I love volunteering here! What they do is really amazing and I'm happy to help out my community.read more

Have been volunteering here for almost two months and I really admire the staffs commitment to the…read morecause. Everything runs smoothly and they are making a difference in the community.

Finally catching up on some reviews and forgot to review this volunteer event on December 11, 2010…read more Socialites is a great volunteer organization that organizes a monthly get together for the elderly disable that takes place in Culver City. This event was their Christmas party filled with food, fun, dancing, gift exchange and an appearance with Mr and Mrs Claus. This is such a big event that some of the elderly were driven here all the way from Sacramento! How cool is that! I really didn't know what to expect but I did have a great time. As with any volunteering event there is always going to be a little disorganization. If there wasn't, it would be a job and not a volunteered event. With that in mind, if you do volunteer here or anywhere else please remember patience is key. Roll with the punches. Some of the efforts included: 1 - party setup (blowing up balloons, setting up tables and chairs, table setting, etc.) 2 - serving meals, drinks and desserts 3 - clean up 4 - escorting the blind to and from tables or bathrooms The best part was interacting with the elderly. They are very friendly and love to socialize. While chatting with a fellow volunteer who has been doing this for many years, I found out that some of the elderly have been coming to this monthly event for such a long time that they have developed a romantic relationship with the other participants. How cool is that! Elderly disable finding love at a monthly social event! Who needs online dating? I'm looking forward to going back and volunteering once my work schedule lightens up. A big THANK YOU goes out to Darren, Mary and all the other volunteers who make these events happen for other people.

The Socialites event at the Culver City Center is a great volunteer program. I've volunteered a…read morehandful of times and have enjoyed it immensely. It's hard work and you must be a self starter. It would be impossible for the organizer (and yes, there is usually one organizer) to direct every volunteer. Here are my tips for volunteering: 1. find the person in charge and introduce yourself 2. ask what needs to be done right away and do it 3. introduce yourself to other volunteers and ask them for help 4. when one task is done ask the person in charge for the next task or help out other volunteers. 5. respect the Socialites and make the evening about them as this maybe the only time of the month they get out to socialize 6. have fun, these people are great!

I have volunteered with The Giving Hand for the last 3 years and they truly are an organization…read morefocused on helping the people. The staff are very warm and welcoming. I look forward to volunteering with them again!

I applied to St. Margaret's Center's Renter Protection / Homeless Prevention Program as a qualified…read moreCity of Hawthorne resident...referred by the city's own homeless services team, who considered me a clear candidate. Over a full month I submitted extensive documentation, completed every intake form, and was completely honest about my finances and my hardship, including deeply personal information. I was denied. The reason: my income doesn't currently cover my expenses. Sit with that. This is a program that exists to prevent homelessness, and I was turned away for experiencing the exact hardship it's designed to address. I was told to reapply once my income covers my expenses...but if it did, I wouldn't need rental assistance at all. The program's own logic screens out the people who need it most and reserves help for those already close to stable. What frustrated me most was pouring a month of time, honesty, and privacy into a process that was never structured to help someone in active crisis. If this program only assists people who are already nearly self-sufficient, say so upfront--so applicants and the agencies referring them aren't misled. I hope leadership re-examines eligibility criteria that leave the most vulnerable applicants with nothing.

Great Non Profit serving the community. They are truly compassionate & caring when it comes to…read morehelping the less fortunate.

I love this place. There are many worthy charities in LA, but this one is by far my favorite. The…read morestaff are all very welcoming and friendly, the administration is dedicated, and they all share a passion for helping those in need. They have built a community of more than just great volunteers, but also of the ones they serve. They greet them by name, know their stories and treat them with dignity and respect day in and day out, even when no one is watching. If you're looking for a great place to be a part of, I highly recommend coming here. The joy is infectious and I always leave with a smile on my face.

