In-Person Ways to Help in Orange County, CA

Help is needed to support many of Orange County United Way’s service provider partners who provide essential services to those who are food and housing insure. Volunteers are needed to assist in a number of ways to support those most underserved in our community.

See below for current volunteer needs and links to register and or acquire more information on how you can help. 

• Assemble Welcome Boxes | Miracles for KIDS | Support of Families with a Critically Ill Child (Irvine): As a group, volunteers will assemble welcome boxes that are given to new families entering the Miracles for Kids program. Assembly can be done in-person at our main office or remotely. We will provide profiles for each patient to share their likes and interests. There are no standard items for the box but suggested items include: blankets, socks, lip balm, items that would be great for the patient in the hospital, personal handwritten notes/cards, and items listed in the interests and likes form from the patient profile. All items must fit within a 14”x14”x10” box. We average between 8-12 new families per month. For more information or questions please contact rwilliams@miraclesforkids.org.

• Become a Greeter | WISEPlace | Transitional Housing For Women (Central Orange County): Bring your smile to greet arrivals and open the parking lot gate. Volunteering will take place outdoors (A chair and shade will be provided). Participants are required to complete our volunteer application and orientation. All appropriate personal protective equipment are provided - face masks and face shield or goggles. Two slots are available: 2 PM - 6 PM and 6 PM – 10 PM daily. Weekdays and weekends available. For more information and availability, please contact volunteers@wiseplace.org.

• Blood Donor & Blood Drive Volunteer  | American Red Cross Southern California: More than ever, Donating Blood Makes a Big Difference in the Lives of Others. There are two ways you can help at this time. 1) Find a Blood Drive near you and book an appointment to give blood by visiting here. 2) Become a Blood Drive volunteer, who greets, helps check-in blood donors for their appointment and takes the temperatures of blood donors as they arrive. The American Red Cross has implemented a temperature-taking station in the interest of blood supply safety, recipients, other donors, staff, volunteers, and general public health regarding COVID-19 outbreaks. Must be 18+ or older and can commit to (two) 4 or 6 hour shifts per month and have reliable transportation. To become a volunteer, please call, text, or email Volunteer Recruitment Specialist Karla Legorreta at Karla.Legorreta@redcross.org or (714) 380-7263.

• Disaster Shelter Volunteer: Help evacuated people at Red Cross Shelters | American Red Cross Southern California: The American Red Cross responds to natural disasters by opening shelters. We evacuate residents and need volunteers to help serve food, communicate information, manage logistics, reception/registration, dormitory, in-kind donations, transporting supplies, talking to community partners, etc. Requirements: 3 hour online training, bilingual preferred but not required and available for (4-12 hour shifts of your choice) when shelter opens. Contact: Karla Legorreta, Recruitment Specialist at Karla.Legorreta@redcross.org (714) 380-7263.

• Food Sorting for Groups & Companies | Pathways of Hope (North Orange County): Help organize food bags to support local neighbors in need. We are looking for teams of 4-6 volunteers who will bag and organize 120 food bags per session. Volunteer dates are Wednesdays once a month: (April 7th) (May 5th), (June 2nd), (July 7th), (Aug 4th), (Sept 8th), (Oct 6th), (Nov 3rd), & (Dec 8th) from 9:30am-12pm. Location: Pathways of Hope’s The HUB of Hope food distribution center at 611 S. Ford Ave, Fullerton CA 92832. To schedule this opportunity for your group, contact Ann Stoddard - (714) 732-2092.

• Food Pantry | Cypress College - Pathways of Hope: Help prepare bags of food to Cypress College students in need. Two shifts are available every Tuesday from 11 AM - 2 PM or 3 PM - 6 PM. All volunteers must be 18+ and are required to wear a mask, sign a volunteer waiver, wear closed-toed shoes, and bring drinking water. Sign up by filling out an online volunteer application here. Contact Ann Stoddard at (714) 732-2092 or astoddard@pohoc.org with any questions.

• Food Pantry | North Orange Continuing Education College - Pathways of Hope: Help prepare and hand out bags of food to NOCE College students in need. One shift is available every Friday from 8 AM - 12 PM. All volunteers must be 18+ and are required to wear a mask, sign a volunteer waiver, wear closed-toed shoes and bring drinking water. Sign up by filling out an online volunteer application here. Contact Ann Stoddard at (714) 732-2092 or astoddard@pohoc.org with any questions.

• Maintain Local Farm | The Giving Farm | Westminster High School: The Giving Farm is an 8-acre farm located at Westminster High School. It is the only fully functioning farm in Orange County. Volunteers at the Giving Farm help maintain the farm by doing a little bit of everything! From preparing land to harvesting, volunteers help maintain the Giving Farm and make sure quality produce goes to underserved communities. Shifts are Mon - Sat, 9AM - 12PM. 30 volunteers maximum per shift. Follow the link here to create a VolunteerHub account, sign up for the event, sign the waiver, and read important details like dress code information. For questions, please contact Tracey at tchhour@capoc.org.

