Autism Speaks

Autism Speaks is dedicated to creating an inclusive world for all individuals with autism throughout their lifespan. We do this through advocacy, services, supports, research and innovation, and advances in care for autistic individuals and their families.

Volunteer as a Team
Recruit your friends, family, and peers to form a volunteer team. We’ll do our best to assign you to the same area so you can spend the day together. Please remind each team member to register online so that we know how many people to plan for. Include your team name in the available field, and we will let you know you are together.

Volunteer as an Individual
Make new friends as you play an integral role in making your city’s Autism Speaks Walk event successful.

Join the Planning Committee
You can also volunteer before the Walk. Select this option toward the bottom of the volunteer form. We will connect you with the Event Chairperson so they can help you get more involved.

Find a walk near you HERE

https://act.autismspeaks.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=walk_homepage&s_src=AutismSpeaks.org&s_subsrc=CampaignBlock

 

Introducing Autism Speaks Field Day for All

Autism Speaks Field Day for All is a celebration of the light that shines in every person with autism and the community that supports them. This event brings our community — of all ages — together for a day filled with activities that cater to the diverse needs of the autism spectrum.

Field Day for All will have the best of Walk in a whole new way. From interactive games and entertainment to food trucks and educational workshops, Field Day is crafted to ensure every participant feels included, valued, and connected.

Field Day for All is for all of us who want to be part of something bigger within the autism community. The Resource Fair will not only convene supports and services from the community, but it will now also offer a collaborative fundraising opportunity for greater impact.

Find an event near you HERE

https://act.autismspeaks.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=fieldday_home

Habitat for Humanity

We build strength, stability and self-reliance through shelter.
Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that helps families build and improve places to call home. We believe affordable housing plays a critical role in strong and stable communities.

There are many ways to get involved with Habitat for Humanity near you.

Habitat has volunteer, homeownership and ReStore donation and shopping opportunities in your local area.

Please use the forms on the website to find and contact a Habitat or ReStore near you to learn more. You can also find out where we build around the world.

Dance Fairies

Making a donation of your gently used costumes and dancewear is easier than you might think. Simply follow these steps below:

Step #1

Pack your gently used dancewear and costumes in any shippable box and see how much it weighs. Unfortunately, the shipping cost of the redistribution to the organizations we work with is one of our biggest obstacles. For this reason, we kindly ask our donors to make a small monetary donation with their costumes donation. It costs us around $3 per pound to redistribute your donations. So, for example, if the box of costumes that you would like to donate to our organization is around 10 lb (which is about 10 to 12 costumes usually), it will cost us about $30 to get those costumes in the hands of the children who are anxiously awaiting for them. If you would be as kind and generous as to help us with that cost, please continue to Step #2. 

Step #2

Based on the weight of your donation, please make a monetary donation ($3 per pound) to our organization through Venmo @dance_fairies, Paypal contact@dancefairies.org, or at Go Fund Me by following this link https://www.gofundme.com/f/j44cpc-sharing-the-love-of-dance. With your payment, please make sure to indicate your name, email address, phone number (optional), and weight of the box and items you are donating. You can also email that information to us at contact@dancefairies.org.

Step #3

Once we receive your monetary donation, we will email you a link where you can purchase a $20 shipping label, which will allow you to ship a box of donated items up to 30 lb directly to us. Please print and attach that label to the box of items that you would like to donate and drop off that box at your nearest UPS store. We truly appreciate and are so grateful for every donation we receive from our supporters and so happy we can offer this discounted shipping rate, but you are more than welcome to select your own method of shipping.

It’s that easy! For just $20, you can help us share the gift of dance with many aspiring dancers in need near and far! 

Can I get a Tax Deduction receipt?

Yes, absolutely! When you make your monetary donation, please email us at contact@dancefairies.org before making a shipment and ask for a form. You will be required to include a copy of it inside of the box with your donation and keep a copy for yourself. You will need to list the items you are sending to us and their estimated value in that form. Once your donation has been accepted and processed, you will be notified of a receipt of the donation via email. We do not provide tax receipts by mail, so please make sure to provide your email address. Please note that it takes up to 4 to 6 weeks to process your donation. 

At this time, we are ONLY accepting the following items:

  • Ballet, jazz, lyrical, and hip-hop dance costumes that do not have any stains or odor and are in very good condition. 

  • Ballet Slippers, jazz, and tap shoes that are NEW or in a very gently used condition that were worn just once or twice, cleaned, and sanitized. PLEASE do not send any old and visibly used dance shoes.

