Be a Guest Chef at Ascencia
Every morning and evening, volunteers prepare and serve hot meals for homeless families and adults in Ascencia's Emergency Housing program. These “Guest Chefs” give their time and energy, generously donating food and a great deal of compassion with each plate. Volunteers in the Guest Chef Program commit to preparing meals for approximately 45 shelter residents on a daily basis. Volunteers typically create a Guest Chef team comprised of fellow members of a congregation, service organization, co-workers, family members, friends, etc. f you are interested in signing up, please be sure to review our safety protocols for on-site volunteering and visit our Sign Up Genius. To schedule recurring dates and times please email, volunteer@ascenciaca.org.
Volunteer at Home Program and Create Hygiene Kits with Ascencia
Ascencia's Volunteer from Home Program was created in response to COVID-19, as a way to keep their volunteers engaged and connected to Ascencia. One way is to create hygiene kits. They are asking volunteers to purchase travel sized hygiene materials and assemble them into gallon sized Ziploc bags. Get a virtual group together to make hygiene kits for their clients and for their Outreach Team to distribute to individuals on the street. Hygiene kits include various travel sized toiletries including: shampoo, conditioner, lotion, body wash, toothpaste and toothbrushes (can be full sized), combs etc. Please label bags male or female.
Make Lunches for Ascencia Clients
Ascencia's Volunteer from Home Program was created in response to COVID-19, as a way to keep their volunteers engaged and connected to Ascencia. One way is to make brown bag lunches for clients in the shelter and individuals on the streets. Their Outreach Team goes out every day and will take brown bag lunches to those in need. Lunches can include peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, fruit, chips, water, etc.
Raise Funds for Ascencia
Ascencia's Volunteer from Home Program was created in response to COVID-19, as a way to keep their volunteers engaged and connected to Ascencia. Raise funds for them by creating your own GoFundMe page. Share and promote your page to your friends and family through social media!
Volunteer on a Budget for Ascencia
Ascencia's Volunteer from Home Program was created in response to COVID-19, as a way to keep their volunteers engaged and connected to Ascencia. One way is to get create and volunteer on a budget. Fundraise $100-$120 to cook and serve breakfast to their shelter residents. Make PB&J sandwiches for their outreach teams and shelter residents. Purchase 5 loaves of bread and a peanut butter and jelly jar and create bagged sandwiches for our clients. (Estimated cost: $30.00 for 50 sandwiches, including Ziploc baggies.)
Host a Clothing Drive for Ascencia
Grab your friends, classmates or co-workers and host a donation drive! They are running low on new clothing to give their clients once they enter their shelter. Often when new clients arrive, the only clothes they own are what they are wearing. They'd love to welcome clients with a fresh new set of clothes to wear while they wash their clothes and to make them feel more comfortable. Please donate sweatpants, athletic clothes, and undergarments of various sizes for men and women. Currently, they have high need for men’s underwear. New items only please. Contact volunteer@ascenciaca.org to get started
Make Home Starter Kits for Ascencia
Welcome new clients as they move into their new homes by providing them with a home starter kit. Supplies for home starter kits can include plates, utensils, cups (dining); toilet paper, bathroom cleaning supplies, soap, shampoo, conditioner, towels (bathroom); laundry detergent, laundry basket, fabric softener (laundry); pots and pans, dishwashing soap, sponges, cooking utensils (kitchen). Contact volunteer@ascenciaca.org to get started
Make Blankets for Ascencia’s Clients
As the winter approaches, blankets become an essential item to give to their clients and for their Outreach Team to pass out to individuals living on the street. You can collect bed sheets, throws, quilts, tie blankets etc. New items only please. Contact volunteer@ascenciaca.org to get started
Become a Top Chef for Alexandria House
Alexandria House's cooking program serves current residents and other members of the Alexandria House community. It is a wonderful treat for women living in residence when volunteers come to cook dinner! Just like you, they have a busy life with work, school and kids and can use a “night off “ too! Here are a few ways to participate as a Top Chef: Preparing dinner for 40 people at your site and dropping off at Alexandria House. Purchasing dinner from a local restaurant for 40 and having it delivered to Alexandria House. Purchasing dinner from one of our past residents for $250.00 and they will arrange to drop off at Alexandria House. Cooking dinner at Alexandria House with the following guidelines: A maximum of 6 volunteers in a group. Please practice social distancing guidelines. No children under the age of 12 allowed at this time. All teens must show proof of vaccination. Click here to see the complete guideline for our Top Chef Program. Click here for more info: https://www.alexandriahouse.org/volunteer
Host an In-Kind Donation Drive for Aviva Center
Host a drive at your workplace, place of worship or with family and friends to collect new items throughout the year. Supplies – from Kindergarten to college, Toiletries & Hygiene – from baby to adult, Household cleaning and laundry products, Clothing and shoes, Food and transportation gift cards. For more info, visit https://aviva.org/volunteer/
Host a Drive for Baby2Baby
Due to COVID-19, Baby2Baby is only collecting NEW donations of diapers, wipes, formula and hygiene items (e.g soap, shampoo and toothpaste) to address the most critical needs from families impacted by the pandemic. Get in touch if you’d like to host a drive to collect and drop off these items! Visit: https://baby2baby.org/get-involved/
Join the Membership Guild at Hillsides Home for Children
Hillsides Home for Children advocades and provides needed services for at-risk children and families. Through their many programs and residential care, they make sure kids who are often forgotten are taken care of and given the proper tools for independence and to eventually thrive. They have a number of options of volunteers to come in and make a difference in these kids lives. All you need to do it is join the Hillside Guild, which you can do on their website. The membership fee is $100 a year, but the reward of helping families and children is priceless. https://hillsides.wedid.it/campaigns/3834
Give the Gift of Your Skills to Homes for Life
Homes for Life provides permanent housing for unhoused folks with mental illness. It takes an entire community of people willing to help in a variety of ways in order to make sure every person has a safe, stable place they can call home. There are a number of ways to help, and by giving to Homes for Life Foundation, you give back to your community, friends, and neighbors. Consider volunteering with them today! They will work with what you can offer, and you can sign up through contacting them through email or phone.
