BECOME VOLUNTEER
Volunteer as a tutor, mentor, participate in events.
Volunteer
To increase public awareness of the crisis many families and youth in Los Angeles County are currently facing in foster care. We do this through activities including advocacy work as well as at events where attendees can stop by and learn more at our lawn table.
To improve the quality of lives of children and youth in foster care, homeless, incarcerated or under the supervision of probation through the provision of direct services to the children or to the agencies serving them.
To improve the quality of the lives of children and young people in foster care, homeless, incarcerated or under the supervision of probation through system changes.
Do you have experience as a foster or adopted child or adoptive parent? Your experience can make a difference to a child or parent who is currently going through the adoption process. The Mentor Program at Five Acres matches mentors with lived experience with children and adults currently involved in foster care and adoption. Mentors must have experience as an adoptee, an adoptive parent, or former foster youth.
Become a trained volunteer coach monitor and provide court-ordered supervised family visits so that children, removed from the care of their parents, can visit their parents in a family-friendly setting filled with toys, games, books, and art materials. These visits are an essential service to increase the family’s chances for reunification and reduce the children’s anxiety while in out-of-home placement. The visits will take place in an agency setting that provides strict health and safety protocols to protect the coach monitor and the families.
We are looking for potential volunteers who want to make an impact by helping families reunite and eventually reduce the number of children in foster care. Part of the process of becoming a Volunteer Coach Monitor requires training. A program orientation and training will take place next year.
Once again, Foster Care Project’s Adopt a Child Abuse Caseworker (ACAC) Program will be assisting our three “adopted” DCFS caseworkers to ensure that the children and youth on their caseloads are remembered during the holiday season. If you would like to help by providing a gift or gift card, please see the suggestions below.
Gift ideas include: stuffed animals, Lego sets, games (Candyland, Jenga, Yahtzee, Clue, Uno, and Apples to Apples), Hot Wheels, arts & crafts sets, and gift cards for our older teens and young adults, so they can select something fun. We would also very much appreciate supplies for infants and toddlers (baby shampoo, lotion, baby oil, and diapers of any size).
Note: Gifts should be unwrapped or placed in gift bags, so the caseworkers can see each item and match it to a particular child. Gifts must be new and in original packaging. Donation on or before December 17 is requested, so our caseworkers can make timely deliveries. Thank you for all you’ve done and continue to do to brighten the lives of our children and families
My Friend’s Place is a drop-in center in Hollywood offering support and resources to homeless youth in Los Angeles. Los Angeles County is home to one of the largest populations of homeless youth in the Country – with more than 4,000 young people experiencing homelessness on any given night in LA. My Friend’s Place is here to help. Current needs include:
Shoes; Blankets/Sleeping Bags; Backpacks; Clothing and Hygiene Supply Drive: Every day our youth need clean, casual clothing to help build their self-esteem and their ability to achieve their goals. We have the greatest need for sizes XL and up and men’s casual clothing.
Snack Drive: Non-perishable food items are most needed for our young people to take with them when they leave My Friend’s Place for the day.
Gift Drive: For a variety of holidays, we give a new gift to every young person who is homeless. We are happy to provide an extensive wish list that includes items such as gift certificates for food, clothing, movie tickets and more.
Educational and Recreational Supply Drive: We offer a variety of educational and recreational activities for the young people. We are always in need of art and school supplies.
Help foster youth boost their income and financial skills. Join the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) and provide specialized free tax service to current and former foster youth during the 2022 tax season. Volunteer from home virtually or go into the Hub using Covid-19 safety precautions. Training is free and provided virtually beginning in December. VITA is a first-year partnership between L.A. County’s Children and Family Services and John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY). Last year, a similar program run by JBAY was able to get $135,000 in tax refunds and stimulus payments into the pockets of foster youth living in Santa Clara County. Advance your career at the same time: this is a great resume building experience.