Quick Overview: Help beautify and restore the natural flora and fauna of Debs Park. We ask you to join us in removing undesirable weeds and watering our native restoration areas. With your help, we can make Northeast LA a bird friendly community. 

Mission or Broader Program Description: The Audubon Center’s mission is to inspire people to experience, understand and care for the local natural world. The nature-based education and community programs at Debs Park are designed to engage children and their families in the outdoor world, and to give them a personal stake in its protection by making environmental issues relevant to their lives. The Center is operated by Audubon California, a state field program of National Audubon Society, and is a vital part of Audubon’s national outreach initiative to engage Latino audiences. The Center, which is surrounded by predominately Latino neighborhoods, is a unique gathering place and dynamic focal point for outdoor recreation, environmental education and conservation action.

Impact: We are a field program of the National Audubon Society, one of the oldest conservation organizations in the country. We are situated in the largest piece of public open space in the lower Los Angeles River Watershed. The Center is a vital and unique gathering place for the Northeast LA community. Our mission is to inspire people to experience, understand, and care for the local natural world. 

Volunteer Roles and Responsibilities: Join us in and around our native plant nursery where we propagate plants and maintain habitat restoration sites. Activities include watering, weeding, mulching, berm building and repair,  seed collection, processing and sowing, potting, and planting. Learn about native plants and local bird species as you restore important native habitat within more than 17 acres around the center. Put your hands in some soil and bird while you build habitat! We need you, but more importantly, our neighBIRDS need you! 

Requirements: Be sure to bring lots of water, sun protection, and clothes you don't mind getting dirty! Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own gardening gloves, however we will have plenty available to borrow as well. Remember to wear closed-toe shoes and dress in layers. Please fill out the downloadable waiver below and bring it with you to your first day.

* Any volunteer under the age of 18 will need to bring and have signed by a parent/guardian a Volunteer Agreement & Release for Minors. The form can be found on L.A. Works website Q&A section.
 

Full opportunity address and directions will be sent to you by e-mail after you sign up.

I am happy to share that new street trees are coming to the Alamitos Beach neighborhood!  This weekday tree planting is a great opportunity for groups to participate in a week day team building event.

About 60 trees will be planted in the neighborhood bounded by:

Broadway –- North 

Ocean Boulevard –- South

Orange Avenue — East

Alamitos Avenue -– West

Additional trees will also be planted in vacant tree wells along East 4^th Street.

Alamitos Beach Tree and Flower Garden Party Club is committed to help plant, water and care for these trees for their first year. 

Come help plant the trees!  The trees will be planted to help commemorate the 25^th anniversary of the first Alamitos Beach Memorial Trees Project when neighbors began working together in 1994 to plant street trees to remember treasured neighbors who have passed away. 

Alamitos Beach Memorial Trees –

25^th Anniversary & Neighborhood Tree Planting

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

9 a.m. – noon

Meeting Location:

Corner of Broadway & Cerritos Avenue

Would your group like to be a volunteer partner for this event? 

Volunteers of all ages are welcome at this event to help plant and water these young trees. 

No experience is needed, we will train you.  

Please join a team of neighbors, City staff, and volunteers to plant trees. Trees reduce greenhouse gases, provide habitat, reduce cooling costs, and increase property values. You can help make a difference. All tools and supplies will be provided. For more information, please call the Housing & Neighborhood Services Bureau at (562) 570-6866.

Vroman's favorite storytime guy, Mr. Steve, shares books with little ones every Wednesday and Saturday morning in the kids' section of the store.

Ages 2 – 7

Quick Overview: We are working to fight hunger and food waste in Southern California, and we'd love to have you join us.

Mission or Broader Program Description: Food Forward fights hunger and prevents food waste by rescuing fresh surplus produce, connecting this abundance with people in need, and inspiring others to do the same.

Impact: You will be collecting beautiful fresh fruits and vegetables that would otherwise get thrown away, and donating 100% to local food banks, pantries, and shelters.