  • Tights (must be NEW)

  • Leotards (must be NEW or in very gently used condition)

We kindly ask that you DO NOT send any other styles/items and items more than 10 years old. We recommend donating other styles to your local children’s shelter or community theatre. 

Thank you for helping us bring beautiful dancewear to children around the world! 

Alexandria House

Our goal is to provide safe and supportive housing for women and children experiencing homelessness and trauma.

After School Program:
Our after-school program needs volunteers to help students (grades K-5) with homework, reading activities, and enrichment projects. Program takes place Monday- Friday 3:30pm-6pm

La Tiendita/ Thrift Store
Help sort and display clothing, shoes and home goods for our thrift store that takes place on the first and second Saturday of the month. First Saturday we offer free shopping for participants of our programs. On the second Saturday the thrift store is open to the general public at a low-cost rate. All proceeds go to funding our neighborhood programs.

Top Chef
Our cooking program serves current residents and other members of the Alexandria House community. It is a wonderful treat for women living in residence when volunteers come to cook dinner! Just like you, they have a busy life with work, school and kids and can use a “night off “ too! Communal dinner takes place Monday through Thursday and breakfast and lunch on some Saturdays. Here are a few ways to participate as a Top Chef:

  • Preparing dinner for 30 people at your site and dropping off at Alexandria House.
  • Preparing and cooking dinner for 30 people at Alexandria House in our beautiful Green House kitchen. Volunteers are responsible for providing the ingredients and preparing dinner.
  • Purchasing dinner from a local restaurant for 30 and having it delivered to Alexandria House.

Share your talent
Have a special talent or ability? Share your gift with us!

 

If they would like to sign up to volunteer with After School or La Tiendita they can sign up through our website or this link. Once they sign up, they will receive an email with instructions for our online orientation and, at the bottom, get access to the sign-up links for the volunteer opportunities. For Top Chef or Sharing Talent they can reach out to me directly. I still recommend that they complete the orientation and then reaching out to me personally. Let me know if you have any questions.

Stephanie Santos

Volunteer and Resource Coordinator 

Volunteer@alexandriahouse.org

Alexandria House

426 South Alexandria Avenue

Los Angeles, CA 90020

Work: (213) 381-2649 ext: 109

www.alexandriahouse.org

Achilles International LA Region

The LA Chapter of Achilles International meets up on a monthly basis, on the first Sunday of each month at 10 AM, at Dorothy Green Park in Santa Monica (any exceptions to this will be emailed out to the larger group). At these monthly runs we match volunteers with athletes to assist them in running (or walking) along the beach bike path.  We will also enter various local races as a chapter and pair athletes with guides for races.  Lastly, in addition to our monthly meet ups and ad hoc races, we can pair you up with an athlete for you to meet one-on-one outside of our bigger group meet ups. If you’re interested in that, please fill out the google doc in the “helpful links” section below:

If you are interested in joining, please first complete the Rosterfly link below.  Rosterfy is the official database for all Athletes and Volunteers to sign up for Achilles International. All members (across Achilles International), are required to sign up on Rosterfy with their basic information and give confirmation for a background check. While filling out your basic information, please make sure to select “Los Angeles, California” in the Chapter option.

Here are some helpful links:

For more information;
https://www.achillesinternational.org/join

and a direct link to register;
https://achillesinternational.rosterfy.com/login

To sign up for an “Achilles Buddy” to meet up 1:1 outside of our normal group workouts;
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Z5-6Rv4VUpzz0VHGwSeKso5-aY6_jN9YRG_FEu6PbIc/edit?usp=sharing

Sunday Meet Up Location: 2701 Barnard Way, Santa Monica, CA 90405
-Meet by Lot 5 South in Santa Monica. Look for people with yellow Achilles shirts near the picnic tables in the grass area just south of Perry’s.  A map is below to illustrate our meet up point.

Parking:  There is a short term parking lot for $2 (read signs to enter “short term” lot instead of long term).  If that lot is full and you don’t want to park in the long term lot right next to it, there is another $2 short term lot just north (closest address: 2410 Ocean Front Walk Santa Monica CA) and once you park it’s about a 10 minute walk south to our meet up spot.

Lastly, here are instructions for order an Achilles GUIDE shirt:

https://blatantteamstore.com/collections/achillesinternational-guide-team-store

(PW: AIGUIDES, discount code WELCOME25 gives $25 off for first time guides)

Note: This code will provide $25 off your order and free shipping. Certain styles are excluded so please confirm you’re selecting the $25 Achilles “GUIDE” shirt so that the promo code works.

