What You Can Do...
The Volunteer Center of Greater Orange County is a nonprofit organization that links people and resources to community needs. The center maintains an updated list of volunteer opportunities year-round. Call the Volunteer Connection Line at (714) 953-5757, Ext. 106, for more information, or visit its Internet site at https://www.volunteercenter.org. Here are some of the opportunities available.
Countywide
Interval House
Program: Fund-raising; pick up and deliver donations for the holidays. Wish list: Financial help; food and department store gift certificates; new, unwrapped toys.
Contact: Janine Limas, (714) 594-9492.
Project Together: O.C. Children/Youth Services.
Program: Adopt a child or teen. Wish list: Special need for clothing (new and used, child and teen); toys; gift certificates for teens; food for holiday baskets.
Contact: Jane Dawson, (714) 896-7556, or Veronica Chavez, (714) 568-4378.
Society of St. Vincent de Paul
Program: Toys for Tots. Assist with collecting and delivering toy barrels Nov. 29-Dec. 24. Wish list: Toys; financial donations.
Contact: Marilyn Ryan, (714) 547-5566.
Anaheim
Anaheim Healthcare Center.
Program: Help with holiday party; decorate; prepare refreshments; be a friendly visitor; entertain; help with holiday spruce-up projects. Wish list: Bingo prizes; holiday gifts; holiday treats; Christmas cards; Christmas trees.
Contact: Lawrence Ronquillo, (714) 816-0540.
Anaheim Independencia Community Center.
Program: Entertain; be a Santa or helper; Spanish-speaking volunteer needed for phone work. Wish list: Cookies; refreshments.
Contact: Mike Buelna or Juan Chavez, (714) 826-9070.
Anaheim Interfaith Shelter
Program: Adopt a family or child; pick up and deliver donations. Wish list: Personal hygiene kits; nonperishable foods; gift wrapping items; blankets; Christmas tree ornaments.
Contact: Lisa Escolar, (714) 774-8502.
Anaheim Memorial Medical Center Foundation
Program: Tree-lighting ceremony 5 p.m. Dec. 10; entertain; carol.
Contact: Gayle Radican, (714) 999-6060.
Anaheim Therapeutic Recreation Program
Program: Help with the annual holiday party for people with developmental disabilities (5 years to adult) Dec. 21; prepare refreshments; entertain; carol.
Contact: Teri Mountford, (714) 821-6510.
Anaheim Terrace
Program: Assist with all aspects of Christmas party for nursing home residents; decorate; entertain.
Contact: Shirley Wallace, (714) 821-7310.
Boys & Girls Club of Anaheim
Program: Prepare and serve meals, refreshments; assist with party decorating.
Contact: Chris Argubright, (714) 491-3617.
Parkview Healthcare Center
Program: Adopt a grandparent; volunteer a few hours at the Mall of Orange’s Spirit of Giving Tree; be a friendly visitor; entertain; carol.
Contact: Marilyn Poindexter, (714) 774-2222.
Salvation Army
Program: Prepare and serve meals, refreshments; entertain; carol.
Contact: Antonio Horta, (714) 778-5463.
The Sheepfold
Program: Adopt a family or child; help sort and pack toys and gifts; gift wrap Dec. 2-20. Wish list: Toys; food; financial contributions; refrigerator; clothing; shoes.
Contact: Kathy Novak, (714) 237-1444.
Buena Park
Orange West Care Center
Program: Sort and pack food baskets; be a Santa, elf or helper; entertain; carol; take photographs. Wish list: Socks; shoes; radios; lap robes; housedresses; sweaters; shirts; pants; sweatshirts; sweatsuits.
Contact: Isaura or Claudia, (714) 826-2330.
Costa Mesa
Beverly Manor Nursing Center
Program: Be a visiting Santa or a friendly visitor; provide telephone reassurance; prepare snacks; bring craft ideas or help with crafts. Wish list: Slippers; socks; toiletries; comfortable clothing; decorations.
Contact: Ruth Ledesma, (714) 642-0387.
Children’s Center of Orange Coast College
Program: Adopt a family or child; assistance needed for Thanksgiving, Nov. 27, and Christmas, Dec. 19-23. Wish list: Food; toys; clothing; financial contributions.
Contact: Lucy Groetsch, (714) 432-6260.
Human Options’ Classy Seconds Thrift Shop.
Program: Help in shop during holiday season. Wish list: Clothing; collectibles; small furniture.
Contact: Anne Bunce, (714) 631-4696.
