Volunteer Opportunities 
South Orange County
by Holly Wilcox, DHHS, Class of 2012

Aliso Viejo Library  

Brian Whelton, 949 360-1730, bwhelton@ocpl.org, www.ocpl.org, Minimum Age/16; Limited to 4 hours of service per week.  Volunteers needed during the summer months for the Summer Reading Program; however opportunities available year round.  Responsibilities: Varies depending upon the library’s needs.  Volunteers may shelve picture books, paperback books, adult and children’s videos, magazines, and adult and children audios.  Volunteers may also sharpen pencils, cut scratch paper, wash outside patio tables, clean computers and keyboards, retrieve items from shelves and list. 

Aliso Viejo Events Committee

Gracie Duran, 425-2519, gduran@cityofalisoviejo.com, Minimum Age/16.  No hour requirements.  Training is provided.  Description of duties: The City of Aliso Viejo participates in various community events. The volunteers need to be able to assist with a game booth or with office work.  Depending on the assignment.  Volunteers can be used at the following events - Snow Fest Nov. 17, 2007 Twilight Camp April 5, 2008, 4th of July and Founder’s Day Faire on September 27, 2008.

Meals on Wheels

Richard, 499-7575, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. M-F, Minimum Age/High School, Description of duties: sorting and distributing food.  www.southcountyseniors.org

American Cancer Society Relay for Life – Aliso Viejo

Tracy Ettinghoff, 949 363-5573, Minimum Age/9th Grade, Description of Duties:  Assisting in planning, organizing, and conducting the 24 hour walk a thon to raise funds for the American Cancer Society.  Event will take place on July 19-20, 2008.

Extra Hands for ALS

Val Waterman, laoc@extrahands.org, www.extrahands.org, You may visit www.volunteermatch.com and search by organization name to locate current upcoming volunteer opportunities in the area for this organization.

Habit for Humanity

Alli Campfield, 714 434-6200, Ext. 223, alli@habitatoc.com.  No minimum age to volunteer in general.  However, to volunteer at the construction build sites, the deconstruction project sites, and in their restore warehouse, you must be 18 or over.  They do allow 16 and 17 volunteers to help but must have parent/guardian with them the first few times they volunteer.  Please contact Alli directly for complete list of description of duties and local upcoming opportunities.  http://www.habitatoc.org/volunteers/ 

Dana Point Library

949 496-5517, Carolyn Hopkins, cjhopkins@ocpl.org, Minimum Age/12, Volunteer Duties:  Help shelf books, assist with crafts and craft projects, and miscellaneous needs of the librarian.

Orange County Marine Institute  

Linda Blanchard, 496-2274 ext. 314, Minimum age/14, no Hour Requirement, Description: Showing visitors touch tanks and special events. http://www.ocean-institute.org/html/dev_volunteer.htm

Doheny State Beach Intrepretative Association

Volunteer Hotline: 949 496-2704 or Viki Wiker, 949 496-6172, doheny@parks.ca.gov,

Dana Point Chamber of Commerce

949 496-1555, www.danapoint-chamber.com, Dana Point Festival of Whales Street Faire held in March 2008, Dana Point Annual Turkey Trot,

Hope 4 Kids

Karleen Cox, 949 201-5567, karleen@hope4kids.com, Minimum age/16 if not working with children, 18 if working with children.  No hour requirements.  Training is required and provided.  Description:  We need volunteers to come up with ideas for celebrations through out the year, Christmas, summer etc.  Volunteers who can do research and implement activities for foster children of all ages.  We also have a need for help in the office.  http://www.forkids.com/pages/volunteer.html

Dana Point Earth Ocean Society

Beverli Jinn, 949 443-4095, dpeos@hotmail.com, www.danapointearthocean.org, Minimum Age – None, Hour Requirements- None, Various activities throughout the year.  Primary Event is during the Annual Earth Day Cleanup in April.  Volunteers serve as role models/supervisors for fifth graders who covered an assigned area cleanup area in Dana Point’s Lantern Village and harbor.