Contact Christina Swanson for more information: la@achillesinternational.org

Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County

Are you looking for an opportunity to get involved in your community in a way that really makes a difference?

The Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County’s Volunteer Program offers many opportunities throughout the year for you to lend a helping hand, while gaining much in return.

Since 1994, hundreds of Palm Beach County residents have given their time to help the SWA educate the public about the benefits of the SWA’s litter abatement, waste prevention, recycling and home chemical/hazardous waste programs. We have volunteer opportunities in the following SWA programs:

Why We Need You

The Solid Waste Authority could not run all the community projects and events we do without the assistance of volunteers. Volunteers are vital to the SWA’s mission of educating the public. We need individuals and groups to help out with sponsored projects, community events and administrative support. We make every effort to match each volunteer’s experience and interests to our needs.

Our Mission

Through the efforts made by the SWA and our volunteers, we promote the 4Rs — Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Rethink — an innovative integrated solid waste management system, extraordinary customer service, and award-winning recycling and educational programs.

If you’re looking for an exciting way to lend a helping hand while benefiting the environment then join the SWA’s Green Team today. Simply complete the volunteer application in its entirety. The SWA’s Volunteer Coordinator will call you to give you more information about the SWA’s volunteer opportunities.

SWA’s volunteers make a difference every day!

For more information, contact Linda Moreno at lmoreno@swa.org

Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation

​The Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department invites you to volunteer and make a difference in your life and the lives of others all over our county.

 Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities – Apply to become a long term volunteer with one of Parks and Recreation’s amazing facilities.​

 

 General Volunteer Opportunities​ – Sign up to volunteer for one-time events and cleanups.

 

 Adopt-A-Park​ – Partner with us and host cleanups and beautification projects in our parks and beaches.

Environmental Resources Management

Treasuring stewardship
Join ERM’s team to preserve, protect, and restore your eco-treasures. Do you need community service hours or are you looking to give back your time and attention to the environment? We have many programs that allow volunteers to lend a hand once in awhile or on a regular basis. The choice is yours!

 Sign up for a volunteer event

Short-term projects for busy individuals or a group who want to make a difference in their community. These “hands-on” environmental projects (plantings, trash cleanups, exotic plant removal) last three hours and do not require training or long-term commitment.

Click here to access the monthly volunteer event calendar.

https://discover.pbcgov.org/erm/Lists/Calendar/AllEvents.aspx

Events are all over Palm Beach County.

Department of Senior Services Palm Beach County

DOSS provides a wide range of programs and services to assist seniors, their families and care givers in Palm Beach County. DOSS is fortunate to have volunteers of all ages helping in the Division’s mission of serving seniors.

DOSS volunteers receive guidance and training and are matched with rewarding opportunities to lend a hand. DOSS offers several ways for volunteers to get involved that suits their talents, interests, and availability. DOSS seeks volunteers from diverse backgrounds and varied work experiences to make a contribution to the lives of seniors.

Fulfilling volunteer opportunities which enhance and increase services to seniors include:

Greeters – Helpers for Special Events/Parties – Clerical Support – Meal Servers at Senior Dining Sites – Teachers of Skills – Companionship and Respite – Educational Programs, i.e., Computers, Languages, Crafts, Ceramics, Exercise Classes – Caregiver Support – Telephone Reassurance

For additional information please call 561-355-4746.

Click here for the Volunteer Application

Students Speak Up for Kids

At STUDENTS Speak Up For Kids our goal is to promote positive youth development through equipping community kids to help foster kids by giving students the tools to create their own advocacy campaigns.

Student-led advocacy teaches pure reciprocity in giving, builds upon unique talent and leadership skills, and ultimately FOSTERS A COHESIVE COMMUNITY OF INCLUSION and understanding among students in their schools and in their neighborhoods.

We work with your passions and hobbies to make a project to support kids in the foster care system.

WE LOVE CREATIVITY! We encourage students to take the ideas listed here on the website and brainstorm how they can create a unique experience that will create awareness. We also empower students to devise ways they can take these (or their own) opportunities and further develop them into an advocacy campaign. The opportunities are endless!

Examples:

  • Write birthday cards for foster kids
  • Create a digital birthday card for foster kids
  • Write an article that can be posted on the Speak Up for Students blog
  • Community flyer distribution
  • Donation drives
  • Internships
  • Start a club at school
  • Teach beginner music lessons on Zoom (can be done from anywhere in the U.S.)

To get started, email students@speakupforkidspbc.org