Community Service

Furry Friends Pets Assisted Therapy Services: Furry Friends is an organization that uses animals to lift the spirits of those in nursing homes, the disabled, seriously ill children and many more. Volunteers who are between the ages of 12-16 must have a parent accompany them. There are age restrictions for certain volunteer jobs so make sure to check out their website for more information. Call 408-280-6171 or email info@FurryFriends.org.

Nike Animal Rescue Foundation: If you love to work with animals then this foundation is for you! Nike Animal Rescue Foundation offers volunteer opportunities to help out with their pet fairs, animal fostering, pet socialization, fundraising and more. Call 408-946-2291 and choose option 4 or email info@narfrescue.org.

Wildlife Center: The Wildlife Center works with wild animals and provides rehabilitation for animals that are sick, injured or orphaned. They take care of over 4,000 birds and mammals. New volunteers will be assigned to a mentor who will teach them high quality care of animals. Call 408-929-9453 (929-WILD).

Happy Hollow Park and Zoo : A place where you can participate in Meet and Greets to the public, help out with Animal Care and work with young kids as a Camp Counselor. As a volunteer, you are required to do a minimum of two of each activity shifts during the summer. You can also volunteer during the school year as well. Volunteer spots are limited so make sure you fill out an application before April. Applications are accepted January through April and selected applicants will be brought in for an in-person interview. Minimum of 70 hours from May-August. Call 408-794-6425 or email HHPZvolunteers@sanjoseca.gov.

Boys and Girls Club is an organization that helps out with low-income, high-risk Santa Clara County youth, ages 6-18 years old. Some of the programs that volunteers can get involved in are: Education and Career Development, Character and Leadership Development, Health and Life Skills, Sports, Fitness and Recreation and Arts and Cultural Enrichment. Volunteers between the ages of 14-17 are encouraged to apply. Adults (18+) must complete a background check. An application and interview will be needed. Call 408-957-9685 or email volunteers@bgclub.org.

Family and Children's Services serves to help both children and adults work through depression, addiction, and chronic mental or physical illness. Volunteers may assist with fundraising, special events and entertainment, writing and photography, serving as a community ambassador, working with other volunteers and researching ways to be more "green." Call 650-326-6576.

InnVision Shelter Network helps homeless families and individuals across Silicon Valley. As a volunteer, you can help prepare and serve meals, help host a community-building party, organize donations, maintain and beautify facilities, tend the organic garden, tutor children and youth, lead children’s activities, host a donation drive, outreach to the community and apply for an internship. To fill out a volunteer interest form, click here.

Make a Birthday Wish is an organization that helps those who have never had a birthday party before or who has never received a birthday present. As a way to give back, they throw birthday parties and provide birthday presents for those children without. You can help by either sponsoring a birthday, making a donation or donate gift wrapping supplies. Call 408-426-4659 or email Yasmine@makeabirthdaywish.org.

Our Lady of Grace: Also known as the Sacred Heart Nativity Schools, OLG provides a low-cost private Catholic education for families living in poverty. This program strives to keep kids in school and provide the same rigor in academics as any other middle school. The school goes from 6th through 8th grade. You can help by volunteering to be a tutor for students who need help with their reading and writing skills. Call 408-993-1293.

Project Cornerstone is an organization where adults support and help children and teens thrive, strengthen youth-serving programs and impact public policy. They also strive to reduce bullying and make more students feel respected and valued. Call 408-351-6482 or email info@projectcornerstone.org.

St. Joseph's Family Center helps provide hot meals to the homeless and low income families, create nutritional food baskets, help individuals find a job, assists families who are about to lose their homes and helps those with a disabling condition to find employment and a home. You can help out by volunteering in the food pantry, main office, event support or help serve meals to the homeless and low income families. Call 408-842-6662, ext. 23.

Ronald McDonald House at Stanford: Ronald McDonald House at Stanford provides a home for families who have children with life-threatening illnesses and are being treated at a local hospital. You can help create a safe, caring and welcoming environment by volunteering to work with children staying at the Ronald McDonald House. The commitment is a weekly 2-hour shift for a minimum of 6 months commitment. Some of the things you will be participating in with the children are cooking, sports, arts & crafts, movie nights, themed parties and bingo. Minimum age is 16. Call 650-470-6011.

Sunday Friends is an organization that helps families in poverty by providing basic necessities to children and parents. The organization also provides parents with a few hours to engage in activities and spend time with their children. Their volunteer programs are held at Lowell Elementary School on the second and fourth Sundays of the month and at Ann Darling Elementary School on the third Sunday. As a volunteer, you will be assisting children in participating and contributing in projects, to help children be successful and to share your laughter. Call 408-217-9587.