Dana Point Harbor Association

949 923-2255, www.danapointharbor.com, we recommend that you locate volunteer opportunities through their website.  Telephone number is a recording only.  You may listen to the recording to hear about upcoming community events and then check the website for volunteer contact information for the specific event. www.danapointharbor.com

Festival of Whales Committee

www.festivalofwhales.org, To assist with the Festival of Whales Committee, please contact the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce listed above.

Friends of the Dana Point Library

Betsy, 489-3956, Minimum Age/14.  Sort and shelve books.

Dana Point Senior Center

949 496-4252, Vanna Murphy, Minimum Age/13.  No hour requirement.  Set tables, serve seniors, crafts, and activities.

Dana Point Historical Society

949 496-4539 or 949 248-7164, www.danapointhistorical.org, Meets @ 4th Monday of each month, 7p.m. @ South Shores Church, 32712 Crown Valley Parkway, Dana Point, CA  92629

Ocean Institute

Karen Lloreda, 949 496-2274, Ext. 221, klloreda@ocean-institute.org,  www.ocean-institute.org, Minimum age/14.  Hour Requirement –varies – six months, 12 hours per month/ one year, 8 hrs per month.  Training required and provided.  Description:  Tallship docent, gift shop clerk, ocean science lab docent.  Shifts available on Saturdays and Sundays.

Sports Gift, Inc.

Kevin Baxter, 949 388-2359, www.sportsgift.org, Mission Statement:  Dedicated to bringing the joy and benefits of sports to underprivileged children around the world.  To reach these children to improve their lives and given them hope through a variety of sports programs including the collection and donation of sports equipment.

Dana Point/San Clemente Animal Shelter/Pet Project Foundation

Volunteer Coordinator, 949 595-8899 or 949 492-1617, Must be 18 to volunteer at the shelter. Shifts are three hours once a week.  Orientation and Training available.  Must be a member of Pet Project Foundation $25 per year dues.  Description:  Dog handlers, cat handlers, bunny handlers, and office volunteers.  www.petprojectfoundation.org

Fountains at Sea Bluffs

Rick Fox, 949 234-3000, Minimum Age/14, No hour requirement.  Assist seniors with crafts, activities, etc.

Dana Point Children’s Theater and Music Company

Rhonda Hall, 949 496-1750, www.danmans.com,  rhonda@danmans.com No minimum age, hours will vary depending on Performances.  A background in music, musical theater, drama would be helpful but not required.  Description would be:  helping out with production of plays and musical concerts for the Dana Point Children’s Theater and Danman’s Music School.  Rehearsals, and props and sets act…Upcoming events:  April 2008 – Theatrical Play – You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown; Upcoming events:  March 2008 – Danman’s Music School Kids Concert Upcoming events:  April 2008 – Spring Break Music Camp

Dana Point Lighthouse Society

Email danaptguys@cox.net, www.danapointlighthouse.org, Please visit website for current information and opportunities.

Dana Point Coastal Arts

949 542-8361, Karin Schnell, danapoint_coastalarts@yahoo.ocm, or Karin4art@yahoo.com, Minimum Age/15, Hour Requirements/None, Training is provided if needed for specific project.  Volunteers are needed to assist artists in hands-on activities for children and families at the Dana Point Arts Festival.  For more information, please visit www.dpcoastalarts.org.

Junior Achievement of OC and the Inland Empire

Will Ferguson, 949 515-1998, Ext. 4514, www.orangecounty.ja.org, wferguson@jasocal.org, Minimum Age -16, Hour Requirements – Once a week for 5 visits for ½ hour per visit, Training is provided.  Responsibilities:  Teach Junior Achievement hands-on economic, kit based program to K-2nd grade students at a local elementary school.  Each lesson is ½ hour and the JA kit includes posters, worksheets, stickers, etc. for the K-2nd Grade students.  Volunteer teachers must read the lesson prior to teaching at the elementary school.  All classes are taught during school (afternoon) or after school setting.  A total of 10 hours of community service hours are awarded at completion of program., www.jaocie.ja.org   

Second Harvest Food Bank – Orange County Harvest

www.feedoc.org, volunteer@feedoc.org, You may find volunteer opportunities online at www.volunteermatch.com, Advanced Search, keyword – Second Harvest, and a list of current volunteer opportunities will be listed.  Volunteers are needed Monday through Saturday year-round to label, pack, and sort food items in the Food Bank’s warehouse.  You may volunteer individually or as a group.  Morning and afternoon shifts are available.