New Directions for Women
Program: Help with holiday preparations. Wish list: Turkeys and hams; gifts for women; clothing for thrift shop.
Contact: Joy Roberts, (714) 548-8754.
Orange Coast Interfaith Shelter
Program: Assist with Christmas preparations; help with meals, party refreshments; gift wrapping.
Contact: David Lewis, (714) 631-7213.
Project Cuddle Inc., ARK Program
Program: Adopt a child; assist with holiday party for abused children newborn to 18 years; provide refreshments; be an elf, entertain; carol. Wish list: Bounce room; financial contributions; baked goods for 600; gifts for teens.
Contact: Debbe Magnusen, (714) 432-9681.
Share Our Selves
Program: Christmas adopt a family Dec. 21-23; sort and pack food baskets; pick up and deliver donations; sort and pack toys. Wish list: Toys; financial help, food, gift certificates; bus passes.
Contact: Karen McGlinn, (714) 642-3451.
Someone Cares Soup Kitchen
Program: Prepare and serve meals; entertain; carol; provide photography; fund-raising; pick up and deliver donations. Wish list: Toys; financial contributions; toiletries; food.
Contact: Merle Hatleberg, (714) 646-8181.
Westside Boys & Girls Club
Program: Adopt-a-family; bake and prepare holiday refreshments; be a Santa; entertain; carol. Wish list: Toys (first to third grades); games (fourth grade to junior high); clothes (6-14 years).
Contact: Eleanor Strojny, (714) 631-7724.
Cypress
Cypress Senior Center
Program: Help with all aspects of holiday parties Nov. 27 and Dec. 20; decorate; entertain; carol; assist with home-delivered meals. Wish list: Holiday favors for 150; holiday centerpieces; 100-cup aluminum coffee maker; computers/ computer instructors; treadmill.
Contact: Shelley Hellen, (714) 229-6776.
Fullerton
Boys & Girls Club of Fullerton
Program: Adopt a child; help organize holiday parties for Thanksgiving and holiday season; entertain; carol; decorate. Wish list: Toys; clothing; food for holiday baskets; financial contributions; art supplies; videos.
Contact: Michelle Regan, (714) 525-8241.
Florence Crittenton Services
Program: Adopt a child; help organize a holiday party for group home; sort, pack and wrap gifts; be a Santa, elf or helper; entertain; carol; help repair bikes. Wish list: Children’s gifts; CD players; books; backpacks; computers (386 and up); XXL nightshirts; sporting goods; 20 fireproofed Christmas trees and ornaments; 60 bikes in graduated sizes; stuffed animals; stocking stuffers for 200; a storage shed.
Contact: Marilyn Salzman, (714) 680-8218.
Garden Grove
Acacia Adult Day Services
Program: Assist with annual holiday celebration; entertain; carol; photograph event. Wish list: Gifts for seniors; holiday gift bags.
Contact: Jodi Stites, (714) 530-1566.
Community Development Council’s Food Bank
Program: Organize a food drive with your organization; pack and sort donated food for boxes, individuals or teams. Wish list: Food; financial help; personal-care items; new or old computers.
Contact: Pamela Hope, (714) 897-6670, Ext. 3604.
John Henry Foundation
Program: Adopt a mentally ill adult; provide food and gift certificates for Thanksgiving; participate in a Dec. 11 Christmas party for 150 people; decorate; prepare and serve meals; entertain; carol. Wish list: Financial help; cleaning supplies for group homes; basic toiletries; food; gift certificates to theaters, stores.
Contact: Vicky Zinser, (714) 539-9597.
HUG: Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
Program: Help with Christmas party Dec. 21; prepare refreshments; sort and pack toys; serve meals; take photographs. Wish list: Toys; food.
Contact: Irene Koontz, (714) 636-5480.
Mental Health Assn.
Program: Assist with all aspects of holiday preparations for Thanksgiving and Christmas season; decorate; gift wrap; entertain; carol; be a Santa or helper. Wish list: Christmas tree; 105 small gifts for men and women; financial contributions; food for holidays.
Contact: Dena Abramson, (714) 547-7559.
Huntington Beach
Michael E. Rodgers Senior Center
Program: Help organize parties at Thanksgiving and during the holiday season; gift wrap; decorate. Wish list: Donations to the Huntington Beach Council on Aging.
Contact: Arlene Stevens, (714) 374-1544.
Seniors Outreach Center
Program: Deliver meals to frail elderly on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Wish list: Donations to Huntington Beach Council on Aging.
Contact: Arlene Stevens, (714) 960-2478.