• Meals Ready To Go | American Family Housing | Permanent Supportive Housing (South County): Meet the needs of 1 or more single-parent families experiencing food insecurity by donating a nutritious meal. Most homes include 5 family members. Meal drop-offs happen between 9 AM - 6 PM at their Jackson location in Midway City and must be scheduled in advance. To learn more and schedule a meal drop off contact Manny at (657) 203-4495.

• Meals Ready To Go - Dinner | HomeAid’s Family CareCenter | Emergency Shelter (Orange): Provide dinner for housing insecure families at the HomeAid’s Family CareCenter. Meals must be from a restaurant or a catering company (for food safety purposes) and delivered between 5:30 and 6:00 PM. Email Emily at Emily@homeaidoc.org to make meal arrangements.

• Meals Ready To Go - Breakfast or Dinner | WISEPlace | Women Transitional and Emergency Shelter (Santa Ana): Provide breakfast or dinner for up to 100 unaccompanied homeless women who are currently staying at WISEPlace.  Meals need to be from a restaurant or a catering company and scheduled for drop off in time for set up at either 8:00 AM (Breakfast) or 5:30 PM (Dinner).  Email volunteers@wiseplace.org to request more information and meal drop-off date options.

• Meals Ready To Go - Dinner | Friendship Shelter | Emergency Shelter and Transitional Living Center (Laguna Beach):  Be a part of the Guest Chefs program at Friendship Shelter by providing a ready to eat dinner (homemade or from a restaurant) for 30 emergency shelter and or the 30 Bridge Housing residents. Guest Chef Dinner drop offs must be scheduled in advance and are available any day between 5 pm – 6 pm. To learn more or to reserve a Guest Chef date, contact Megan at mtambio@friendshipshelter.org.

• Meals Ready To Go - Dinner | Homeless Intervention Services of Orange County (North County): Put your cooking talents to work or order from your favorite restaurant a healthy dinner for the Transitional Housing program residents or CHESS program young men who have recently experienced homelessness. Dinner drop-offs at the Placentia or Fullerton location must be scheduled in advance and are available any day between 5 pm – 7 pm. To learn more and/or schedule a dinner drop off contact Lisa at lisa@his-oc.org - (714) 993-5774 ext. 1008 or LeAnne at leanne@his-oc.org - (714) 993-5774 x1003.

• Meals Ready To Go - Dinner | Precious Life Shelter (Los Alamitos): Prepare and deliver dinner to women currently enrolled in an emergency, transitional, and single parent program in Los Alamitos.  Email Tammy at tammy@preciouslifeshelter.org to coordinate your meal drop-off.

• Meals Ready To Go - Lunch | Orangewood Foundation - Housing Support for Foster Youth (Central Orange County): Provide ordered or homemade lunch for up to 30 current and former foster youth. Drop-off time should be between 11:30 AM - 12 PM. To schedule your drop-off and for more information, please contact Humberto Roja at hrojas@orangewoodfoundation.org or 714-619-0220.

• Emergency Shelter Volunteers | Mercy House (Orange County): Volunteers and food donations are needed to support daily emergency shelter operations.  3 hour volunteer blocks available morning, afternoon and evening, 7 days per week.  Email Volunteer@MercyHouse.net to let them know you’re interested in volunteering. A Mercy House representative will contact you with current volunteer needs. Click here to start the registration process.

• Facilities Assistance | Pathways of Hope | Housing Insecure Support (North Orange County): Do you have construction skills in repairing baths, kitchens, flooring, and drywall? Are you an expert house painter or have a lot of knowledge on how to upkeep a yard? We are looking for volunteers who can come once a week to help our facilities team with any one of these tasks. Slots for volunteering are Tuesday - Friday, 7:30 AM - 3:00 PM. All volunteers must be 18+ and are required to wear a mask, sign a volunteer waiver, wear closed-toed shoes, and bring drinking water. Sign up here to select the project you are interested in or leave a note at the end of the form! Contact Ann Stoddard at (714) 732-2092 or astoddard@pohoc.org with any questions.

• Food Pantry | Cypress College - Pathways of Hope: Help prepare and hand out bags of food to Cypress College students in need. This drive-thru food bank will begin on September 1. Two shifts are available every Tuesday from 11 AM - 2 PM or 3 PM - 6 PM. One shift is available every Wednesday from 9 AM - 12 PM. All volunteers must be 18+ and are required to wear a mask, sign a volunteer waiver, wear closed-toed shoes, and bring drinking water. Sign up by filling out an online volunteer application here. Contact Ann Stoddard at (714) 732-2092 or astoddard@pohoc.org with any questions.