Big Brothers, Big Sisters provides a child with a role model, someone they can look up to, put their trust in, learn about their world and their place in it. You can get involved by becoming a part of their Junior Board which has teens helping out with raising funds and awareness about the program. They also help plan and direct annual fundraising events. Email juniorboard.membership@bbbsba.org.

Angels on Stage is a program that empowers children with special needs to create friendships, independence and build confidence through performing arts. Each volunteer is assigned a disabled child or “Angel” and works with them during each of the program's plays. You can get involved by becoming a Buddy Coach. You have to be 10 years old and up to become a Buddy Coach and work with their angels on stage. As a Buddy Coach, you become a role model, friend and support for the Angels. Call 888-871-3331 or email info@angelsonstage.org.

Green Pastures is located in Mountain View and serves disabled children and their families. They also provide homes for disabled children, ages six through eighteen, who cannot live with their families. As a volunteer you can spend time with these children by helping them with their homework, cooking with them, playing outside, exploring the Bible with them, helping with daily activities such as bathing and eating, going for walks and so much more. Call 650-965-2333 or email EricC@GreenPasturesHome.org.

HOPE Rehabilitation Services provides job training programs, developmental activities, professional counseling, children’s services (ages 0-3), senior services, community living services and mobility training to special needs children. Call 408-284-2868 or email volunteers@hopeservices.org.

Lions Blind Center: Lions Blind Center helps train and educate people of all ages who are visually impaired. They also provide rehabilitation services that help those who are visually impaired to stay attentive during everyday activities. Call 510-450-1580 or email info@lbcenter.org.

One Step Closer uses horses to help individuals with physical or emotional disabilities as well as youth-at-risk. Horses provide therapy, enhance physical development, and provide the child with self-esteem. Volunteers are greatly accepted and needed. Experience with horses is not mandatory. As a volunteer, you can help with fundraising activities, clerical assistance, assist riding participants, build and repair small jobs, and NARHA support activities. Call 408-778-3567.

Herman Health Care: Herman Health care is a family owned program that provides rehabilitation and nursing services for those who are recovering from surgery, an injury or serious illness. Call 408-269-0701 or email mandys@hermanhealthcare.com.

Santa Clara Valley Blind Center helps support those who are blind and visually impaired by boosting their confidence and independence. Clients participate in rehabilitative, educational, and recreational services that help empower them. To volunteer, prior experience working with the blind is not necessary. Opportunities include serving as an activity assistant, a sighted guide for outings, a class aide, a multilingual volunteer and an assistant with the computer lab and adaptive equipment.Call 408-295-4016, ext. 213 or email volunteer@visionbeyondsight.org.

Special Olympics Silicon Valley Region provides athletic opportunities for children and adults who are intellectually disabled. You can become a Class B volunteer who helps support this organization on a needed basis. Part of your job is to help out with their competitions, fundraising events, and administrative support. In order to become a volunteer, you must pre-register. Call Nick Tanza, Sr. Sports Manager, at 408-392-0170, ext. 204 or email nickt@sonc.org.

Senior Center of Morgan Hill: Volunteers are needed for the Senior Lunch Program. Call Bill Glass at 408-310-4244 or email bill.glass@mhcrc.com.

Books Aloud provides services that help stimulate the mind, stir emotions and create independence through their “Reading by Listening” program. Volunteer opportunities include circulation of recorded books, recording books onto tape, being a reader, reservations and mailing. Call 408-808-2613 or email Info@booksaloud.org.

Carden Academy provides exceptional education emphasizing character building and instilling moral values into prospective and current students. Volunteer opportunities include publicity, ticket sales, food prep and costuming. On the website, the volunteer sign up-form is under the “Documents and Forms” tab.

Reading Partners is a nonprofit organization that helps students from low-income communities improve their reading skills. As a volunteer, you will work one hour a week to help students gain confidence, discover a passion for reading and build strong literacy skills. Call 408-622-0643 or email volunteersSV@readingpartners.org.

The Tutoring Network coordinates high school students to tutor local elementary students in a variety of subjects. As a volunteer, you help students in their weak subjects, develop teaching skills, and serve as mentors for elementary school children. Email info@thetutoringnetwork.org.

