Student Service Advisory Council of the South Bay – Chapters and Affiliates
The purpose of the Student Service Advisory Council is to facilitate various youth community service groups by providing and sharing information and opportunities. Our goal is to encourage young people to make a difference in their community, to develop leadership skills while working with others, and to cultivate a lifelong spirit of volunteerism and dedication to helping others in need with the support of their parents/mentors.
Immediate Opportunities
Feb 4 | TRAINING TO VOLUNTEER WITH PRESSFRIENDS
In addition to our school and summer programs, we hold some large events. A fun upcoming event is USC Kids News, which is on Saturday, February 4. You must have gone through a new volunteer training to attend. Upcoming training on January 28th - info here...
Ongoing Opportunities
Ride to Fly
We are a non-profit organization dedicated to providing therapeutic horseback riding and the associated learning experiences to children and adults with disabilities. As a non-profit we can only provide our services with the support of dedicated volunteers, who assist with lessons and simple horse care. This is also a great opportunity for students to earn community service hours. During the fall and winter months the lessons are after school, starting at 1pm through 5pm. You can check out our website for more detailed information. https://www.ridetofly.org/volunteers
Contact: Nancy Kreiner, Volunteer Coordinator
cell: 310-292-5891, RTF barn: 310-541-4201
[email protected]
ridetofly.org
Press Friends
Youth Volunteers help elementary students with writing skills and develop a newsletter written by the students. A one day training session is required.
Contact: www.pressfriends.org
Belmont Village
1st Saturday of each month, 3:30pm – 4:30pm
Volunteer at Belmont Village Senior Living, located at 5701 Crestridge Rd.,
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275, (310) 377-9977. Work with the seniors helping them with “horseracing”, darts, and other games. All activities are led by a “game coordinator”. Boys simply show up and help the coordinator and the seniors play the games. Contact: www.belmontvillage.com
Book Buddies
Molina Foundation Book Buddies Warehouse, 3680 Skypark Dr., Torrance (btw Hawthorne and Madison). www.molinafoundation.org/
Volunteers at Book Buddies help put books into the hands of children who need them. Volunteers assist in processing books for distribution at Torrance warehouse. Book Processing Consists of: Sorting, Counting, Packaging, Choosing books for recipient groups. Donate new or gently used books or Host a Book Drive.
You must call and register, bring signed release form (from website, in “volunteer handbook”)
Palos Verdes Land Conservancy
Go to the website and look at upcoming events and then volunteer here: https://pvplc.org/_volunteer
Friendship Circle
check website for specifics: website – www.friendshipcirclesb.com
Most activities are during the school year only (except for summer camps)
Director Jason Flentye, 310-214-4999 x102
“Sunday Circle” one Sunday a month for younger disabled kids at a South Bay community center. FC brings toys, games, etc. and sets up around the room. As kids arrive, they are paired with volun-teers, who go off one-on-one (or 2 or 3 volunteers-on-one) and play a game, read a book, etc. for about ½ hour. Then there is some group music lead by an adult, and then an entertainer of some sort — all kind of like a birthday party format.
“Life Skills” one Sunday a month for disabled 13 year olds and up. They take them on outings to the pier, on a fishing boat, etc. to help teach life skills – ie. purchasing something – waiting in line, paying for the item, etc. Again, kids are paired with volunteers who accompany them and help them out during the outing.
“Sports Night” one Thursday a month at Mira Costa Gym (5:30-6:30pm). There is a sports coach there that leads games. Volunteers shadow and help the kids with the games (ie. basketball, volleyball, …)
“Sports Sundays” every Sunday during sports season where they play baseball with the kids, basketball during basketball season, soccer during the soccer season, etc. Most of these take place in El Segundo on Sunday afternoons (1:30pm-3:30pm).
Hammerhead Camp: a one week Beach Camp in Manhattan Beach, August 3-7, 12:30pm-4pm. Must commit to all 5 days.
Other summer camps: Sports Camp, August 17 – 21, 12:30pm-4pm, Manhattan Highlands park. Karate Camp, August 24 – 28, 9-12:30pm, at a studio in Lawndale (Hawthorne & 140th Street). Both camps are more flexible with volunteering – can do all 5 days or a combination of just a few days.
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat Home Store, 17700 South Figueroa Street, Gardena, CA 90248, (Also now on Crenshaw)
Store hours: Tues. – Sat. / 9am -6pm, web-site: www.habitatlb.org/volunteer.asp
The Home Improvement Store recycles overstocked, discontinued, new and used building materials, furniture and home decor donated by manufacturers, stores, contractors and individuals. These donated items are used in two ways: to build simple, decent homes for low-income families and to be resold to the general public to finance Habitat for Humanity building projects. Volunteers are needed to help run registers, unload trucks, greet and help customers and prepare donated items for display.
Shifts are 9-12 or 1-5, Tuesday – Saturday. Must be 14 to work at store.
Go to website and click the volunteer button to make a profile for yourself. Check site for builds/projects & to sign up at the home improvement store on your own. They also have A Brush With Kindness (ABWK) which is mostly paint & landscape.
Toberman Neighborhood Center, San Pedro
www.toberman.org
L.A. Regional Food Bank
https://www.lafoodbank.org
Pediatric Therapy Network / Camp Escapades
www.pediatrictherapynetwork.org/
Sign-ups for Camp Escapades are in April. Camp is 1st 3 weeks in August. We will also staff one respite night at PTN during the year.
Las Amigas Horse Show
Horse show at in June/July: www.lasamigas.org
Portuguese Bend Horse Show
Horse Show in September: www.pcch.net/horseshow/
Boys and Girls Club, Harbor City
Volunteer at the club and help with other needs of the club. Participate in a Holiday drive for the club.
Heal the Bay
Various dates to help keep the beaches and surrounding areas clean.
Website for dates: www.healthebay.org
Torrance Volunteer Cottage
www.torranceca.gov/our-city/volunteering
Southbay Volunteering
www.torranceca.gov/our-city/volunteering