• Food Pantry | North Orange Continuing Education College - Pathways of Hope: Help prepare and hand out bags of food to NOCE College students in need. This food bank will begin operating on Thursday, October 8. Two shifts are available every Thursday from 11 AM - 2 PM or 3 PM - 6 PM. One shift is available every Friday from 8 AM - 12 PM. All volunteers must be 18+ and are required to wear a mask, sign a volunteer waiver, wear closed-toed shoes and bring drinking water. Sign up by filling out an online volunteer application here. Contact Ann Stoddard at (714) 732-2092 or astoddard@pohoc.org with any questions.

• Food Box Packing | Orange County Food Bank (Garden Grove): Located at 11870 Monarch St, Garden Grove, CA 92841.  M – F with various shifts between 9 am and 4 pm. For more details to sign up, please visit here.

• Food Delivery to Seniors | Age Well Senior Services – Meals on Wheels Volunteers (South Orange County):  Help with delivering meals to the thousands of older adults that rely on us each and every day. Volunteers deliver meals Monday through Friday between the hours of 10:30 AM and 1:00 PM. Click here for more details or call 949-855-8033. Or, click here to register as a volunteer.

• Food Delivery to Seniors | Meals on Wheels Orange County (Central and North Orange County):  Help with delivering meals to the thousands of older adults that rely on us each and every day. Meal deliveries are made Monday through Friday between 9 am to 12 pm. Must be 18 years of age or older and have a valid California driver’s license, driver’s insurance, and reliable vehicle. Visit MealsOnWheelsOC.org for more details.

• Food Delivery to the Vulnerable | Delivering with Dignity Orange County (Orange County): Help with meal pick up from designated local restaurants, then delivery to individuals and families who are unable to leave their home and are food insecure. Shifts are available Monday through Friday, with meal pick-ups between 12 pm to 2:30 pm. Volunteers must be 18 years of age or older and have a valid California driver’s license, driver’s insurance, and a reliable vehicle. For more details, email DWD@dragonkimfoundation.org or call 714-623-7289. Click here to register as a volunteer. 

• Food Pickup Driver and Driver Assistant | Family Assistance Ministries (South Orange County): Help with picking up vital food which is then made available to individuals, families, and seniors who are food insecure.  Drive to pick up food at local grocery stores around San Clemente in Family Assistance Ministries truck/van (no special license required). Drivers are needed Monday-Saturday from 7:30 am-10:30 am. Must be 18 or older, have a valid California driver’s license, and be able to lift up to 30 – 50 lbs.  To sign up or obtain more details contact Rachael Christenson at 949-492-8477 ext.104 or rachaelc@family-assistance.org.

• Food Pickup Driver | H.O.P.E (Garden Grove): Help by driving to pick up donated food from local grocery stores and other food providers, which is then made available at H.O.P.E. to families and individuals who are food insecure.  Food pickups are needed Monday-Friday from 8:00 am-12:00 pm. Must be 18 or older, have a valid California driver’s license, and be able to lift up to 30 – 50 lbs.  Drivers with a truck or large vehicle is preferable.  To sign up or obtain more details contact Gayle Knight at gkforhope@hopebiz.org or 714-264-4235.

• Food Warehouse and Pantry Volunteers | Family Assistance Ministries (San Clemente): Be a key part of the food organization and distribution team at the Family Assistance Ministries San Clemente location. Help unload food trucks and stock freezers and refrigerators. Pack food boxes to be food distribution ready and participate in a new drive-thru food distribution system. Volunteers are needed Monday – Friday, 9 am - 12 pm and 12 pm - 4 pm.  Must be 18 or older and be able to lift up to 30 lbs.  To sign up or obtain more details contact Rachael Christensonat 949-492-8477 ext.104 or rachaelc@family-assistance.org.

• Interpreter - OC Free Tax Prep Campaign (VITA) | Orange County United Way (Orange County):  Provide interpreter assistance to help support clients and tax preparers who will be taking part in the upcoming 2021 OC Free Tax Prep campaign throughout Orange County.  Interpreters are needed who speak Farsi, Mandarin, Korean, Spanish or Vietnamese.  Volunteer training will be provided virtually through Zoom by Orange County United Way and the IRS in November, December and January. Actual in person volunteer activity will occur during open tax season starting Jan 2021 and will follow social distance guidelines with masks worn by all participants. To learn more or to sign up, please visit UnitedWayOC.org/VITA or email VITA@UnitedWayOC.org.

• Meal Pick Up and Drop Off – Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner  |  WISEPlace  |  Women Transitional and Emergency Shelter (Santa Ana): Pick up sealed bins of cooked lunch or dinner (around 11:45am and 4:45pm respectively) from our meal provider and drop off at the shelter in Santa Ana. Email volunteers@wiseplace.org to request more information on the opportunity.

Note: The health and safety of volunteers, non-profit team members and the community are a top priority at all volunteer locations and is addressed by each participating non-profit organization.

Thank you for your support in this time of need.