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
Uplift Charity 
(714) 614-7324
Masjid Al Ansar, 1717 S. Brookhurst St., Anaheim, CA 92804
[email protected]
8+, under 16 must be wit by an adult
Help families affected by COVID-19
Special Needs Network
- (323) 291-7100
- 905 E. El Segundo Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90059
- [email protected]
- 16+
Make calls to isolated seniors
Los Angeles LGBT Center
- Virtual
- [email protected]
- 18+, 16+ with waiver from parent, must be with parent if under 16
Help deliver food and goods to seniors
Los Angeles LGBT Center
- 1602 N. Ivar Ave., Los Angeles CA 90028
- [email protected]
- 18+
Package and distribute hygiene kits and food for people experiencing homelessness
Bright Path Center
- (323) 345-4322
- 5800 S. Eastern Ave., Suite 518, Los Angeles, CA 90040
- [email protected]
Check in on neighboors experiencing homelessness
NoHo Home Alliance
- (818) 762-2909
- 11031 Camarillo St., North Hollywood, CA 91602
Work with underprivileged children in Watts
Children Mending Hearts
- 11513 Gorman Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90059
Distribute meals to people experiencing homelessness
The Good Karma
- (310) 428-6807
- 10600 Lemona Ave., Mission Hills, CA 91345
- [email protected]
- 15+
Provide and deliver meals to seniors and unemployed people
#MovingForwardTogether Coalition
- Recess Room, 18380 Brookhurst St., Fountain Valley, CA 92708
- [email protected]
- Minors can sign up with parent permission form
Pack food for South Central youth and families
A Place Called Home
- (323) 232-7653
- 2830 S. Central Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90011
- [email protected]
- 10+
Volunteer at a food distribution center
Abrazar
- (714) 893-3581; (714) 898-0203
- 7101 Wyoming St., Westminster, CA 92683; 14900 Park Lane, Midway City, CA 92655
Volunteer at a food pantry
AIDS Food Store of Long Beach
- (562) 676-4554
- 590 E. Willow St., Long Beach, CA 90806
Make phone calls and deliver medication and groceries for the elderly
All Together LA
- Various
Distribute food to prepaid customers and free boxes to low-income seniors
Altadena Farmers Market
- 600 W. Palm St., Altadena, CA 91001
- [email protected]
- 18+
Volunteer at a food pantry
Anointed to Minister Ministries
- (661) 948-1800
- 169 W. Avenue J-5, Lancaster, CA 93534
- [email protected]
- 18+
Pack food and hygiene products for APLA Health clients
APLA Health
- 7336 Bellaire Ave., North Hollywood, CA 91605
- [email protected]
- 17+
Volunteer with people experience homelessness
Bridge to Home
- (661) 254-4663
- 23031 Drayton St., Santa Clarita, CA 91350
- [email protected]
Volunteer with childen in foster care
CASA of Los Angeles
- (323) 859-2888
- Edmund D. Edelman Children's Court, 201 Centre Plaza Drive, Suite 1100, Monterey Park, CA 91754-2142
- [email protected]
- 21+
Volunteer at a food pantry
Coast Christian Fellowship's Lydia's House
- (310) 779-8573
- 4000 Pacific Coast Hwy., Torrance, CA 90505
- [email protected]
Volunteer at a COVID-19 testing center
Community Organized Relief Effort
- Various
- 18+
Deliver groceries to those in need
Community's Child
