Guide to Summer Volunteering - San Diego 2022

Summer 2022 – Volunteering and Giving Back 

Note: We understand we’re still in unprecedented times. Only volunteer or donate if you have the means. We’re doing our best to make sure all of these opportunities are doing what they can to make sure they’re safe and minimize the risk of viral transmission.  

These past two years have forced many charitable organizations to completely change how they operate due to problems relating to the pandemic. With some restrictions lifting, many organizations are working to find a new normal, which means there’s a huge need for volunteers.  

There are a lot of amazing volunteer organizations in San Diego, and it’d be impossible to list them all. So, we’ve put together a list of our favorites. If none of them strike you, one of the best ways to find places to help out is to check out Volunteer Match. While the website isn’t perfect and you’ll have to do a bit of research to make sure these organizations are right for you, this is an easy way to discover opportunities you were never aware of.  

These groups will be organized by the type of work you’ll be doing and otherwise aren’t in any particular order. 

General Volunteering 

Getting Food to those who Need it – Mama’s Kitchen is a non-profit located just east of South Park. Their mission is to deliver nutritious meals to community members who are too sick to shop for themselves. Their goal is to help families stay healthy, preserve dignity, and stick together by providing free, culturally appropriate, home delivered meals, and nutrition education. They need volunteers who can deliver meals, compile groceries, plate meals, and manage their phoneline/provide administrative support. 

Click here to see more information about how they’re staying safe and how to volunteer! 

The SD Food Bank – Community food banks were drastically affected by the impacts of the global pandemic as well as ongoing supply chain disruptions. These problems mean we need more volunteers to help support the infrastructure as it builds itself back up. The SD food bank is one of the most effective ways to give directly back to the community.  

There are dozens of volunteer opportunities, learn more about them here.   

English Education and Literacy – San Diego Literacy’s goal is to fill service gaps in literacy programs and provide tailored literacy classes to families, children, and adults, all while instilling the importance of literacy as a whole! Their volunteers are expected to donate 2-4 hours a week after they complete their 12-15 hour training (That’s right! You get trained to teach!!). After training is complete, volunteers usually specialize in family literacy, adult education (GED, ESL, or basic ed), youth and children (1 on 1 tutoring), or ESL instruction. 

Here’s how you can start volunteering today! 

Nature Preservation – The San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy is looking for volunteers who can help with habitat restoration, trail maintenance, and wildlife monitoring. This is a great way to get out and do your part for the beautiful nature that surrounds San Diego. 

The SDRVC offers a lot of unique opportunities, click here to learn more! 

Beach Cleanups – As summer gets closer, the beaches get more and more crowded. And more people means more trash. There are dozens of beach cleanup groups in San Diego, and it might be in your best interest to find one on your own that works with your schedule. Here are a few organizations that I’ve found:  

 

Expertise Volunteering 

The charities listed below require specific skillsets for volunteers. Feel free to send these links to people you know that might be qualified to help! 

Dance and Dance Education – The San Diego Dance Theater is hosting online classes through the pandemic and they’re accepting volunteers to teach, create costumes, manage their social media, and do graphic design! So many options! Their mission is to provide equal access to arts education and bring joy to the art of dance. 

If you’re skilled in any of their fields check out their website here (you might need to scroll down). 

The League of Amazing Programmers – They’re more than an awesome name, the League of Amazing Programmers is a wonderful organization that looks to empower young people with the power of computer science! This after school program teaches students between 5th and 12th grade how to code in Java. The program ends with the Oracle Professional Certification Exam, giving students a leg up on finding entry level positions in the computer science world or in pursuing a degree in STEM. 

If you know Java and want to help teach it, click here! 

STEM Education – The Ocean Discovery Institute is looking for experienced STEM professionals and mentors to help students achieve success in STEM. Ocean Discovery Institute offers tutoring programs for elementary to high school STEM. Community members in the STEM field can even volunteer to give presentations on their career, giving young people an idea of what they can do if they decide to pursue a career in STEM. The Ocean Discovery Institute also hosts office hours where the local community can interact directly with a scientist as well as a mentorship program where a STEM professional is paired with a high school student looking to pursue STEM education. 

Interested? Click here! 

Long Term Volunteering 

If you want to make a sustained difference, consider signing up for one of these long-term volunteering options. These groups usually train you and expect you to work within a schedule. Having reliable volunteers that show up at regular time makes a world of difference, be a part of that with one of the groups below.

Education 

San Diego Library - SD’s Public Libraries are looking for volunteers to help as ESL and Adult literacy tutors. These programs are amazing gems that provide awesome training and support to ensure you’re able to make a positive impact! These programs require a six-month commitment, but are extremely rewarding and are seriously worth considering. The library is also always looking for general library volunteers!  

Learn more by checking out their site linked here.  

