A lot of you have been asking about hands-on volunteer opportunities that you can do with your children. You don’t want to simply write a check for a beloved organization, you want your kids to get involved and really pay attention to helping others. Awesome!
This post is sponsored by Save The Bay, a non-profit organization dedicated to the health and future of the San Francisco Bay. They restore wetlands, advocate for smart climate policies, and deliver educational programs that equip people with the knowledge and tools to become active stewards of the Bay for generations to come.
Here are some ideas for volunteering with kids in the East Bay
Save The Bay
Families can dig in and make a difference during shoreline restoration programs or experience native plants hands-on at a native plant nursery programs. These programs are a great way to instill a love for the Bay in younger generations while fostering a sense of community and accomplishment. A Project Leader will provide an introduction to your mission, supply all the tools and equipment, plus sunscreen and water. Save The Bay programs are appropriate for all ages. Under 18 require parent sign-in; under 13 require sign-in and adult companion. Find programs and sign up at: https://savesfbay.org/calendar/
5 more outdoor volunteering ideas
Pick up litter
Start small. Walk around your own neighborhood with your toddler and a trash bag (and gloves!) to leave your block better than you found it. Try going to your favorite park or even your elementary school on the weekend, and play at the playground afterward. A great way for the kids to feel connected to their work and have fun. If you’re in Oakland, check out Adopt A Spot or Adopt a Storm Drain. In Berkeley, you can also adopt a drain or even a traffic circle!
Plant a tree
Richmond Trees plants trees in Richmond and their website shows lots of happy kid helpers. I did this in San Francisco and found it so meaningful to watch my little sapling take root. (pictured above) The planting season is usually the rainy season, October – March. Check their Facebook page for upcoming planting events.
Keep Sausal Creek Clean
The Friends of the Sausal Creek offer many volunteer opportunities including planting, trail stewardship, weeding, seed collection, trash pick-up, water quality and bird monitoring, and more. Check their calendar for upcoming events, including one at the Bridgeview Trail and several over MLK Jr. weekend.
Garden for the community
Kids can, literally, get their hands dirty in a garden and share the wealth with others through some of these community garden projects.
East Bay Regional Park Volunteer Opportunities
There are many kid-friendly opportunities in the East Bay Regional Parks, including Doc Quack’s Wildlife Volunteers, shoreline cleanup days and habitat restoration. Some require registration, so be sure to plan ahead. Check their website.
11 ways to help people in need
Shop for the food bank
The Alameda Food Bank has seen a huge surge of clients since the pandemic. Another food bank that needs food donations is the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano Counties.
Pack and sort food
The Alameda Community Food Bank invites everyone age 10+ to come and help pack produce into bags that’ll go to distribution points where families in need will pick them up. I recently went with two of my kids and we had a great time packing potatoes and broccoli for three hours. They have it very well set up and make it easy to put in some great time volunteering for your community.
Deliver meals to senior citizens
Via Meals on Wheels, you (as chauffeur) and your child (as helper) can prepare or deliver meals to homebound seniors in their local communities as well as being a friendly visitor. There are several East Bay locations and specific volunteer duties vary. Most programs deliver meals before noon.
Support incarcerated folks
The Prisoners Literature Project is based in South Berkeley, and they’re always looking for volunteers to help answer letters, send out books, and assist in other ways. Kids age 16+ are welcome with parents. Happens twice weekly. Just make sure to sign up via this google form first. FYI, there is a waiting list that’s several months long.
Help seniors
The City of Berkeley offers many opportunities to help local seniors, such as by packing and delivering groceries. Read more about the details here.
Play with a purpose
Order a community service kit from Hands on Bay Area Project in a Box or be inspired to create your own activity with a result that helps others. Focus on your child’s interest by helping babies or children. Could be a fun Birthday or Holiday Party activity.
Host a drive
Whether it is for One Warm Coat (outerwear) or Help a Mother Out (diapers), let your children tap into their community of friends to fill the collection bin and make a difference.
Donate hair to help sick kids
Though this is a one-time event, it can have a big impact on your long-haired child and the child they help. For details about how to do it, check out Wigs for Kids.
Collect security items for homeless children
Our contributor Becky and her daughters helped 72 families through Project Night Night by gathering new blankets, books, and stuffed animals for those in need by teaming up with their neighborhood friends.
Teen volunteering at the library
Oakland Public Library loves its teen volunteers. In fact, 66% of their volunteers are teens! How cool!
Join a packaging event
Kids Against Hunger Bay Area offers 1 1/2 hour packaging events for 10+ people at their warehouse in Pleasanton. Younger kids are welcome, but 4th grade and up seem to get the most out of it. I did this with my two older boys (ages 9 and 12) and they loved it. You can just tag-on to one of the open events, or get a group together and start your own packing party. Check out their upcoming packaging events.
3 places to volunteer with animals
Care for animals in need
Kids older than age 10 can join the volunteers at East Bay SPCA for activities relating to the medical needs of animals, behavior & training, animal advocacy, and animal-themed careers. Activities for parent/child teams are limited; participants in the youth volunteer club (ages 8+) pay a fee and have more predictable participation.
Foster animals in your home
Talk about hands-on! Whitney shared details of her experience fostering kittens. Other animals need homes for short and long terms. You can foster older dogs waiting for their forever home through Muttville.
For anyone considering getting a rabbit as a pet, you can also volunteer and/or foster with House Rabbit Society, in Richmond. HRS sends you with all the supplies you need to get started, such as an exercise pen, litter box, and food. There’s only a 2-week commitment, so it’s a great way of seeing whether your family likes caring for a rabbit!
For volunteering, volunteers between the ages of 10 to 15 must volunteer with a parent or guardian, otherwise volunteers can be age 16 and up.
Even more resources for volunteering with kids:
- Sign up with Hands On Bay Area which offers families with children 12 and under an array of opportunities. This site seems perfect to find more regular scheduled volunteer gigs. I saw a diverse set of educational and athletic options on the first page.
- Run! Sign up for a 1k fun walk or run (or 5k for older kids) that raises money for a cause that you care about. The Berkeley Family 1k offers the chance to raise money for the Berkeley Public Schools.
- Pick a project on DoSomething that can be done from home. I noticed clever ideas like posting surprise positive messages around town to boost others’ self-esteem, or making a five-minute playlist to help friends take shorter showers. Search by your child’s interest and time available to find the best match.
- Search VolunteerMatch.org for current needs in the area. This site seems great for finding something specific and time-bound to fit in your schedule. You can filter on kids to see (theoretically) appropriate opportunities. Among many others, I saw requests for people to pull weeds at Point Isabel as well as hosting foreign exchange students.
- Both Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts focus on teaching children to be of service to others; kids who go through these programs will participate in many volunteer activities with increasing responsibility as they get older.
Thanks to Save The Bay for sponsoring {510} Families. With a legacy dating back to 1961, they remain steadfast in their commitment to protecting the Bay in the face of growing environmental challenges. Through advocacy, restoration, and education they fight for smart regional policies, spearhead ambitious wetland restoration projects, combat pollution, and foster deep connections to the natural environment. Explore their calendar of volunteer opportunities here >
1 thought on “20+ Ways to Volunteer with Kids in the Bay Area”
What a fantastic article. Thank you!