- 18807 Crenshaw Place, Torrance, CA 90504
- 18+
Make wellness check phone calls to hospice patients
Companion Hospice Care
- 8130 Florence Ave., Suite 200, Downey, CA 90240
- 18+
Deliver meals, help in the kitchen and more
Cypress Senior Citizens Court
- (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
- [email protected]
- 21+
Tutor middle and high school students struggling academically
El Nido Family Centers
- (818) 830-3646
- Virtual
- [email protected]
Pick a spot on the L.A. River and clean it up
FOLAR
- Los Angeles River
Deliver extra food to soup kitchens and pantries
FoodCycle LA
- Various
- 18+
Bake and deliver birthday cakes to disadvantaged youth
For Goodness Cakes
- Various
- [email protected]
- 18+
Deliver food from partner grocery stores to food pantry storehouse
Grateful Hearts
- (562) 735-0732
- 3838 Cerritos Ave., Los Alamitos, CA 90720
- [email protected]
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
- [email protected]
- 13+
Volunteer at a food pantry
Help Me Help You
- (562) 612-5001
- 1301 W. 12th Street, Long Beach, CA 90813
- [email protected]
Deliver items for people vulnerable to COVID-19
Helping Hands Community
- (855) 955-3353
- Various
Deliver food to blind, senior, disabled and other populations vulnerable to COVID-19
Hunger Action Los Angeles
- (213) 388-8228
- 961 S. Mariposa Ave., No. 205, Los Angeles, CA 90006
- [email protected]
- 21+
Volunteer with senior chat line
I Did Something Good Today Foundation
- (888) 491-0054
- Virtual
- [email protected]
Drive-through food and diaper distributions and other services
ICNA Relief
- (714) 399-4571
- 505 E. Commonwealth Ave., Fullerton CA 92832
- Khalid Memon, [email protected]
- Minors can sign up with parent permission form
Mentor children and families who have experienced homelessness
Imagine LA
- Los Angeles, CA
- [email protected]
- 21+
Pack food bags, restock and pass out food to clients
Jewish Family Services L.A.
- (818) 988-7682
- 16439 Vanowen St., Van Nuys, CA 91406
- [email protected]
Be a hospice volunteer
Kaiser Permanente Hospice
- 3699 Wilshire Blvd., 3rd Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90010
- 18+
Help pack meals for the disabled and homebound
Khalsa Care Foundation
- (818) 896-7700
- 9989 Laurel Canyon Blvd., Pacoima, CA 91331
- [email protected]
- 16+
Help nonprofits reopen to volunteers safely
L.A. Works
- (323) 224-6510
- 570 W. Avenue 26, Los Angeles, CA 90065
Help people experiencing homelessness and abandoned animals
LA Animal Services
- (213) 395-1163
- Various
- [email protected]
- 12+
Help prepare Northeast L.A. Mercadito program and assist families picking up fresh produce
LA Más
- (213) 465-0410
- 2806 Clearwater St., Los Angeles, CA 90039
- [email protected]
- 16+
Sew protective face masks for medical workers, the elderly and others in need
LA Works
- Virtual
- 14+
Make protective plastic face shields for medical workers and other individuals
LA Works
- Virtual
- 14+
Make a social phone call twice a week to help isolated people
LA Works
- Virtual
Tutor underserved youth
Learn to Be
- Virtual
Deliver food for a community food outreach program
Lemondrop Productions Inc.