Mentorship 

You know that saying “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know?” It’s not perfect, because both definitely matter. But it can be hard to get your foot in any doors if you don’t have someone helping you get there.   

1 in 3 kids grow up without a positive role model. Kids without positive role models are more likely to drop out of school, begin using drugs, or become disenfranchised. Luckily, there are programs to help fix that.  

Child Welfare Services – SD County’s CWS offers the opportunity to help local kids who are within the foster/adoption program a helping hand. Beyond adoption, CWS manages foster care, foster mentorship, foster tutors, child education and legal advocates, and job coaching. Children within CWS are between toddlers and teenagers and they need support. 

 Learn more by clicking the link here.  

Big Brothers Big Sisters – I feel the need to interrupt the traditional flow of this article to say that Big Brothers Big Sisters is near and dear to my heart. Many of my friends and my whole family are “Bigs.” I’ve worked closely with Big Brothers Big Sisters for several of their events and, let me just say, this is an organization worth your time.   

Bigs meet with Littles around 3 times a month. They are there to talk on the phone, show up for baseball games, and school plays. They are there to listen and to advise and to just help out.  

If you’re looking to volunteer or learn more, click this link!   

Helping the Homeless 

Homelessness is an unfair condition that can often feel inescapable. Tragically, homelessness is on the rise, meaning our infrastructure needs to grow to support and help lift people out of what seems like an endless cycle of poverty. Help fix it by volunteering at one of the locations below.   

SD Habitat for Humanity – San Diego’s Habitat for Humanity branch is looking for volunteers who can support with construction work, fundraising, and behind the scenes support (office work, event planning, advocacy, and more). In the midst of a housing crisis and persistently strange weather, people need a place to sleep now more than ever, why not help them while learning a lot by building a home.  

Check them out by clicking here.  

Father Joe’s Villages – Father Joe’s Villages is looking for all sorts of volunteers. Whether you’re a plumber, good at math, or just want to help with meal prep, there’s something for you to do to help at Father Joe’s. Father Joe’s Villages are shelters that provide more than just a night of support. They are dedicated to help lift people out of shelters and into long-term housing.  

Learn more about them on their website here.  

Animals 

SD Humane Society – The SD Humane Society is an amazing place to volunteer to help with all sorts of animals. Not only can you volunteer to foster a pet, you can also come in and socialize with pets through their enrichment program (yes, you’ll probably have to help cleanup too, but what are you expecting). You can even volunteer with Project Wildlife, their bird and mammal rehabilitation program that helps sick wild animals get back out where they belong!  

Learn more by clicking here.  

Helen Woodward Animal Center – While this location is a bit more… inland… it is a great place for animal lovers to devote their time! Volunteers can work in the office, they can walk dogs, and can even help take care of exotic animals the center has rescued. There’s definitely something for everyone! And hey, if you want to foster, you can!  

Check out this link to learn more (be sure to scroll down to see the list of volunteer opportunities).   

SD County Animal Services – SD Animal Services are always looking for volunteers! They offer spaces to work in community outreach, to join the “Cat Crew,” or to become a “Bunny Buddy,” or to walk dogs (they don’t have an alliterative name sadly). SD Animal Services does a lot for our community and they can definitely use additional support!  

Learn more about them by clicking this link!  

Elderly 

The elderly need our help! Most elder care facilities have some form of volunteer service that you can join, such as the one at Edgemoor. Edgemoor volunteers help our amazing healthcare providers by assisting in organization, donations, serving food, or just by talking to Edgemoor’s residents.  

Learn more by clicking here! 

The Environment 

There are dozens of groups dedicated to keeping SD clean. From our beaches, to our mountains, to our deserts, Southern California is a hotbed of unique ecology that needs to be protected. With hundreds of trails, campsites, and public parks, there is a lot of space to cover.   

San Diego Parks and Recreation – SD Parks and Rec are looking for volunteers to clean and maintain trails; to help with gardening and park programs; to work out of the community center; and to even work as a park host/docent! If you’re looking to get your whole family involved in volunteering this is a great place to start!  

Learn more about volunteering by clicking this link.  

Donating Money 

All of the previous charities are also accepting monetary donations if you lack the time or the skillset to help directly. There are also dozens of other wonderful charities currently looking for donations to help mitigate the impact Covid-19 had on their day-to-day operations. 

Art Reach – Art Reach is one of my favorite charities within San Diego. They provide children with access to visual art education and resources so that all children can express themselves and practice art! While they normally accept volunteers, their current needs involve monetary and art resource donations. 

Check their website for more information! 

SD Center for Children – The San Diego Center for Children is a nonprofit founded with the intent to provide therapy, education, and foster care related services to children and families who suffer with mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders. Their mission is to improve the livelihood of kids through direct action and systemic change and are truly worth supporting. 

To learn more about how you can help them, click here.