Volunteer Roles and Responsibilities: Join the Volunteer Glean Team to help us collect donations of fresh produce from vendors at your local farmers market and box, sort, and weigh the produce. Volunteers should be comfortable carrying boxes of produce that may weigh up to 40 pounds, but don't need to worry about bringing equipment or transporting the food. Wear comfortable work clothing and close-toed shoes, and bring water to drink.

Requirements: Volunteers must be at least 12 years old, and children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

**All volunteers must register through the Food Forward website. Sign up here: www.foodforward.org/volunteer.**

After expressing interest, the opportunity leader will contact you to confirm your participation and provide directions for this opportunity.

Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities

VOLUNTEER COACHES (BASKETBALL, SOCCER & INDOOR FLAG FOOTBALL)

We are looking for energetic and enthusiastic volunteer coaches who are interested in teaching youth sports. Our program goal is to create a positive environment that promotes self-confidence and self-esteem through the experiences we provide. The program is dedicated to providing all youth with the highest quality of recreation and educational experiences for boys and girls ages 6 to 12 years-old.

This is a great place to gain experience working with children, improve communication and people skills. High school and college students can volunteer to receive service learning for their school.

VOLUNTEER TUTORS

Help keep kids on track in school! We need tutors for K-7 students in all subjects including writing skills, reading, math and science. All learning materials, both printed and digital, are provided. Tutoring hours are Monday–Friday, 3–7PM.

MONITORS AND GREETERS

Volunteers can work any time during operational hours. Volunteers will assist customer service attendants, walk around program areas, greet members, answer questions, and make sure child safety guidelines are being followed. The Salvation Army wants to provide a safe environment for our community.

INFORMATION DESK

Volunteers can work any time during operational hours. Volunteers will assist customers and guests by directing them to their class or answering questions.

SOCIAL SERVICES OFFICE

Volunteers will assist in various duties in our Social Services Office.

Multnomah Elementary desperately needs books for its school and classroom libraries. Please join us for a day of book processing and mural painting. If you plan to paint, please dress appropriately. Our paint doesn't wash out. Food is provided to volunteers without dietary restrictions. Please be prepared to stay until 2 p.m. though we often finish earlier.

No groups! Individual and family sign-ups only. 

Please consider donating $10 per volunteer to help offset costs for the day.

Vroman's favorite storytime guy, Mr. Steve, shares books with little ones every Wednesday and Saturday morning in the kids' section of the store.

Ages 2 – 7

The Aquarium of the Pacific is working together with the Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority to help restore a local wetland in Long Beach.

The Aquarium hosts a monthly habitat restoration event at the Los Cerritos Wetlands. This is your opportunity to visit and learn about our local wetlands, help the environment, and support the Aquarium of the Pacific.

The Los Cerritos Wetlands Stewardship Program is working to restore 66 acres of wetlands owned by the Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority. These wetlands occupy habitat in two cities, Long Beach and Seal Beach, and two counties, Los Angeles and Orange. The program’s ongoing restorative activities have included removing non-native plants, collecting seeds from rare plants for later use, and collecting trash.

Restoration will focus on non-native weed removal and rare native plant conservation. These events will be led by trained naturalists and local educators, offering a great opportunity for local citizens to learn more about the Los Cerritos Wetlands, while getting hands-on involvement with the restoration.

Age: The entire family is welcome to participate. Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.

Cost: Free. No registration required.

Meeting Place: Participants will be met and greeted by Los Cerritos Wetlands staff at the corner of Pacific Coast Hwy and 1st. Street in Seal Beach. Arriving around 10:15 a.m. is recommended.

Length: 2 hours, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Please Bring: The wetlands are wildlands, so please dress accordingly. Closed-toe shoes are required. Hat and sunscreen are recommended. Drinking water will be provided, but this is a plastic water bottle-free event. Please bring a reusable water bottle.

Participants eligible to win a free ticket to the Aquarium and other prizes!

For more information, please visit the Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority.