Community Service
Give back to Los Angeles — find volunteer opportunities in your community, build real-world skills, and strengthen your college application.
17 opportunities
Los Angeles Animal Services
Animal Care Volunteer Program
Walk dogs, socialize cats, assist with adoptions, and help care for animals at LA Animal Services shelters across the city. Training provided on your first day. Open to volunteers 16 and older.
Lange Foundation
No-Kill Shelter Youth Volunteer
Volunteer at the Lange Foundation's no-kill animal sanctuary in Bel Air. Help with feeding, enrichment activities, and adoption events. Flexible scheduling for students — weekends available.
Los Angeles Regional Food Bank
Volunteer Food Packer
Sort and pack food donations at the LA Regional Food Bank's warehouse in El Monte. Volunteers work in teams to prepare boxes for distribution to families across LA County. No experience required.
Midnight Mission
Skid Row Meal Service Volunteer
Serve meals, distribute hygiene supplies, and connect with unhoused community members at the Midnight Mission on Skid Row. Volunteers must be at least 16 and attend a brief orientation.
Harvest Home
Community Garden & Food Distribution
Help grow, harvest, and distribute fresh produce to underserved LA families through Harvest Home's urban farm network. Students learn urban agriculture, nutrition, and food justice alongside community members.
TreePeople
Community Tree Planting Volunteer
Join TreePeople's community tree planting events across LA neighborhoods. Volunteers dig, plant, stake, and water trees on Saturday mornings. Gloves and tools provided. Great for groups and families.
Heal the Bay
Beach & Creek Cleanup Crew
Join Heal the Bay's monthly cleanups at Santa Monica Beach, Malibu, and local LA creek sites. Collect trash, record data on debris types, and help protect LA's coastal ecosystems. All supplies provided.
LA Conservation Corps
Urban Ecology Youth Crew
The LA Conservation Corps runs paid and volunteer opportunities for youth to restore trails, plant native vegetation, and remove invasive species in LA's parks and open spaces. Students gain conservation skills and connect with nature.
826LA
Writing Tutor Volunteer
Volunteer as a writing tutor at 826LA's Echo Park or Mar Vista storefront. Help K–12 students with creative writing, homework, and college application essays in a welcoming, imaginative space. Training provided.
Reading to Kids
Elementary School Reading Volunteer
Read aloud with elementary school students on one Saturday per month at an LAUSD school in need. Reading to Kids creates a culture of literacy in underserved communities with the help of caring volunteers.
Fulfillment Fund
College Access Peer Mentor
Support high school students from underserved LA communities as a college access peer mentor. Assist with college essays, financial aid applications, and campus visit preparation under Fulfillment Fund staff guidance.
Heal the Bay
Adopt-A-Beach Cleanup Program
Adopt a local LA beach or creek and commit to monthly cleanups with your group. Heal the Bay provides trash bags, gloves, and data cards. Perfect for school clubs, friend groups, and community organizations.
LA Beautification Team
Neighborhood Greening Volunteer
Partner with the LA Mayor's Office Beautification Team to plant flowers, remove graffiti, paint murals, and beautify neglected public spaces across the city. Events held most weekends in neighborhoods citywide.
Los Angeles Public Library
LAPL Teen Volunteer Program
Volunteer at your local LAPL branch to assist with children's programs, homework help sessions, tech support for seniors, and community events. Earn community service hours and connect with your neighborhood.
Reach Out and Read
Story Time Reader Volunteer
Read picture books to young children in pediatric clinic waiting rooms across LA County, promoting early literacy during medical visits. Training and books provided. Volunteers are matched with clinics near them.
AARP Foundation
Senior Tech Buddy Program
Teach digital skills — smartphones, video calls, email, and online safety — to senior citizens in LA through AARP's intergenerational tech program. Sessions held at senior centers and remotely. Fulfilling and flexible.
Meals on Wheels LA
Meal Delivery Volunteer
Deliver hot, nutritious meals to homebound elderly and disabled residents across Los Angeles County. Volunteers drive established routes on weekday mornings. A car is needed; mileage reimbursement available.