Volunteer and Service Center — Volunteer Opportunities for Teens

Volunteer Opportunities for Teens

Habitat for Humanity, Orange County: Santa Ana (714) 434-6200 ext. 237; This organization accepts volunteers who are 16 years or older to help build houses in Orange County Tuesday-Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., or to help out with one of their ten committees on a regular basis. Volunteers who join committees assist in designing homes, selecting families, soliciting donations, organizing special events, managing legal and financial matters, coordinating public and media relations, helping in the general office and doing many other things. They have volunteer orientations the first Tuesday of every month at 6:30 p.m. at 480 S. Batavia in Orange.

Orange County Food Bank: Garden Grove (714) 897-6670; This organization needs volunteers 14 years and older to help box food for low-income mothers and their young children, and senior citizens on fixed incomes. There are 46 locations in Orange County. Call for more information and to schedule a time to come in and volunteer.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County: Orange (714) 771-1343; This organization needs volunteers 15 years and older to help sort and pack food at their warehouse on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. or 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. They also have food drives throughout the year, and a Kids Café program that provides meals to low income children at nine different sites in Orange County, including the Boys & Girls Club of Fullerton and T.H.I.N.K. Together in Orange.

Anaheim YMCA – Anaheim Achieves After School Program: Anaheim (714) 635-9622; The Anaheim Achieves After School Program needs general volunteers to help supervise children in 16 different elementary schools Monday through Friday from 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. They also need academic mentors who can spend one hour a week with a child who needs special academic attention. Volunteers need a current TB test and if they are over 18 years old, they will need to be fingerprinted. Call for an application and to find out about the orientation.

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.

Boys & Girls Club of Brea: Brea (714) 990-0215,; This organization needs volunteers to help with arts & crafts, athletics, their games room, and tutoring in their Homework Club.

HIS House Transitional Center: Placentia (714) 993-5774; HIS House provides shelter for individuals and families while they develop a source of permanent income and save money for permanent housing. They need volunteers who are 15 years or older on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, and Saturday mornings in their childcare program.

Special Olympics Southern California: Santa Ana (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).

California Science Center: Los Angeles (213) 744-2124; If you have a desire to do something for your community, or for your own pleasure, volunteering at the California Science Center is a great place to start. You don’t have to be a scientist, you just have to be between the ages of 14 and 100+, and be willing to share your times and talents in helping guests of all ages. Contact Dena to become an animal care, education, field trip, guest services, special exhibits, or summer science camp volunteer.

Make-A-Wish Foundation of Orange County: Tustin (714) 573-9474; Volunteers give their time and talents to help the Foundation bring hope, strength and joy to children who endure the adversity of a life threatening illness at a time in their life when they just begin to dream. Volunteers assist in various areas of the Foundation alongside staff and other volunteers. In return for hard work and dedication, volunteers receive valuable training, a chance to network, hands-on experience and the gratification of making a difference in the life of a child.

“The Hanger” Gift Shop: Tustin (714) 573-4596; Volunteers provide excellent service to customers and assist in sizing, tagging, and merchandising of clothing. Retail is a valuable experience. Contact Linda to learn how you can get involved.

American Red Cross: Orange County (714) 481-5385; The American Red Cross, Blood Services Program, needs volunteers to greet donors, assist donors in filling out registration forms, take medical histories, provide customer service, set up and maintain canteen area, disseminate information, and to help promote quality public relations. Volunteers 15 years and older are welcome.

Donation Facility Volunteer: Rancho Santa Margarita (714) 971-9090; Volunteers assist in receiving, sorting, and tagging donations of men, women, and teen clothing and gift bag items, and preparing the donations to be distributed to adults in need through out Orange County.

Rosie’s Garage: Brea (714) 490-1258; Tutors are needed to help children with their homework. Help is needed in all school subjects, grades through 12th, Monday through Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Rosie’s Garage is located on Walnut.

Easter Seals Senior Day Care: Brea (714) 672-0343; Our seniors love to be entertained! Bring your church or school group to perform for them. Play your musical instrument; sing a song, use our stage to rehearse your next play. A piano is available. Take a walk with one of our seniors in the nearby park.

Salvation Army: Santa Ana (714) 832-7100; The Salvation Army has a Christmas warehouse program for which they need volunteers to pack and sort food and toys that will be distributed to needy families for Christmas. Call around three weeks before Christmas and talk to the Volunteer Program Manager.

Brea Community Emergency Council: Brea (714) 990-7776; Volunteers are needed to help collect, sort and pack the baskets a few weeks prior to Christmas for needy Brea families.