Become a Volunteer

We’re in need of volunteers at our Drop-In Center and Community Garden! Volunteers are absolutely essential to SPY’s mission. To get started, check out our volunteer shifts and onboarding requirements below:

Individual Volunteering Opportunities

Sponsor Meals. We’re always looking for supporters able to sponsor and serve a meal at our Drop-In Center in Venice! More info here.

Pick Up and Serve Meals. You can sign-up to deliver meals from our local meal sponsors, or sign-up to set up and serve meals to our youth at our Drop-In Center in Venice. 

Support SPY's Community Garden: Join the garden team to learn more about urban agriculture and growing fresh local produce for our community. Help with maintenance of the space, including weeding, harvesting, planting, and more! 

And more! Once you're fully onboarded, you'll receive SPY's monthly Volunteer Newsletter with all of our top individual shift needs, including event support shifts as well.

Group Opportunities

Want to volunteer with a group of friends or as a corporate team-building activity? We’d love to have you! Email us at volunteer@safeplaceforyouth.org to discuss a group volunteering opportunity and check out some ideas below: 

Make or Sponsor a Meal. SPY serves 50 meals (breakfast and lunch) each weekday for youth at-risk of and experiencing homelessness at our Drop-In Center in Venice. We need your help ensuring a consistent stream of healthy, balanced meals. Meals can be a one time donation, or you can be added to our wonderful group of weekly, monthly or quarterly donors. You are welcome to drop off the meal, or you and your group can stay on site to serve the meal to SPY members. Reach out to meals@safeplaceforyouth.org to coordinate a donation.

Volunteer at our SPY Community Garden. We can welcome up to 30 volunteers to our Community Garden at Beyond Baroque in Venice to help with tasks like weeding, mulching, planting, and more. 

Organize a Donation Drive. Host a donation drive or purchase items we need most, and organize a donation assembly day. We can explore inviting SPY staff to come present at your office or school, and to help deliver donations back to our Drop-In Center in Venice. Our top needs can be found on our In Kind Donations page under ‘Donation Drives'. Please note that we cannot accept RED items due to gang affiliations in Venice.

We look forward to collaborating with you to help end youth homelessness in Los Angeles!