Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteering is a wonderful way to give back to the community and directly help those in need. Volunteers are an integral part of the City programs and services and without the in-kind donation of dedicated volunteer service, many activities provided to the Huntington Beach community would not be possible. Each year, hundreds of dedicated volunteers support various City programs, services, and events with over 10,000 hours of volunteerism. The City offers a wide range of volunteer opportunities.
BECOME A CITY VOLUNTEER TODAY
The City is currently working on launching a citywide volunteering site, that will connect you with various volunteer opportunities in Huntington Beach and help you manage your volunteer experience. Stay tuned! Meanwhile, please explore the City's current list of fun, meaningful volunteer opportunities below and contact each department to get started today!
CITY GOVERNMENT
- Citizen-led City Boards, Commissions, and Committees - Serve on a City advisory board, commission, or committee (BCC), which provide specific input and expertise to City Council on various aspects of the City, such as recreation and parks, infrastructure, finance, investment, historic resources, Independent Day parade, etc. Please note that some Boards and Commissions are directly appointed by individual Council members. Application available online. Visit the BCC webpage or call City Manager’s Office at (714) 536-5553 for more information.
- City Manager Volunteer Internship Program - This program provides college students/graduates or graduate-level students with advanced and unique opportunities to learn about the inner workings of a full-service city and directly interact with the City Manager’s Office team and seasoned professionals. Apply your academic skills and passion for public service to various “real world” assignments within the City. This is a volunteer, unpaid opportunity but school credits can be offered. Time commitment of up to 20 hours per week for 6 months is required. To apply, email your cover letter, resume and two references to the CMO at [email protected].
BEACH, NATURE, & ENVIRONMENT
- Adopt-A-Park Program – This is a City of Huntington Beach program that allows community volunteers to assist in the care and maintenance of City parks, playgrounds, and open space areas. Adopt-A-Park maximizes our community resources with a focus on protecting our park and recreation facilities. For details contact Charlene Gomez at [email protected] or (714) 536-5434.
- Oak View Clean Up – Let’s work together to connect the residents and keep the Oak View neighborhood clean and beautiful through the City’s monthly clean-up events. Residents/volunteers are encouraged to dispose of any large bulky items in the 40-yard roll-off bins and walk the community while picking up trash. Volunteers should bring gloves and a reusable water bottle. One-time volunteers are welcome. Contact Public Works – Trash & Recycling Office at (714) 536-5010 or email [email protected]
- Annual Earth Day Beach and Park Cleanup Day – This annual event takes place in April (Earth Day/Earth Month) where we come together as a community to clean our beaches, parks and waterways. These events are held at two locations, City Beach and Bartlett Park from 9am – 12pm. Help clean up the environment, recycle and learn how litter affects fish and wildlife. Group volunteers are welcome. Contact: Public Works Department, Michelle Galvez at (714) 375-8445 or [email protected].
- Annual Coastal & Inner Coastal Cleanup Day – This annual event in September is to celebrate International Coastal Cleanup Day and help make the planet a cleaner, happier place for everyone. Come and volunteer with us, as the Huntington Beach community comes together to clean our beaches, parks, and waterways. Cleanup locations are City Beach and Bartlett Park. The event takes place from 9am-12pm. Group volunteers are welcome. Contact: Public Works Department, Michelle Galvez at 714-375-8445 or [email protected].
LIBRARY, CULTURAL EDUCATION, & OTHER ADULT SERVICES
- Huntington Beach Art Center - Assist with mailings and support work for Art Center and other cultural affairs programs. Assist in raising private donations for the Art Center, including corporate, business, and individual sponsors, as well as fundraising events. Contact (714) 374-1650 or visit www.huntingtonbeachartcenter.org.
- Central Library and Cultural Center - There are opportunities to assist with shelving, in the library Makerspace, helping patrons in the computer lab, and other projects. For more information, contact (714) 375-5114 or [email protected]. You may also fill out an adult volunteer application and drop it off at any HBPL location.
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- Circulation Shelving: Help organize, shelve and straighten materials. Knowledge of basic alphabetical and numerical filing is required. Perform other duties that support the Circulation Services.
- Holds: Process material to be placed on the hold shelf for pick-up.
- Adult Literacy Program - After participants successfully complete a tutor training workshop, they are matched with adult learners for weekly two-hour tutoring sessions on a schedule to be determined by them. Central Library site needs volunteers to help adults improve their basic reading, writing, and speaking skills to achieve their personal goals. Contact (714) 375-5102 or [email protected].
- Oak View Branch Library - Contact (714) 375-5068 for more information.
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- Adult Literacy Program - After participants successfully complete a tutor training workshop, they are matched with adult learners for weekly two-hour tutoring sessions on a schedule to be determined by them. Oak View Branch Library site needs volunteers to help adults improve their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in English. Volunteers help adults reach goals like reading with children, communicating with teachers, improving job skills and much more. Contact (714) 375-5104 or [email protected].
- Chess Club Coach: Looking for motivated, patient, and friendly individuals to volunteer with the Saturday afternoon Chess Club. Volunteers must have a knowledge and love for chess, have strong leadership and teaching skills, and be responsible and reliable. Volunteers will teach and play chess with children and teens for the Chess Club every Saturday from 2:30 to 4:30 pm at the Oak View Branch Library. Other requirements: must be 14 and up. Those 18 and older must complete a background check. Contact (714) 375-5068 or [email protected] for additional information.
- Homework Help Program: Help assist elementary school students with their homework in all subject areas. Individuals must be motivated to help kids, thrive in a busy environment, be team players, and get along with co-workers. Having a background in education is helpful but not required. The ability to speak and write in English is necessary. Spanish skills are a plus but not required. Those under age 18 must be in 9th grade or higher. Time Commitment: A minimum of one day per week during the school year. Homework Help Schedule: Mondays, Tuesdays & Thursdays from 2 pm to 5 pm Wednesdays from 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm. Those 18 and older must complete a background check. Contact (714) 375-5068 or [email protected] for more information.
CHILDREN AND YOUTH SERVICES
- Scout Projects – Scouts looking for a project to achieve Eagle or Gold status, badges, or other requirements, may contact Charlene Gomez at [email protected] or (714) 536-5434 for more information; or review and submit the following documents:
- Youth Sports - Coaches are needed for youth basketball and volleyball teams on weekday afternoons and Saturdays. Volunteers will be LiveScan fingerprinted and have a child or sibling on the team. Contact Alex Melgar at [email protected] or (714) 960-8870.
- Teen Volunteers: Teen volunteers work year-round at our Central Library and Branch libraries. Teen volunteers may assist with a variety of tasks, from helping to sort and package seeds for the Seed Library, to staffing the computer coach desk at the Central Library or assisting with library programs. In the summer, the library has additional teen volunteer opportunities during the Summer Reading Program. All currently available teen volunteer opportunities are listed on the Library’s website at https://hbpl.libguides.com/teens/volunteer.
OLDER ADULT / SENIOR SERVICES
Senior Services - For volunteer opportunities at the Senior Center in Central Park and additional information, contact Caryn Kawamoto at (714) 374-1544 or [email protected]. You can also find more information at https://hbcoa.org/volunteering/. Most volunteer opportunities are Monday-Friday between the hours 8am-5pm.
Volunteer opportunities include but are not limited to:
- Transportation Drivers – Drive HB seniors to appointments, classes, shopping, or other activities utilizing city vehicles. Morning and afternoon shifts.
- Home Delivered Meals – Morning program, packing and/or delivering meals to qualifying HB seniors.
- Office Support – Various positions. Tasks may include, greeting all guests, providing general information, facility tours to new members, answering phones, and other clerical tasks as needed.
- Outlook – Fourth Thursday of the month to prepare the HBCOA newsletter for mailing (affixing mailing labels).
- Senior Café Lunch- Servers and receptionists to help assist with the in-person lunch program.
- Wellness Pavilion Fitness Center – Give gym tours, sign up new members, and answer phones.
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS & EMERGENCY RESPONSE
- Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) – Be part of the Huntington Beach CERT program to prepare for and respond to disasters for yourself, family, and neighbors.
To be an HB CERT volunteer/CA Disaster Service Worker: you must live or work in Huntington Beach, pass a LiveScan fingerprinting background check, and complete a 20-hour FEMA/CERT training classes (in First Aid, Search & Rescue, Sheltering, etc.) provided by the City or have a certificate from taking the qualified class in the last 5 years. To learn more, visit the CERT website or contact Carol Burtis at (714) 536-5974 or [email protected].
HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION & INTERVENTION
- HB Cares Program –Community volunteers enhance the City’s System of Care and allow the City to better support those at risk of homelessness or experiencing homelessness. You can assist by answering our Homeless Task Force phone lines and provide general information on available resources. Volunteers with specific skills can be matched to the Huntington Beach Navigation Center to facilitate life skills groups such as financial planning, job interview skills or recreational activities. Volunteers must be 18 years of age or older, live or work in the City, and complete the New Volunteer Orientation and additional trainings. To get involved or for more information, contact Virginia Clara, the Homeless and Behavioral Health Division at [email protected].
PUBLIC SAFETY
Call (714) 536-5245 or email Community Relations Coordinator at [email protected] for any of the following programs:
- Huntington Beach Neighborhood Watch Board - Meet monthly to discuss programs or events that Neighborhood Watch members can help the Police Department with various crime prevention and safety programs and events. Help arrange Neighborhood Watch Block Meetings, serve as speakers, and distribute crime prevention information at various events.
- Neighborhood Watch Assembly - Assemble newsletters, prepare for mailing and distribution. Meets the 2nd Thursday at HBPD training room 8:00 to 11:30 am.
- Neighborhood Watch Speaker's Bureau - Speakers are needed to educate the community regarding crime prevention and conduct Neighborhood Watch activities.
- Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) - Interested in various uniformed volunteer opportunities to support our HBPD and enhance public safety? To be qualified, retired members of the community must be 55 or older, complete an RSVP Academy, and commit to volunteering at least 24 hours monthly. Volunteers participated in various uniformed assignments including but not limited to conducting patrol duties in a City vehicle or vacation residence checks; removing illegal signs on public property; staffing the front desk and police substations; conducting station tours; visiting schools; fingerprinting of children; distributing crime prevention pamphlets; and/or assisting with clerical assignments. RSVP volunteers also represent the HBPD at various events.
- Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) Program - Apply for this program upon successful completion of the HBPD Citizen's Academy. Requirements include donating at least 60 hours of service annually by assisting at special community events and police substations; distributing Neighborhood Watch newsletters; clerical assignments; etc.
NON-CITY VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
NOTE: Information provided on this page is a community resource only and subject to change at any time. The City of Huntington Beach does not endorse or recommend the listed organizations below on this page or on the websites or information provided by these resources.
- Amigos de Bolsa Chica: Volunteers can help with habitat restoration, field trips, water quality/citizen science, or naturalist training to fully protect the Bolsa Chica and educate our community about its ecological value. Email [email protected], or call (714) 840-1575.
- Assistance League of Huntington Beach: This is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization; volunteers are needed in assisting in the Thrift Shop and various activities. Volunteering requires an annual membership fee. See application packet for more details.
- Bolsa Chica Conservancy: Adults and teens ages 14+ can apply to volunteer independently on Second Sunday & Last Saturday of each month, 9:00 AM -12:00 PM at least 3 hours per session. Contact Kenny at (714) 846-1114 or [email protected].
- Bolsa Chica Land Trust: The Stewards meet twice each month - the first Sunday and third Saturday- to restore native habitat at the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve. Volunteers meet at the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve North Parking Lot (3842 Warner Ave., Huntington Beach, CA) to plant and water native plants, remove non-native plants, pick up trash and conduct other maintenance tasks. Come on out and help us heal our local environment!
- Friends of the Children's Library: Joining the Friends of the Children's Library (FOTCL) provides a variety of ways to participate. This support group is dedicated to promoting children's interest in literature, reading and use of the library. They sponsor fun, educational and literary events for children.
- Friends of the Library: This volunteer group coordinates and manages fundraising projects that are essential to the library's collection and programming. Please join them in supporting your library through general membership, The Friends Gift Shop, or Used Books Sales.
- Historical Society/ Newland House MuseumVolunteers can conduct docent tours of the historic Newland House; serve as greeter or assistant at special events; assist with membership program (714) 642-6839 or visit their website.
- Huntington Dog Beach - The area designated for dogs on the City beach is between Goldenwest and Seapoint Streets. This is a very popular spot for visitors to enjoy the beach with their dogs. Help educate and maintain this beach. Call Friends of Dog Beach (714) 841-8644 or www.dogbeach.org
- Huntington Central Park Secret Garden: The garden is located behind Huntington Central Park Library. Working volunteers are needed. Please call (562) 760-0733 or https://hbtrees.org.
- Huntington Beach Council on Aging (HBCOA): The HBCOA is a non-profit partner looking for volunteer board members as well as community volunteers who can help various Senior Service programs at the Senior Center.
- HB Tree Society in the Urban Forest & Shipley to Shore Nature Trail of the Central Park: Varied; weeding & tree care in the Urban Forest & Shipley to Shore Nature Trail in the back (south end) of Central Park on Thursday, Friday, & Saturday mornings; weeding & plant care in the Secret Garden and Central Park East on Fridays from 10am - noon. To sign up or for more info, visit https://hbtrees.org.
- O.C. California Genealogical Society (OCCGS): If interested in genealogy, family history research, or community projects related to regional historical and biographical records, you can become a volunteer to help the O.C. California Genealogical Society located in the Central Library.
- OneOC: connecting nonprofits, companies, and volunteers together to create greater social impact for Orange County.
- Shipley Nature Center: Volunteers can help by weeding, mulching, and other tasks from 9:00 am to 11:00 am on the Second Saturday of each month. Groups of 5 or more volunteers should email Shipley Nature Center in advance so the Center can plan ahead. During the week, volunteer needs include but are not limited to: Greeters, Composters, Tour Guides, Leads for craft activities, and plant propagation. Please contact us for more details at [email protected] or call (714) 842-4772.
- Sister City Association of Huntington Beach: Become involved in cultural exchange with Huntington Beach sister cities - Anjo, Japan. Volunteers and members can assist with youth exchange program, special events for visiting delegations, and fundraising events.
- Surfrider Foundation - North Orange County: Join the Surfrider activist network and help tackle the issues that face our ocean, waves and beaches. Beach clean-up activities are available throughout the year.
- Therapeutic Riding Center of HB: Volunteers must be able to commit to the same day/time for a full 8-week session and attend a mandatory New Volunteer Training prior to starting. Ages 13+; no prior horse experience necessary, but is helpful. Must be able to stand on your feed for at least one hour at a time, walk and jog on uneven ground, handle a dusty environment, and be able to move quickly around large animals. Email [email protected]
- Volunteer Match: a local community-organization helping provide volunteer opportunities.
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