Alzheimer’s Association Orange County Chapter

Mallory Gompert, 949 757-3705, Mallory.gompert@alz.org, Minimum Age – Varies, Hour Requirements – Varies depends on volunteer position, Training – Yes, volunteers are required to attend a one-hour volunteer orientation prior to volunteering.  Internships are available.  Additional training provided for each job.  Volunteer Responsibilities available – Youth Liaison:  Implement educational and fundraising initiatives in Orange County schools, youth groups, churches, girl scouts, and boy scouts. Coordinate projects such as the 5000 Penny Project and Casual for a Cause Day to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and the Association.   Office Volunteer: Assist with general office duties such as copying, filing, mailings, data entry, telephone calls and record keeping. Event Volunteers: Assist Chapter Committees with fundraising or educational events and projects such as the Crean Classic Golf Tournament, An Affair to Remember Gala, Memory Walk, Memories in the Making Art Auction and/or educational conferences.  Library Assistants: The Alzheimer’s Association has a lending library that contains information regarding Alzheimer’s disease for families and professionals to borrow. Volunteers are needed to help maintain inventory, process new books and contact people with overdue materials.  All of the volunteer opportunities can be on an ongoing or on-call basis.  Annual events that can use teenaged volunteers - Memory Walk (Volunteer and High School team participants), Crean Classic Golf Tournament, An Affair to Remember Gala, Memories in the Making Art Auction, Educational Conferences.

Shade Tree Partnership

Leslie, 949 453-5312, bonkowsl@irwd.com, www.shadetreepartnership.org; No minimum age, No time requirement, You may register to volunteer online.   

Irvine Ranch Conservancy

Megan, 714 508-4757, Please visit their website at www.irvineranchwildlands.org under Activities.  Upcoming volunteer opportunities will be listed with the specific requirements to volunteer for the particular events.

Irvine Historical Museum

Gail Daniels, 949 854-0510, No minimum age, no hour requirement, training is provided.  Responsibilities – Catalog museum items and upkeep exhibits.  Volunteer opportunities available by appointment.

Back to Natives Restoration

Reginald Durant, Director of Restoration or Lori Whalen, Director of Education, 949 509-4787, www.backtonatives.org, Minimum Age – depends on activity, No hour requirements.  Internships available.  Training is provided.  Volunteer opportunities are available all year round.  Must be willing to learn physical skills including shoveling, weeding, digging, how to use a wheelbarrow, and biological monitoring.   

American Lung Association

714 835-5864, Ext. 105, Natalie Martinez, Minimum Age – 16 / unless accompanied by an adult.  Responsibilities:  lite office work, mailings.  There are special events throughout the year which require volunteers, you may contact Natalie at any time for a schedule of upcoming events.

Council on Aging-Orange County

714 479-0107, Carolina Gutierrez, www.coaoc.org or visit http://www.coaoc.org/new/html/volunteer.htm, You may review the current volunteer opportunities available and fill out a volunteer online registration form directly online.

Philharmonic Society of Orange County

Diane Perez, 949 553-2422, Ext. 227, www.philharmonicsociety.org, Description of duties:  research new curriculums, present programs in schools, organize and staff concerts, filing, mailings, and other essential administrative tasks.

Open Space Services/Turtle Rock Nature Center

Amy Litton, alitton@cityofirvine.org, 949 724-6738, http://www.cityofirvine.org/depts/cs/openspace/volunteer_opportunities.asp, Nature Center: Trail maintenance, non-native plant removal, administrative assistance. Programs & Events: Assist with registration and check-in on programs and hikes, assist with hikes. Docents: A docent is a volunteer trained in the basics of ecology and natural history. Docents assist staff naturalists with hikes, campouts and summer camps.

