ON THE DATE FOR WHICH YOU HAVE SIGNED UP at 11634 Moorpark Street between 7:00 AM and 7:15 AM.
Make and Donate Sacked Lunches at North Hollywood Interfaith Food Pantry
Prepare and deliver sack lunches. Lunches should include: a sandwich (PB & J, turkey, or ham and/or cheese) a piece of fruit (oranges are best) chips and/or cookies (small bag) a drink (water or juice box) and a napkin. Energy bars or a box of raisins are also good. Brown or white paper sack bags and please label OUTSIDE with the type of sandwich. Sack lunches need to be delivered to the food pantry between 7:00am and 7:15am on the date for which you have signed up.
Featured Projects
Join Big Sunday for Relaxation and Community Care at Wellness Mondays
Big Sunday,
dom@bigsunday.org,
(323) 549-9944
If you're feeling like you could use a holiday – or a way to relax and recharge while meeting great, helpful folks -you're going to love Big Sunday's Wellness Mondays. Every Monday at 10 AM, we'll be hosting a different, fantastic sound bath here at Big Sunday HQ. Every Sound Bath is wonderful, designed to help you relax, recharge, and reconnect with yourself and others. They're all incredibly relaxing, totally free, and everyone is invited! We want everyone to be as comfortable as possible and suggest that you bring your own mat, cushion, pillow, blanket, eye cover, etc. – whatever you need to feel relaxed and cozy!
Create Mosaic Suns With Big Sunday at our Art Tuesdays
Big Sunday,
josh@bigsunday.org,
(323) 549-9944
Every Tuesday, volunteers join us at Big Sunday HQ to decorate mosaics in the shape of a sun. These beautiful works of art are then donated to schools, shelters, food banks – anywhere in need of a little more sunshine and warmth! This wonderful project is the brainchild of our old friend Cathy Weiss and led by Cathy and our own Big Sunday staff. You don’t need to be a brilliant artist to participate – just friendly and sincere. Just about everybody who’s worked on one tells us the mosaic suns are their favorite Big Sunday project!.
Join Big Sunday for our Accessible Wednesday at 10am Event
Big Sunday,
passion@bigsunday.org,
(323) 549-9944
A spin-off of our flagship weekly event TM@10, Accessible Wednesdays @ 10 (AW@10 for short) hosts volunteers every Wednesday to work on hands-on projects to help local nonprofits. The difference? The projects we do on Wednesdays are specially geared to be accessible to folks of all ability levels! Our guests of honor at each AW@10 are groups of volunteers with intellectual and developmental disabilities from some of our partner organizations like AbilityFirst, ETTA, PassAbility, Partners For Potential, and Arroyo Development Services. At Big Sunday, we firmly believe that everyone has something to give, and that everyone has fun helping others! Anyone and everyone is invited to join us for AW@10, whether it’s with a group or as an individual who wants to help out and hang out with some of the best volunteers in the business. From assembling goodie bags for unhoused people and their dogs to decorating pumpkins for underserved kids at Halloween, there’s always something fun going on at AW@10. This week we will be sorting cloths for donations.
Join Big Sunday for our Thursday Morning at 10am Events
Big Sunday,
nicolo@bigsunday.org,
(323) 549-9944
TM@10 (Thursday Morning @ 10) is not only one of our favorite programs, but it’s one of our most popular, too! Every Thursday morning from 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM, volunteers gather at Big Sunday HQ to work on hands-on projects that help local nonprofits. We’ve assembled birthday gifts for folks in shelters, written letters to soldiers stationed overseas, packed backpacks for ex-gang members starting college, made fleece blankets for shelter kittens, and done about a thousand other fun and meaningful things. In classic Big Sunday fashion, it’s a great way for people to meet new people, work together, and enjoy some laughs while helping someone else. It’s no wonder we have so many regulars who come every single week! We’re regularly joined by groups like AbilityFirst, Partners For Potential, and of course the famous TM Ladies! Projects we’ve worked on have benefited organizations like Covenant House, Carlos Santa Ana Academy, PATH, Exceptional Children’s Foundation, Angelus Plaza, and countless others.
Join Big Sunday for our Food Pantry and Food Fridays @ 10am
Big Sunday,
madison@bigsunday.org,
(323) 549-9944
Big Sunday has given away mountains of food over many years, but now we’re going to make it a weekly event. Our Food Pantry will be open year ‘round and will contain both perishable and non-perishable food. We’re also introducing Food Fridays. Every Friday morning we’ll be open from 10-11:30 to sort and pack food. We’ll also distribute to nonprofits and schools from all over town who will distribute the food to hungry and grateful people in their communities. All ages are welcome. Groups, too! We need volunteers, collectors, donors and sponsors.