***This a message for those intending to volunteer with the St. Francis Center (DTLA), it's lengthy…read morebut worth the read*** This is nothing but an advisory service for those considering to volunteer with DTLA St. Francis mission. I wish not to deter or negate the intentions of the entire organization based on the actions of a few. There are genuinely good people and purpose being performed within this organization. With that said, I was recently dismissed from being able to volunteer with this mission. You might be asking yourself, how does one possibly get fired from a volunteer position that they signed up for? In my instance, it had nothing to do with my work ethic, timeliness, or understanding of the tasks at hand. (We were distributing food and clothing to the locals in need, absolutely not a complex concept whatsoever.) However, during my short stint volunteering with St. Francis I realized quickly that the management was somewhat dismissive of new volunteers which was masked as being overworked and overburdened. In most cases, running such a huge operation which can effect an entire communities functionality would be understandable. Unfortunately, I was personally met with this attitude and energy regularly. Despite that being the case, that didn't stop my enthusiasm or willingness to work diligently in order to positively impact the lives of those in need. I chose St. Francis for a reason, regardless of the circumstances of the people they serve they do so with seemingly compassionate intent. Unfortunately for me, an ill-timed joke made an organization possibly question the morality of their normalized "business" practices. Just days into my experience, I made a comment about some of the employees picking out donated items for their own personal use. In this realm of work, I'm completely aware that this is a common (and unspoken) practice amongst a plethora of donation organizations. It's shitty and in bad taste but it happens. Personally, it's not a big deal to me, it doesn't effect my well-being or sleep at night. My comments (which were in pure joking spirit and I thought were harmless) must have been overheard because I was approached by the director of the volunteer department. I was told by this person that the employees at the mission were allowed first dibs at the clothing, apparel, and miscellaneous items donated to the organization, to which I replied simply "I don't care." Said leader responded, "It sounded like you did, it would be better you not say anything at all." Shameless, nasty, rude. I completed my responsibilities, helped clean the areas I was assigned to and continued about my day proud of my participation with St. Francis Center. Sadly, later that afternoon I received an email claiming that I was 'not a good fit' at the mission and that I would no longer be allowed to volunteer with the organization. Initially confused and somewhat disappointed, I went on to laugh and laugh about the ridiculous circumstances bestowed upon me. The dismissal of my services from St. Francis Center won't hinder me from helping this particular part of town or community. (Mind you, there are a multitude of other organizations in the same area that do similar work and are seemingly more inviting, it can all be considered subjectively.) Regardless of my personal experience St. Francis' mission is genuine. Just be aware that those in positions of power in regards to their volunteer department may have some tyrannical and not so pleasant traits that rear their ugly heads from time to time. Do the work for yourself if you choose to volunteer here, in the end, righteousness will always prevail. God bless.

What a wonderful place to volunteer. They are doing such good things to help so many people.read more

I volunteered here for my first time about 4 years ago and it was the most transformational day of…read moremy life! The amount of gratitude , love , and community I felt was indescribable. I wasn't sure what I was getting into when I first volunteered especially after learning it only takes 90 minutes to fully furnish and decorate an aged out foster youths home... but it happened and was amazing! I highly recommend volunteering to anyone who wants to help transform a strangers life!

I affirm the contents of that one other review for this. Speaking of which, organizations that do…read morereally well in doing so much good for the community should receive more of the recognition and support they deserve! :) The nonprofit is the base that hosts volunteer activities initiated by different groups all over the city. It is the hub from which various other nonprofits voice and turn the wheels of their projects. Even a recent Yelp Beach Cleanup event, associated with Heal the Bay, required volunteers to sign up first with LA Works. For MLK's Day, LA Works planned a morning at Rosemont Elementary where hundreds of people, most of them a part of their employer company (ex. Target, Home Depot, JP Morgan, Accenture), showed up to help revitalize the campus. A radio station came prepared with dancing and music to jumpstart the day. Volunteers were assigned letters and numbers, then told to report to their assigned tasks. It was all very organized and efficient. They cleaned the computer labs, classrooms, storage room and rec room. Adults and kids alike transformed drab brown walls into a playground of rainbows and sunshine. Snacks, juice and water were available throughout the event. Following, food trucks showed up, some of which were either prepaid by the organization or declined to charge. You can become a volunteer by signing up for an account - and then going through their available search options for projects you would be interested in. I like looking through their calendar for a big picture of their activities. Some projects, like anything that has to do with animals, are hot and fill up faster than others. Clicking on the individual project listing will provide a detailed description and, more importantly, the geographical location/zip code. Trust me, the easier it is to get there, the more available and willing you are to enjoy the event, maybe even on a weekly basis.

I've volunteered twice so far through LA Works: helping paint preschool walls at the Westside…read moreChildren's Center, and Toddler Time at LA Family Housing. It was easy to sign up for both events; the respective coordinators got back to me quickly, and I had a wonderful time. You really do feel like a part of the community when you help out your fellow residents. Many people say they wish they could set aside time to volunteer, and I'd just like to tell them that it doesn't take any effort just to ask how you can help, and the rewards are neverending. I look forward to helping out with future events. Thank you again!

They denied me services just cus I didn't have my social security card physically. And the hobo in…read morethe front desk was rude and very annoying asking the questions

I tried calling the family source center for help. The guy answers the phone says thank you for…read morecalling and automatically puts you on hold for 38 minutes. You're on hold for so long you forget your question. When a representative answers the phone they of course don't know anything about anything. It's just not very good customer service .