In person and virtual L.A. volunteer opportunities during COVID
Looking for an opportunity to serve? There are plenty of ways to connect with your community, including distributing meals at a food bank, tutoring from home or delivering meals to seniors.
The Times has compiled a list of places to volunteer in the L.A. area, but the rules are a little different this year. Many organizations have limited capacities, dress codes and medical testing requirements. Please make sure to register in advance and contact the organization directly if you’re interested in offering your time.
Any opportunities we didn't cover? Let us know here.
Volunteer at a monthly food pantry
- (714) 614-7324
- Masjid Al Ansar, 1717 S. Brookhurst St., Anaheim, CA 92804
- Volunteer@UpliftCharity.org
- 8+, under 16 must be wit by an adult
Help families affected by COVID-19
- (323) 291-7100
- 905 E. El Segundo Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90059
- connie@specialneedsnetwork.org
- 16+
Make calls to isolated seniors
- Virtual
- volunteer@lalgbtcenter.org
- 18+, 16+ with waiver from parent, must be with parent if under 16
Help deliver food and goods to seniors
- 1602 N. Ivar Ave., Los Angeles CA 90028
- volunteer@lalgbtcenter.org
- 18+
Package and distribute hygiene kits and food for people experiencing homelessness
- (323) 345-4322
- 5800 S. Eastern Ave., Suite 518, Los Angeles, CA 90040
- hill@brightpathcenter.org
Check in on neighboors experiencing homelessness
- (818) 762-2909
- 11031 Camarillo St., North Hollywood, CA 91602
Work with underprivileged children in Watts
- 11513 Gorman Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90059
Distribute meals to people experiencing homelessness
- (310) 428-6807
- 10600 Lemona Ave., Mission Hills, CA 91345
- Reema@thegoodkarmala.org
- 15+
Provide and deliver meals to seniors and unemployed people
#MovingForwardTogether Coalition
- Recess Room, 18380 Brookhurst St., Fountain Valley, CA 92708
- omft2020@gmail.com
- Minors can sign up with parent permission form
Pack food for South Central youth and families
- (323) 232-7653
- 2830 S. Central Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90011
- info@apch.org
- 10+
Volunteer at a food distribution center
- (714) 893-3581; (714) 898-0203
- 7101 Wyoming St., Westminster, CA 92683; 14900 Park Lane, Midway City, CA 92655
Volunteer at a food pantry
- (562) 676-4554
- 590 E. Willow St., Long Beach, CA 90806
Distribute food to prepaid customers and free boxes to low-income seniors
- 600 W. Palm St., Altadena, CA 91001
- info@altadenacommunitygarden.com
- 18+
Volunteer at a food pantry
Anointed to Minister Ministries
- (661) 948-1800
- 169 W. Avenue J-5, Lancaster, CA 93534
- appointed@atmministries.org
- 18+
Pack food and hygiene products for APLA Health clients
- 7336 Bellaire Ave., North Hollywood, CA 91605
- volunteer@apla.org
- 17+
Volunteer with people experience homelessness
- (661) 254-4663
- 23031 Drayton St., Santa Clarita, CA 91350
- volunteers@btohome.org
Volunteer with childen in foster care
- (323) 859-2888
- Edmund D. Edelman Children's Court, 201 Centre Plaza Drive, Suite 1100, Monterey Park, CA 91754-2142
- volunteer@casala.org
- 21+
Volunteer at a food pantry
Coast Christian Fellowship's Lydia's House
- (310) 779-8573
- 4000 Pacific Coast Hwy., Torrance, CA 90505
- warren.hughes@socallydiashouse.org
Make wellness check phone calls to hospice patients
- 8130 Florence Ave., Suite 200, Downey, CA 90240
- 18+
Deliver meals, help in the kitchen and more
- (714) 229-2005
- 5700 Orange Ave., Cypress, CA 90630
Become a crisis counselor for a suicide prevention center
Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services
- (424) 362-2920
- 10277 W. Olympic Blvd., Century City, CA 90067
- spctraining@didihirsch.org
- 21+
Tutor middle and high school students struggling academically
- (818) 830-3646
- Virtual
- volunteer@elnidofamilycenters.org
Deliver food to those in need through the Food Finders app
- Various
- srosas@foodfinders.org
Bake and deliver birthday cakes to disadvantaged youth
- Various
- info@forgoodnesscakes.org
- 18+
Tutor kids of healthcare workers
- (415) 569-7767
- Virtual
- frontlinestutoring@gmail.com.