Irvine
AIDS Services Foundation
Program: Assemble holiday gift baskets Dec. 14 and deliver Dec. 15. Wish list: Soap and bath gel gift sets; stationery gift sets; small canned hams.
Contact: Raul Ramirez, (714) 253-1514.
Irvine Temporary Housing
Program: Adopt a family or child; conduct a family or company food drive; sort and pack food baskets. Wish list: Canned foods; gift certificates for department, toy or food stores; passes to theme parks.
Contact: Karen Pennella, (714) 552-2727.
YMCA Community Counseling Services
Program: Adopt a family or child; help with fund-raising and office support; be a visitor; provide tutoring to children. Wish list: Clothing for children; bus passes; canned food; shoes for children and adults.
Contact: Elena Lopez, (714) 442-1000.
La Habra
Boys & Girls Club of La Habra
Program: Assist with holiday party for children; decorate; be a Santa or photographer. Wish list: Board games; balls; models.
Contact: Anthony Sciacca, (310) 694-1805.
Help for Brain-Injured Children
Program: Sort, pack and wrap gifts and toys; bake cookies; prepare party refreshments; provide photography; help with holiday season fund-raising.
Contact: Sylvia Conde, (714) 694-5655.
Laguna Beach
Friendship Shelter
Program: Serve meals at parties on Thanksgiving Day and Nov. 29 and Dec. 25-26; wrap gifts; entertain; carol. Wish list: New, unwrapped gifts appropriate for adults on Christmas Day; canned hams, large cans of beef stew, vegetables, chili, etc.
Contact: Jamie McClaren. (714) 494-6928.
Laguna Hills
Concept 7
Program: Adopt a child with foster family agency; assist with holiday preparations; pick up and deliver donations; entertain; carol. Wish list: Artificial Christmas trees; children’s toys, clothes; gift wrapping supplies; financial contributions.
Contact: Kimberly Bova, (714) 472-0707.
Lake Forest
Lake Forest Nursing Center
Program: Operation Christmas Child: toys for children overseas; sort and pack toys; help with holiday party; entertain; carol; decorate.
Contact: Shiffy Crane, (714) 380-9380.
Mission Viejo
Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center
Program: Assist with Dec. 13 holiday volunteer party; bake cookies; prepare refreshments; entertain; carol; provide photography; decorate. Wish list: Canned or boxed foods, party prizes and gifts; table favors.
Contact: Nancy Herrmann, (714) 470-3062.
Orange
Casa Orange
Program: Help with holiday preparations at board-and-care center for independent seniors.
Contact: Larissa Daniliouk, (714) 639-3590.
Child Abuse Services Team
Program: Take part in gift wrapping on Nov. 30 at CAST, 401 The City Drive South in Orange; pick up and deliver donations; bake cookies. Wish list: Contributions for gifts for 400 children; gifts for boys and girls ages newborn to 18 years; baskets; filler; cellophane.
Contact: Jan Grotewold, (714) 935-6390 or (714) 935-7008.
Fountain Retirement Center
Program: Pre-Thanksgiving brunch Nov. 23, 11-1 p.m.; candlelight dinner Nov. 28, 5 p.m.; Christmas Day dinner, 5 p.m. Wish list: Toiletries; bingo sponsors; stationery; decorations.
Contact: Marilyn Caldwell, (714) 978-3911.
Friends Outside Program
Program: Help with 12th annual Christmas Party for children of the incarcerated; adopt-a-family. Wish list: Financial contributions; food; toys; gift wrap; decorations; toiletries.
Contact: Sandi Stabile, (714) 836-8100.
Providence Speech and Hearing Center
Program: Be a Santa’s helper; photograph holiday party. Wish list: Toys, puzzles and preeschool books.
Contact: Linda Pippert, (714) 639-4990.
Placentia
HIS House-Homeless Intervention Shelter
Program: Adopt a family or child; decorate; wrap gifts; be a Santa or helper; entertain; carol, pick up and deliver donations. Wish list: New toys; financial contributions; food; toiletries; cleaning supplies.
Contact: Patti Long, (714) 993-5774.
San Clemente
San Clemente Seaside Senior Center
Program: Deliver meals for frail, homebound elderly.
Contact: Cheryl Tetrault, (714) 498-3322.
Santa Ana
American Lung Assn.
Program: Assist with holiday party; holiday spruce-up projects. Contact: Shauna Patrick, (714) 835-5864.
Blind Children’s Learning Center
Program: Adopt-a-family; bake cookies; gift wrap; entertain; carol. Wish list: 17-inch computer monitors; toys; food; financial contributions.