- (850) 508-6576
- Equation Road, Pomona, CA 91767
- [email protected]
- 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
- [email protected]
Distribute food to low-income seniors and families
LifeSTEPS
- (323) 517-6609
- 9400 Maie Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90002
- [email protected]
- 18+
Deliver food and supplies to local seniors and families
Little Tokyo Service Center
- (310) 710-2520
- Little Tokyo
- [email protected]
- 18-65
Deliver food to vulnerable populations in Long Beach/Lakewood area
Long Beach Community Table
- 9038 Artesia Blvd., Bellflower, CA 90706
- [email protected]
- 14+
Volunteer for food distribution center
Los Angeles Boys & Girls Club
- (323) 221-9111
- 2635 Pasadena Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90031
Volunteer at the Hospitality Kitchen (a.k.a. "Hippie Kitchen") on skid row
Los Angeles Catholic Worker
- (213) 614-9615
- 821 E. 6th St., Los Angeles, CA 90021
Prepare and provide meals for people experiencing homelessness
Los Angeles Mission
- (213) 629-1227, Ext. 400
- 303 E. 5th St., Los Angeles, CA 90013
- [email protected]
- 16+
Volunteers needed for food distribution center
Los Angeles Regional Food Bank
- 323-234-3030
- 1747 Nogales St., Rowland Heights, CA 91748
- 18+
Mentor at-risk middle school students
Los Angeles Team Mentoring
- (213) 742-6733
- Virtual
- 18+
Deliver meals to seniors
Meals on Wheels
- Various
- Various
- 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
- [email protected]
- 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
Talk to seniors across the Los Angeles area
Mon Ami
- Virtual
Mentoring 7th- to 12th-grade girls from underserved communities
Motivating Our Students Through Experience
- (213) 537-9157
- Virtual
- [email protected]
- 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
MusicLink Foundation
- (703) 534-9490
- Carson
- [email protected]
- 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
- [email protected]
Help people experiencing homelessness in Orange County
Operation Warm Wishes
- (714) 363-6621
Pack food boxes, monitor social distancing and more
Orange County Food Bank
- (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
- [email protected]
Tutor students in need, including those missing school for health reasons
P2P Tutoring
- Virtual
- [email protected]
Tutor low-income students
Pandemic Professors
- (909) 667-5703
- Virtual
- 18+
Purchase and assemble or donate needed items. Local opportunities also
PATH Los Angeles
- (323) 644-2200
- Virtual
- [email protected]
Help distribute hygiene essentials to unhoused neighbors, sort clothes and more
Project Ropa
- 808 E. 6th St., Los Angeles, CA 90021
- [email protected], [email protected]
Help serve a meal or work with the food pantry
Project: NEEDS
- (310) 370-4319
- 2600 Nelson Ave., Redondo Beach, CA 90278
- [email protected]
Handle food, sort donated clothes and more
Redeemer Lutheran Outreach
- (818) 341-1629
- 20025 Chase St., Winnetka, CA 91306
- [email protected]
Share your life experience with teenagers
Sages and Seekers
- (508) 444-8821
- Virtual
- [email protected]
- 60+
After-school and senior programs and assisting people experiencing homelessness
Salvation Army
- Various
- Various
- 18+
Tutor students experiencing homelessness
Schools on Wheels
- (805) 641-1678
- Virtual
- [email protected]
- 18+
Help seniors by driving, running errands and visiting
South Bay Village
- (424) 271-2304
- Various
- [email protected]
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
- [email protected]
Work with people experiencing homelessness and help with donations
St. Francis Center
- (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, [email protected]
Mail sorting, food pantry work, assist people experiencing homelessness
St. Margaret's Center
- (310) 672.2208
- 10217 S. Inglewood Ave., Inglewood, CA 90304
- [email protected]
Staffing 24-hour hotline, accompanying people to exams and counseling
Strength United
- 14651 Oxnard St., Van Nuys, CA 91411
- [email protected]
Tutor students in math, language learning or coding
StudySmart Youth Services
- Virtual
- [email protected]
Clean up a beach on your own and record what you found
Surfrider Foundation
- Various
Prepare food, sort clothes help with donations
The Midnight Mission
- (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
Union Rescue Mission
- (213) 347-6300
- 545 S. San Pedro St., Los Angeles, CA 90013
- [email protected]
- 16+ Sylmar, 14+ downtown
Mentor an adult who is transitioning into housing
Union Rescue Mission
- (626) 240-4550
- 825 E. Orange Grove Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91104
- [email protected]
- 18
Assignments vary; volunteers receive training
Valley Food Bank
- (818) 510-4140
- 12701 Van Nuys Blvd, Suite A, Pacoima, CA 91331
Sort and dispense food. Pick up donated food
West Valley Food Pantry
- (818) 346-5554
- 5700 Rudnick Ave., Woodland Hills, CA 91367
- 15
Call an isolated senior, arrange deliveries, run errands
Westside Pacific Villages
- (310) 695-7030
- 8939 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Suite 326, Los Angeles, CA 90045
- [email protected]
Support survivors of sexual assault
YWCA Greater Los Angeles
- (213) 365-2991
- Various
- [email protected]