Volunteer and Donate Wishlist Items to House of Ruth
If you have a desire to help women and children in need, there are a lot of ways you can get involved and make a positive difference. Volunteer and donate wishlist items to House of Ruth, who provide housing and resources for women and children homeless due to domestic violence. Some of their wishlist items include: Grocery Store Gift Cards, Amazon gift cards, non-perishable food (new items please), laundry Detergent and cleaning supplies, small appliances, baby supplies (new items please), furniture, and cell phones & computers. Send them an email to learn more!
Get Involved with Your Community with Imagine L.A
Imagine LA works to prevent first time and repeat homelessness by empowering people and families to maintain their housing. Consider volunteering with them and help support your community! There are many ways to volunteer, including becoming a family mentor and friend, where you partner with a family who either expierenced homelessness or was severely at risk and are now in stable housing and getting back on their feet. You can also serve as a general volunteer at any event or host donation drives for the organization. Either way, you can sign up on their website today! https://action.imaginela.org/
Help Homelessness and Poverty in the Inland Empire with Inland Valley Hope Partners
If you're looking for a way to give forward to people expierencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness in the Inland Empire, than Inland Valley Hope Partners is for you! They provide a plethora of resources for community members in the I.E, and are always looking for volunteers to help. Sign up through their website to volunteer and learn more about what kinds of opportunitites they have for you! https://www.inlandvalleyhopepartners.org/Ways-To-Help/Volunteering.asp
Donate to Support New Directions for Veterans
Make a Difference in the Life of a Veteran with New Directions for Veterans! Your contributions play a vital role in their ability to carry out their mission to empower men and women who served in the military, and their families, to lead productive and fulfilling lives. Every donation – large or small – helps provide food, shelter, support and a large array of services for veterans in need. To donate, visit: https://ndvets.org/you-can-help/
Donate to Support New Image Emergency Homeless Shelter
Consider donating to New Image Emergency Homeless Shelter! Their mission is to decrease and prevent homelessness throughout Los Angeles County by providing comprehensive Case Management and Supportive Services, housing, job search and placement, outreach, and referral services. They are helping those in need, and they always appreciate a little help! To donate, visit their website https://www.newimageshelter.com/donations-1
Donate to Support Operation Confidence
Consider supporting Operation Confidence! Veterans need your support more than ever and your generous donation will help fund our mission, provide stable permanent housing with a wide range of supportive services. To find out more, visit their website: https://operationconfidence.org/
Provide Lunch to PATH
PATH provides meals to their residents in interim housing. When groups sign up to provide meals, it helps PATH focus its resources on providing housing and support services for their residents. Their male veterans in West LA love to have home-cooked meals from volunteers. Shifts are currently available at their West LA site. They understand not everyone is comfortable with on-site volunteering. If you want to support the male veterans, ask them about sponsoring a meal through a meal delivery service or catering! For more info, visit: https://app.betterimpact.com/PublicOrganization/f36ff9d2-7476-4797-8747-b7487cbd57aa/1
Featured Projects
Lend a Hand at Big Sunday’s Greatest Hits Volume II
Big Sunday ,
davidmcb@bigsunday.org,
(323)549-9944
Big Sunday will be hosting their second Greatest Hits Event at the great Evergreen Avenue Elementary School in Boyle Heights on Saturday, May 14, 12pm-3pm. We’ll be doing all kinds of helping, giving and beautifying activities for – and with – this Evergreen community. All ages welcome. All activities will be outdoors. Click here to sign up: https://bigsundayorg.wufoo.com/forms/z1qcok690o4mous/