Deliver food from partner grocery stores to food pantry storehouse
- (562) 735-0732
- 3838 Cerritos Ave., Los Alamitos, CA 90720
- aovando@gratefulhearts.org
Make hats for children with cancer in hospitals
Happy Hats for Kids in Hospitals
- (310) 787-0970
- 923 Van Ness Ave., Torrance, CA 90501
- 18+
Volunteer at a food pantry
Heart of Compassion Distribution
- (323) 727-7997
- 600 South Maple Ave., Montebello, CA 90640
- volunteers@heartofcompassionca.org
- 13+
Volunteer at a food pantry
- (562) 612-5001
- 1301 W. 12th Street, Long Beach, CA 90813
- info@helpmehelpu.org
Deliver food to blind, senior, disabled and other populations vulnerable to COVID-19
- (213) 388-8228
- 961 S. Mariposa Ave., No. 205, Los Angeles, CA 90006
- info@hungeractionla.org
- 21+
Volunteer with senior chat line
I Did Something Good Today Foundation
- (888) 491-0054
- Virtual
- volunteer@idsgt.org
Drive-through food and diaper distributions and other services
- (714) 399-4571
- 505 E. Commonwealth Ave., Fullerton CA 92832
- Khalid Memon, kmemon@icnarelief.org
- Minors can sign up with parent permission form
Mentor children and families who have experienced homelessness
- Los Angeles, CA
- kimberly@imaginela.org
- 21+
Pack food bags, restock and pass out food to clients
- (818) 988-7682
- 16439 Vanowen St., Van Nuys, CA 91406
- services@jfsla.org
Be a hospice volunteer
- 3699 Wilshire Blvd., 3rd Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90010
- 18+
Help pack meals for the disabled and homebound
- (818) 896-7700
- 9989 Laurel Canyon Blvd., Pacoima, CA 91331
- info@khalsacarefoundation.com
- 16+
Help nonprofits reopen to volunteers safely
- (323) 224-6510
- 570 W. Avenue 26, Los Angeles, CA 90065
Help people experiencing homelessness and abandoned animals
- (213) 395-1163
- Various
- ani.volunteers@lacity.org
- 12+
Help prepare Northeast L.A. Mercadito program and assist families picking up fresh produce
- (213) 465-0410
- 2806 Clearwater St., Los Angeles, CA 90039
- ronnie@mas.la
- 16+
Deliver food for a community food outreach program
- (850) 508-6576
- Equation Road, Pomona, CA 91767
- lemondropproductionsinc.nonprofit@riseup.net
- 18+
Volunteer for healthy food distribution program
Let's Be Whole healthy mobile food pantry
- (877) 594-1292
- 4317 Degnan Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90008
- info@letsbewhole.com
Distribute food to low-income seniors and families
- (323) 517-6609
- 9400 Maie Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90002
- info@lifestepsusa.org
- 18+
Deliver food and supplies to local seniors and families
- (310) 710-2520
- Little Tokyo
- mmurase@LTSC.org
- 18-65
Deliver food to vulnerable populations in Long Beach/Lakewood area
- 9038 Artesia Blvd., Bellflower, CA 90706
- BCTvolunteers@gmail.com
- 14+
Volunteer for food distribution center
- (323) 221-9111
- 2635 Pasadena Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90031
Volunteer at the Hospitality Kitchen (a.k.a. "Hippie Kitchen") on skid row
- (213) 614-9615
- 821 E. 6th St., Los Angeles, CA 90021
Prepare and provide meals for people experiencing homelessness
- (213) 629-1227, Ext. 400
- 303 E. 5th St., Los Angeles, CA 90013
- info@lamission.net
- 16+
Volunteers needed for food distribution center
Los Angeles Regional Food Bank
- 323-234-3030
- 1747 Nogales St., Rowland Heights, CA 91748
- 18+
Provide food, clothing, case management and support services to low-income people
Mend Poverty Emergency Food Bank
- (818) 897-2443
- 10641 N. San Fernando Road, Pacoima, CA 91331
- volunteering@mendpoverty.org
- 16+ or 13+ accompanied by adult
Prepare meals and do direct outreach to people experiencing homelessness
Midtown Los Angeles Homeless Coalition
- Los Angeles, CA 90036
Mentoring 7th- to 12th-grade girls from underserved communities
Motivating Our Students Through Experience
- (213) 537-9157
- Virtual
- info@moste.org
- 21+
Help with trail maintanence and beautification in Santa Clarita Valley
Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority
- Ed Davis Park in Towsley Canyon, 24255 The Old Road, Newhall, CA 91321
- 15+
Teach music to underprivileged children
- (703) 534-9490
- Carson
- info@musiclinkfoundation.org
- 21+
Help distribute items and food to food pantry clients
Open Arms Food Pantry and Resource Center
- (323) 815-9777
- 3411 W. 43rd Place, No. 105, Los Angeles, CA 90008
- Openarmsresourcectr@yahoo.com
Pack food boxes, monitor social distancing and more
- (714) 897-6670
- 11870 Monarch St., Garden Grove, CA 92841
Lead a grief support group for children and teenagers
Our House Grief Support Center
- 1663 Sawtelle Blvd., No. 300, Los Angeles, CA 90025
Food distribution
Our Saviour Center Food Pantry
- (626) 579-2190
- 4368 Santa Anita Ave., El Monte, CA 91731
- info@our-center.org
Tutor students in need, including those missing school for health reasons
- Virtual
- admin@p2ptutoring.org
Beach or neighborhood cleanups
- Multiple locations
- info@pacificbeachcoalition.org
Purchase and assemble or donate needed items. Local opportunities also
- (323) 644-2200
- Virtual
- path@epath.org
Help distribute hygiene essentials to unhoused neighbors, sort clothes and more
- 808 E. 6th St., Los Angeles, CA 90021
- donate@projectropa.org, info@projectropa.org
Help serve a meal or work with the food pantry
- (310) 370-4319
- 2600 Nelson Ave., Redondo Beach, CA 90278
- projectneedsrb@gmail.com
Blood delivery van driver
- (866) 548-8226
- Various
- VolunteerServices.LosAngeles.CA@redcross.org
- 18+
Blood drive volunteer
- (866) 548-8226
- Various
- VolunteerServices.LosAngeles.CA@redcross.org
- 18+
Handle food, sort donated clothes and more
- (818) 341-1629
- 20025 Chase St., Winnetka, CA 91306
- pantry@our-redeemer.org
Share your life experience with teenagers
- (508) 444-8821
- Virtual
- info@sagesandseekers.org
- 60+
After-school and senior programs and assisting people experiencing homelessness
- Various
- Various
- 18+
Tutor students experiencing homelessness
- (805) 641-1678
- Virtual
- volunteers@schoolonwheels.org
- 18+
Help seniors by driving, running errands and visiting
- (424) 271-2304
- Various
- Info@SBVill.org
Receive donations and distribute food
St. Augustine's S.A.V.E.S. Food Pantry
- (310) 838-2702
- 3820 Jasmine Ave., Culver City, CA 90232
- saves.volunteers@gmail.com
Work with people experiencing homelessness and help with donations
- (213) 747-5347
- 1835 S. Hope St, Los Angeles, CA 90015
- 8+ (with adult supervision)
Meal prep and packaging in the soup kitchen and helping with showers and clean clothes
St. James Episcopal Church Great Food Programs
- Los Angeles, CA 90010
- Father Jon Feuss, jfeuss@stjla.org
Mail sorting, food pantry work, assist people experiencing homelessness
- (310) 672.2208
- 10217 S. Inglewood Ave., Inglewood, CA 90304
- yvillalobos@ccharities.org
Staffing 24-hour hotline, accompanying people to exams and counseling
- 14651 Oxnard St., Van Nuys, CA 91411
- internship@strengthunited.org
Tutor students in math, language learning or coding
- Virtual
- librarymath@gmail.com
Prepare food, sort clothes help with donations
- (213) 624-9258
- 601 S. San Pedro St., Los Angeles, CA 90014
Help with meal preparation, serving and cleanup
The New Friends Homeless Center
- (818) 887-1109
- 5650 Shoup Ave., Woodland Hills, CA 91367
Help serve breakfast, lunch and dinner
- (213) 347-6300
- 545 S. San Pedro St., Los Angeles, CA 90013
- volunteer@urm.org
- 16+ Sylmar, 14+ downtown
Mentor an adult who is transitioning into housing
- (626) 240-4550
- 825 E. Orange Grove Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91104
- volunteer@unionstationhs.org
- 18
Assignments vary; volunteers receive training
- (818) 510-4140
- 12701 Van Nuys Blvd, Suite A, Pacoima, CA 91331
Sort and dispense food. Pick up donated food
- (818) 346-5554
- 5700 Rudnick Ave., Woodland Hills, CA 91367
- 15
Call an isolated senior, arrange deliveries, run errands
- (310) 695-7030
- 8939 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Suite 326, Los Angeles, CA 90045
- WPVCARES@thewpv.org