Contact: Sharon Mitchael, (714) 573-8888.
Child Guidance Center
Program: Adopt a child; assist with holiday preparations; be a face painter, clown or magician. Wish list: Food baskets, toys; financial help.
Contact: Jenny Gamble or Lori Pack, (714) 953-4455, Ext. 41/42.
Civic Center Barrio Housing
Program: Help with holiday preparations and food baskets; adopt a family; be a story-hour reader, homework mentor. Wish list: Toys; food; children’s clothing; school supplies; financial help.
Contact: Florencia Velasco, (714) 835-0406.
Child or Parental Emergency Services
Program: Adopt a family or child; be a Santa or helper; carol; pick up and deliver donations; be a special-event sponsor. Wish list: New clothes for children newborn to 12 years; photo albums; hair accessories; pajamas; overnight bags; books; videos; school supplies; sports equipment.
Contact: Colby Helper, (714) 836-3253.
Family Solutions
Program: Adopt a family or child; help with holiday party; be a friendly visitor; help with holiday spruce-up projects. Wish list: House sponsors; gifts from children’s wish lists; large gift for the entire house.
Contact: Anthony Morgan, (714) 835-1333, Ext. 108.
Mercy House
Program: Help with holiday preparations at transitional living centers for single men and women and their children. Wish list: Toys; puzzles; books; board games; clothing; kitchenware; diapers; videos.
Contact: Linda Wilson, (714) 836-7188.
Mental Health Assn.
Program: Assist with holiday preparations for homeless mentally ill. Wish list: Christmas tree; small gifts for men and women; financial help.
Contact: Dena Abramson, (714) 547-7559.
Olive Crest
Program: Assist with holiday preparations in group home over holiday season. Wish list: Gift certificates for teens; teen personal care items; learning toys for 1-10 years; new books; wholesome videos.
Contact: Cathy Cook, (714) 543-5437.
Orange County Health Care Agency
Program: Holiday Hope Food Project, Thanksgiving and Christmas; adopt a family or child. Wish list: Financial contributions; food store gift certificates.
Contact: Debbie Curnutt, (714) 568-4427.
Orange County Rescue Mission
Program: Assist with gift wrapping Dec. 7-8; gift distribution Dec. 21. Wish list: Food; clothing; toiletries.
Contact: Shannon Lathrop, (714) 541-4100.
Recreation & Community Services
Program: Thanksgiving food drive 2-5 p.m. Friday, El Salvador Center; children’s winter holiday party 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Dec. 14, Santa Ana Stadium. Wish list: Toys; financial contributions; food; face paints.
Contact: Sindy Bolanos or Belem Solis. (714) 571-4230.
Santa Ana VIP Adult Day Health Care
Program: Help decorate; be a Santa or friendly helper; entertain; carol. Wish list: Small gifts from seniors’ list.
Contact: Betty Lacy, (714) 558-1216.
Southwest Community Center
Program: Christmas food basket program, Dec. 18-23; Christmas party, Dec. 21. Wish list: Food; toiletries; gift-wrapping supplies; toys.
Contact: Connie Jones, (714) 543-8933.
Veteran’s Charities of Orange County
Program: Help with holiday preparations for Thanksgiving Nov. 27-28 and Christmas Dec. 18-21. Wish list: Financial help; toys; food.
Contact: Barbara Young, (714) 547-0615.
Stanton
Boys & Girls Club of Stanton
Program: Christmas holiday party 5-7 p.m. Dec. 20; bake cookies; prepare holiday refreshments; photograph party. Wish list: Toys; cookies for party; art supplies; books; games; puzzles.
Contact: Pam Schoonover, (714) 891-0740.
Tustin
American Diabetes Assn.
Program: Assist with children’s holiday party, Dec. 8. Wish list: Financial contributions.
Contact: Maryellen Krazel, (714) 662-7940.
Westminster
Beverly Manor of Westminster
Program: Help with holiday party; be a Santa or helper; entertain. Wish list: Relaxed clothing for men and women; kiln to fire ceramics.
Contact: Mary Campbell, (714) 892-6686.
Yorba Linda
LOVE Inc.
Program: Adopt a child or family; deliver meals; provide office support for holiday season.
Contact: Diane Ferrante, (714) 693-0107.
Yorba Linda Head Start
Program: Thanksgiving food baskets, Monday; toy distribution for low-income families with preschool and special-needs children Dec. 16; adopt a family. Wish list: Toys; food; plastic and paper dinnerware.
Contact: Marlene Mitchell, (714) 693-9484.