Camden Community Center offers classes for all ages, sports programs, fitness classes and special events. As a volunteer, you can show off and build your office skills by helping out in their general office. Camden Community Center needs coaches for sports teams involving minors. You can also volunteer to help people with mental and physical disabilities. To register as a volunteer, call 408-793-5565 or email sjregistration@sanjoseca.gov

Sunnyvale Community Services is a recreation complex that includes a Creative Arts Center, Theater, Indoor Sports Center, general Recreation Center and an Arboretum Complex. Volunteer opportunities include serving as a bilingual story time assistant, child care staff advisory committee member, and theater usher. Visit the website or call 408-730-7350.

Saratoga Library is a great place to volunteer if you are a people-person. You should volunteer for the PlaneTree Health Information Center at the Cupertino Library. As a volunteer, your job is to help individuals find health and medical information. Call 408-867-6126.

Santa Clara City Library has opportunities for you to volunteer as a Genealogy Room Consultant, a Homebound Volunteer who helps deliver books to retired residents, or as a Literacy Tutor and Youth Service Volunteer. Call 408-615-2956 or email readsantaclara@santaclaraca.gov.

White Stag Leadership Development Academy is a summer camp for boys and girls who have completed the 5th grade through 17 years old. The camp is filled with hiking, backpacking, camping, campfires, and outdoor games. The academy teaches you about leadership skills, how to made decisions, assesses your individual strengths and weaknesses, goal-setting, planning and self-advocacy. You can participate by volunteering as a youth staff worker who works almost an entire year to plan and produce their two-week summer camps. Contact Tony Lamarque at tonylamarque@whitestag.org.

Presentation High School Peer Tutoring helps our students who need extra help in a particular subject. Come and volunteer for your school by becoming a peer tutor. You must have a 3.5 GPA average in the subject tutored. Your hours can be counted as Community Service, Mu Alpha Theta or CSF hours. You may fill out this volunteer application or if you have any questions, please email Ms. Gutto at lgutto@presentationhs.org.

Camp Campbell Science Camp is a place where kids can learn practical and social skills as well as develop positive values. Here they can discover who they are, what they can achieve and feel accepted among their peers. You can get involved by volunteering as a cabin leader, garden worker, and campaigner who raises money for their camp. Volunteer application form is located on their website. Call 831-338-2128 or email redwoods@ymcasv.org.

The Children's Discovery Museum is a jungle gym filled with different interactive exhibits that inspire creativity, curiosity, and life-long learning. You can get involved by becoming a Discovery Youth. Call Jennifer Gamurot at 408-298-5437, ext. 2833 or email youthprograms@cdm.org.

San Jose Museum of Art provides opportunities for volunteers to get involved by giving gallery tours, inspiring kids with art or helping in the SJMA Store. Call 408-271-6840

Schmahl Science Workshops teaches kids about science and allows them to get first-hand experience in the subject. Real scientists and engineers help inspire curiosity, imagination, and creativity by using a hands-on approach. You can volunteer to assist the workshops' instructors with in-school and/or after school workshops on a regular basis. Email info@schmahlscience.org

The Tech Museum of Innovation is a hands-on technology and science museum that inspires the innovator in everyone. Some volunteer opportunities include school-year exhibit interpreter, summer exhibit interpreter, weekend guest greeter, and one weekend-per-month exhibit interpreter Their applicant capacity has been reached currently so make sure to continue to check up with the museum to see when they will open their volunteer opportunities again. Call 408-294-8324

Walden West offers school and summer programs teaching children about science, the environment, and creating a respect for nature. You can get involved as a school-year volunteer by becoming a cabin leader for 5th/6th grade students. As a cabin leader, you will assist during hiking class time, be a part of all camp activities, be a role model and make their camp experience enjoyable. As a volunteer you can receive 100 hours of community service. Call 408-573-3060 or email waldenwest@sccoe.org.

City of San Jose Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services has volunteer opportunities that include cleaning up their parks, becoming a coach for a sports team, helping out at their front desk and more. Call 408-294-9337 or email customerservice@sanjoseca.gov

Our City Forest inspires community members to appreciate, protect the growth and maintenance of our urban ecosystems especially our urban forest. You can get involved by volunteering to plant trees, help out with their tree nursery, work in their general office, post flyers and become an outreach. Call 408-99-TREES x6 or email volunteer@ourcityforest.org

Santa Clara County Parks are regional parks that offer opportunities for recreation in a natural environment, and they feature points of local historic interest. You can volunteer by becoming a paddle program volunteer or a museum volunteer. Call 408-918-4930 or email volunteer@prk.sccgov.org.