I Love a Clean San Diego
Good For: Kids, Teens, Families
This 50-year-old group combines service with the great outdoors at local beaches, canyons, and parks. I Love a Clean San Diego has a number of programs, from beach adoptions to huge, semiannual beach cleanup days.
San Diego Humane Society
Good For: Kids, Teens
Animal lovers 14 and up can volunteer to help care for and nurture furry friends. Kids of all ages can complete “Pawsitive Service” at home, making toys and enrichment materials for animals in SDHS’s care.
San Diego Food Bank
Good For: Kids, Teens, Families
Help the San Diego Food Bank feed 400,000 hungry San Diegans each month. Volunteers 6 and older can help with a variety of tasks such as inspecting, sorting, and packing food for distribution.
Tecolote Nature Center
Good For: Kids, Teens, Families
Each Saturday, the whole family can work with a park ranger to clean up the canyon. Pull weeds and invasive species, and dispose of trash.
Wild Willow Farm
Good For: Teens, Families
Teens will learn about sustainable farming and the food system as they help with chores. Young children can’t volunteer in the fields, but they can assist with feeding animals and composting.
Feeding America San Diego
Good For: Kids, Teens, Families
Volunteer as a family to help reclaim food pulled from grocery stores, repack bulk foods, sort and label, and help pack produce and staple items for delivery to children in need.
San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum
Good For: Teens
Teens can volunteer to work in almost every area of the museum. They’ll lead demonstrations and school workshops, assist with general operations, or serve as an information ambassador.
Surfrider Foundation
Good For: Kids
The Surfrider Foundation San Diego County Chapter and San Diego Coastkeeper coordinate beach cleanups three times a month. The foundation also needs volunteers for special events, such as surf competitions.
Father Joe’s Villages
Good For: Kids, Teens, Families
San Diego’s largest homeless services provider feeds and cares for nearly 2,000 people, from infants to seniors, every day. Volunteers can help with homework, special events, serving meals, and sorting mail.
Your local assisted living facility
Good For: Kids, Teens, Families
Give your local assisted living facility a call and schedule a time to stop by. Bring a board game, a care package, or a home-baked treat to share with a new friend.
10 Places Kids Can Volunteer in San Diego
