Volunteer and Service Center — Volunteer Opportunities With Children

Volunteer Opportunities With Children

Recent statistics released by the California Department of Education indicate that Orange County has the third largest public school enrollment in the State. With crowded classrooms, teachers are simply not able to provide the kind of intensive help many students need to stay in school and succeed. The schools and parents need our help. Don’t let the facts overwhelm you. There are many agencies that would welcome your assistance. The following is a list of agencies that work with and on behalf of children. If you are interested in improving the quality of life of today’s children, take the initiative and contact one of these agencies.

Contact List

Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Orange County: Tustin (714) 544-7773 ext. 223; Mentoring program for at risk children in need are matched with qualified Big Brothers and Big Sisters or married couples from their own geographic area.

Boys And Girls Club: Fullerton (714) 525-8241; The club provides a positive environment for youth to develop self-esteem, values, skills, citizenship, and leadership. Volunteers needed to tutor basic school subjects, teach a craft, coach a sport, or assist in recreation activities.

Anaheim Achieves: Anaheim (714) 635-9622; Anaheim Achieves is an-after-school educational and enrichment program targeting 2,000 elementary students, grades 1-6, located in the Anaheim City and Magnolia School districts. There are 16 school sites to choose from. Volunteer to be an academic mentor/ tutor.

Girls Incorporated of Orange County: Costa Mesa (949) 646-7181; Help girls develop the values and skills they need to become confident, productive, and responsible adults. Volunteer with programs between the ages of 5-11 or 12-18, and help inspire them.

Kids In Action (Project S.A.Y.): Anaheim (714) 765-5275; “Kids in Action” is the city’s youth development program for children ages 5-12 yrs. Provides a comprehensive non-traditional recreation, sports, and outreach program in Anaheim.

Disney Goals: Anaheim (714) 956-4625; Disney Goals is all about creating opportunities for children to grow through ambitious & fun activities to build self-esteem, improve discipline, teach values, encourage social interactions & create a better community. Disney Goals is designed with three major activity components and is committed to career counseling & referrals.

Su Casa Family Crisis and Support Center: Artesia (562) 249-2323; Su Casa conducts a 40-hour training for people who are interested in volunteer service to the women and children of Su Casa. This training will prepare you to address the issues of domestic violence, child abuse, medical and legal support, counseling skills, and crisis intervention as a volunteer.

YMCA Building Life Options: Costa Mesa (714) 549-9622; YMCA builds strong kids, strong families, and strong communities. Volunteers 18 and older are needed to mentor a teenager for one year.

Blind Children's Learning Experience: Santa Ana (714) 573-8888; Provides instruction for the blind and visually impaired children, birth to 21 years. Classroom volunteers assist the teacher in the classroom.

CYS Project Together: Various Cities in Orange County (714) 796-0117; Mentors 21 and over needed to work one-on-one with youth in treatment with Children & Youth Services to increase self-esteem and overall functioning of child. Background checks and training required.

Boys Hope Girls Hope: Garden Grove (714) 537-3211; Boys Hope Girls Hope has 12 children, 6 boys and 6 girls, (ages 11-16) in need of positive, adult mentors who can commit a minimum of 2 hours a month with a child. We conduct full background screening and provide training and supervision.

Think Together: Orange (714) 543-3807; This organization provides tutoring for at-risk youth in multiple areas of Orange County that are impoverished. They are looking for weekly volunteers to help tutor the children and serve as role models for them.

Rosie's Garage: Brea's Community Volunteer Program (714) 990-7175; This organization needs tutors Monday-Friday from 4-5:30p.m. Go to the location to find out more about their program.

Special Olympics Southern California: Multiple Locations (714) 564-8374; The Special Olympics is a program of year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with mental retardation and associated developmental disabilities. They need volunteers to help at the athletic competitions throughout the year, and to help with administrative work in the office in Santa Ana. Volunteers under 18 need to have an adult chaperone (one adult for every 5 youths).

YMCA Strong Start: Multiple Locations (714) 665-1342; Volunteers hold babies, play with children, and help with activities. Strong Start is a program for foster kids ages 0-5. Events take place all over the county on Saturdays. Volunteers must be fingerprinted and have a TB test (YMCA pays for this).

Project Together: (714) 796-0117; Project Together matches adult volunteers/mentors with emotionally troubled children and teens. Mentors 18 and over needed to form one-on-one friendships with an at-risk child. A six month time commitment is required.

Stop Gap: Santa Ana (714) 979-7061; Provides therapeutic drama workshops using role-play for groups such as: battered women, risk youth, seniors, adults, abused children, and children in hospital.

Orange County Therapeutic Arts Center: Santa Ana (714) 547-5468,; The Orange County Children’s Therapeutic Arts Center (OCCTAC) is a local non-profit organization dedicated to education, empowerment and therapy of at-risk youth and children with limited resources. Their focus as a community-based organization is to serve children and their families, providing early start, pre-school, enrichment and after-school programs.

Corazon de Vida Foundation: (949) 476-1144 ext. 358; Vans are provided to take volunteers down to Baja to visit orphanages, play games, help with building projects, or hold an infant who needs love. Trips are all day. Volunteers can be families, individual or groups. Children under 16 must be accompanied by a parents. You must call to reserve your space.