Irvine Animal Care Center

Christine Franco or Jenny Shively, 949 724-7741, irvineshelter@cityofirvine.org, minimum age/15, minimum time commitment/8 hours a month for the first six months.  After the first six months, they require all volunteers to maintain a minimum of 5 hours per month (excluding the month of December).  Responsibilities:  animal shelter work, administrative tasks, special events, or foster care.  Training is provided.  Opportunities available all year around.

Families Forward

Debbie Regele, 949 552-2727, Ext. 226, www.families-forward.org, info@families-forward.org, Minimum age – 14, Warehouse Work Volunteers needed.  Responsibilities: inventorying, shelving, and organizing donated food.  Most opportunities are on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday mornings, 9 a.m. – 12 noon.  Summertime or spring break is a great time for high school students to work in the warehouse.  Food drive volunteers are also needed.  Volunteers are also needed for the Families Forward Gala/Silent/Live Auction held on September 20, 2008.  Volunteers will help with preparations of set-up and/or work the night of the event.  Different time/shifts are available.  Half-Marathon Race to Support Families Forward, December 8 in Irvine.  Volunteers needed to staff various stations of the race.  Additional volunteer opportunities are available.

Yellow Ribbon America

Brad, (714) 454-1150, www.yellowribbonamerica.com, Please visit website for more information and current volunteer opportunities.

Heritage Park Library Bookstore

Carol Tsai, 949 660-4909, caroltsai@att.net,  (prefers contact by email) Minimum Age/16, No hour requirement.  Description of duties:  shelve books and tidy shelves. http://www.ocpl.org/16brnch.asp

Girl Scout Council of Orange County

Lesley Finch, 949 461-8861, lfinch@gscoc.org, Minimum Age – Depends on the event, Yes, there are hour requirements.  Training/orientation is provided.  Brief description of volunteer responsibilities:  The Girl Scout Council of Orange County accepts staff applications for Girl Scouts in grades 9-12 for “Cadette-O-Rama”, a weekend camping skills competition and camp-out held annually in October.  Positions are available for “Red Hats” (10th -12th” graders) and “Blue Hats” (9th graders and older) and training is provided.  Staff positions are open to individual girls.  Girls who serve as staff for this event are not required to apply/attend with an adult.  There are various volunteer opportunities throughout the year.  Please visit www.gscoc.org.

March of Dimes

949 263-1100, Sarah, sweeda@marchofdimes.com, Minimum age/14, No hour requirement/flexible.   Responsibilites: varied and training will be provided.  March for Babies – April 27, 2008, various events throughout the year. http://www.marchofdimes.com/california/

Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation

949 859-6312, Tom Summa, www.pcrf-kids.org, Minimum Age/12, No hour requirement.  Responsibilities – packaging and mailing, lite office work.  Special Events throughout the year can use volunteers.

Birth Choice

Kathryn Go, 949 261-2981, Minimum Age/13, No hour requirement.  Volunteer application will need to be completed.  Responsibilities:  child care, office work, filing, copying, answering phones, etc. http://www.birthchoiceoc.org/ 

Wyland Foundation  

497-7979, www.wylandfoundation.org, please visit the website for various volunteer opportunities such as beach clean up days, organizing a beach clean up, etc.

My Hero Project

949 376-5964, Jeannie, myhero@myheroproject.org, www.myhero.com, Minimum Age/None.  Hour Requirement – depends on volunteer assignment.  Responsibilities may include multimedia work, graphic arts, journalism, lite office work.  Special Events include Film Festival at USC in December and Hero Festival in July.  Volunteers needed to create and distribute original flyers.  Writing assignments are useful to the organization.  Highly recommended for students interested in journalism, or multimedia.  Internships are available with opportunities for paid freelance work.  Bilingual volunteers encouraged to volunteer however not required.

The Raise Foundation

Kristin Jefferson, 955-1578, Ext. 13, Kristin@theraisefoundation.org, Various community projects throughout the year ie., November - Thanksgiving Food Drive, February - Annual Bundles of Love Drive, April – Mother’s Day Drive, April – Pennies for Prevention, June – Thanksgiving in the Summer.  Description:  Coordinate/Host a Drive at church/school, attend the sorting and packaging at the end of the collection drive. http://www.theraisefoundation.org/WebFormsA/Default.aspx?S=18

Laguna Beach Community Clinic

Shirley Lorenz, 949 494-0761, slorenz@lbclinic.org, www.lbclinic.org, Minimum Age/14.  Responsibilities may include lite office work, assistance as needed by director.

Sierra Club

Robin Everett, 361-7534, robin.everett@sierraclub.org, No Minimum Age. Gardening, maintaining trails, etc.

Bridge Learning Center for Homeless Children

Howard Levin, 494-0591, Minimum age/13, Description: An all volunteer organization, from teens to seniors, who spend one hour per week working with a child, one-on-one to increase their self-esteem and social ability.  Tutoring is only in the basic 3Rs but also help them keep up with the rest of the class as necessary.  http://www.volunteermatch.org/results/opp_detail.jsp?oppid=64822

Boys & Girls Club of Capistrano Valley

Denise M. Lamb, 949 240-7896, Ext. 19, dlamb@bgccapo.com, Minimum Age – 13, Minimum Hour Requirements – 30, training/orientation is provided; Responsibilities:  aid staff members with preparation and supervision of members during after school activities.  The schedule can be flexible, you may work directly with the children after school on a regular basis and/or assist with special events that happen in December, February, March, May, & September.

Laguna Beach Women’s Club

womanscluboflagunabeach@yahoo.com, Infrequent need for volunteers, however, you may email for current opportunities.

Laguna Art Museum

Derry Coe, 949 494-8971, Ext. 217, dcoe@lagunaartmuseum.org, computer literate volunteers are needed.  Special Events are held during the year, assisting with registration, selling raffle tickets, assisting the caterers.  Office skills are also needed, filing, help with mailings.  Also assistance with the Museum Store is also needed.  http://www.lagunaartmuseum.org/Volunteer.html

SHARE Mountain Bike Club

Ken Rands, 636-0345, sharemtb@cox.net, No Minimum Age.  No hours required.  Will provide tool use and safety.  Will provide all trail tools.  Description:  Volunteers would meet at a specified location and hike or ride to the work site.  After instruction, volunteers would maintain trails by moving soil to prevent erosion or cutting back brush to keep the trail clear.  Also participates in Inner Coastal Clean Up Day.  Can coordinate with a group that would want to volunteer.  http://www.sharemtb.com/

Laguna Beach Animal Shelter

Nancy or Laura, 497-3552, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. daily, lbas@ix.netcom.com, Minimum Age/18.  Hour Requirement:  4 hours per week, shifts are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. or noon to 4 p.m.  Due to insurance reasons, they request a one year commitment.  Two Hour Mandatory Volunteer Training is held one Saturday or Sunday a month.

Friends of the Sea Lion/Pacific Marine Mammal Center, Marine Mammal Recovery

Kiersten Sedlick, 494-3050, ksedlick@pacificmmc.org, Minimum age/18 for ongoing basis, contact Kiersten for annual event opportunities wherein teenagers younger than 18 may be able to volunteer.   Training is provided.
        Description of Duties:  We currently have two volunteer positions available, animal care and education.  Both volunteer positions require a one-year commitment.  Education volunteer shifts are once a week for 3 hours.  Animal care volunteer shifts are also once a week, but generally last 4 hours or more (animal care volunteers are often here 6-8 hours during the busy season). 
        Our education volunteers are, in a sense, on the front lines.  They have the most involvement with the public.  Education volunteers greet visitors, answer questions, and provide various groups with presentations in our classroom.  They also get to do fun marine-related activities with the kids.  Usually, we send an education volunteer out on rescues with animal care to answer any questions the public might have (they are usually curious as to what is going on).
        Our animal care volunteers do the dirty work, so to speak.  It is hard manual labor and we require that you be able to lift 50 lbs over your head.  Animal care volunteers are involved with the daily cleaning, feeding and rescuing of our Pinnipeds patients.  Animal care is hard work, yet quite rewarding.
        Kiersten stated that she is currently working on a Teen Volunteer Program for 2008, please contact Kiersten if you are interested.  http://www.pacificmmc.org/howToHelp/volunteer.php

Friendship Shelter

949 494-6928, James Gard, office@friendshipshelter.org, www.friendshipshelter.org

Laguna Beach Library

949 497-1733, Rebecca Porter, Minimum Age/13 No hour requirement.  Various volunteer opportunities available, sort books, shelve books, Read to Me Program, crafts, etc.

Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce

949 494-1018, Rose Hancock, info@lagunabeachchamber.org, Minimum Age/16, No hour requirement.  Responsibilities – lite office work and/or Special Events throughout the year, Community Expo in October, Hometown BBQ – July 5, 2008, Hospitality Night in December.

Someone Cares Soup Kitchen

949 548-8861 –Volunteer Hours are Monday thru Friday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 1 p.m to 5 p.m.  Saturday volunteer hours are 7:30 a.m. to 12 noon.  In order to volunteer, you will need to leave a message on the answering machine.

Zero Trash Laguna

www.zerotrashlaguna.org, Clear our streets and beaches the first Saturday of each month.  Please visit website for current information.

Child Guidance Center, Inc.

Elaine O’Rourke, 714 953-4455, Ext. 613, Minimum Age/Varies, No hour requirement.  Lite office work, copying, filing, sorting, etc.

Laguna Beach Playhouse

Lee Prouty, 949 497-2787, Ext. 203, www.lagunaplayhouse.com, Duties include: ushering, helping with mailings, education or group projects, and much more.

Orange County Marine Institute  

 Karen Lloreda, 949 496-2274, Ext. 221, klloreda@ocean-institute.org,  www.ocean-institute.org, Minimum age/14.  Hour Requirement –varies – six months, 12 hours per month/ one year, 8 hrs per month.  Training required and provided.  Description:  Tallship docent, gift shop clerk, ocean science lab docent.  Shifts available on Saturdays and Sundays.

Saddleback Memorial Center

Patricia Dooley, 452-3728, pdooley@memorialcare.org, Minimum age/16.  Must attend volunteer orientation before becoming a volunteer. Must be able to volunteer a minimum of 100 hours (4 hrs a week).  Two TB Test are required.  Medical clearance from your doctor is required.  Criminal Background check if over 18.  Must purchase volunteer uniform $25 and $6 dues annually.  All volunteers are required to attend additional training and must show competence with the assigned duties.  There is also a campus in San Clemente.  http://www.memorialcare.org/saddleback/volunteers/volunteers.cfm

South County Community Outreach

949 380-8144, Don Ruff, www.saddlebackoutreach.org, Minimum Age 12 accompanied with an adult.  Volunteer Hours Mon. thru Fri. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Volunteer duties:  Sorting food and misc. help as needed.

Challenger League – Little League

Patty Stoner, 949 364-1961, Description of Duties:  Assist K-7th grade children with physical and mental disabilities the basics of throwing, catching, hitting, base running, and having fun.  There is a possibility there may be a basketball league for disabled children as well.  http://www.district55.org/challenger.html

Corazon, Inc.

Maria Mazzenga Avellanda, 949 830-7494 or 949 830-7429

Country Villa Healthcare

Shari Ryan, 949 837-8000, Description of duties:  Assist patients in moving to and from activities, participating in activities, and room visits.

Kids Konnected

Carol Reed, 949 582-5443, Description of duties:  Volunteers needed for a range of support services for kids who have a parent with cancer.  http://www.kidskonnected.org/donate/volunteer.html

Her Place

949 707-5111, JoAnne, www.herplaceoc.org, Volunteers are needed for child care, performing office work or assisting counselors.