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It was 9:20 in the morning on Feb. 3, 2009.  The phone in Rosie Ayala’s two-bedroom Spring Valley apartment was ringing.

The caller identification showed “Volunteers of America’s Palomar Apartments.”  Rosie hesitantly picked up the phone and listened...  (read more)
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88 cents out of every dollar supports community services for people in need. Learn More.

Get Involved

Get Involved

 

 

If you only know us by our name – Volunteers of America – you might think we’re all volunteers.  But we’re not.  We are teachers, nurses, social workers, ministers and case managers.  All of one mind … to help those we serve reach their fullest potential.

 

Volunteers of America of Southwest California is proud to employ more than 230 people in the local communities that we serve.  However, as a nonprofit organization, we also depend on the generosity and gifts of others. Giving one of the greatest gifts of all is our volunteers.  Last year alone, our volunteer force contributed 10,022 hours of public service to the programs and community service projects operated by Volunteers of America. 

 

We offer a number of volunteer service opportunities: 

  • Community service projects 
  • Special events or fundraising events 
  • Board service
  • Short-term group work projects
  • Long-term program volunteers in the areas of early childhood development, senior living, at-risk teens, and alcohol and drug treatment.

 

Volunteer opportunities may be seasonal or only available in certain areas based on the programs currently operated by Volunteers of America in the region.  If we do not have a volunteer service opportunity within Volunteers of America that fits your needs or locale, we will do our best to refer you to an appropriate agency such as the Volunteer Center of San Diego or the United Way. 

 

 

We accept a wide range of volunteers:

 

  • Interns
  • Private individuals
  • Court-ordered volunteers
  • Corporate groups  (for community service projects or short-term work projects)
  • High School Students or Groups  (age 14 or older for seasonal community service projects only)

 

For the safety of our clients, volunteers serving at our program sites must be at least 18 years of age, complete a volunteer application packet, submit their fingerprints for security clearance, take a tuberculosis test, and pass a background check.  Fingerprints, tuberculosis tests and background checks do not apply to volunteers who are giving time to a community service project or a short-term group work project that does not occur at a program site, such as a toy drive, book/backpack program, golf tournament, fundraising event or board service.   

 

 

 

 

Our Volunteer Process*

 

1st Step:  Complete and Return the Volunteer Interest Form  Click here for form

 

2nd Step: Telephone Screening Process

 

3rd Step: Attend an Open House at One of Our Programs

 

4th Step: Complete the Volunteer Application Packets and Required Screenings

 

5th Step: Volunteer Orientation at Program

 

* This process is typically abbreviated for corporate or student volunteer groups.

 

You may also begin the volunteer process by contacting our Development Associate at volunteer@voa-swcal.org or 619.282.8211, Ext. 2032. 

 

 

Thank you for thinking of Volunteers of America, and for your interest in donating your time to help others in need of assistance.


 

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Heritage of Hope


Life Without Black People

This is a story of a little boy named Theo who woke up one morning and asked his mother, “Mom, what if there were no Black people in the world?”

Well, his mother thought about that for a moment, and then said “Son, follow me around today and let’s just see what it would be like if there were no Black people in the world.”

 

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