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Civic Engagement Events

Join our community partners for one-time volunteer opportunities! View each event below for information on how to sign up.

Spring 2023 Service Saturdays Events

• Saturday, February 4

  City of Chula Vista's Fitness Center Grand Opening

  Volunteer Time:

  • Saturday, February 4 from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

  Location: Otay Community Center, 3554 Main Street, 91911

  Volunteer Roles:

  • Volunteers will assist in fitness center walkthrough for guests, use of equipment, and/or raffle and giveaways

  Site Contact for Questions: Jasmine Nunez, Recreation Supervisor III, jnunez@chulavistaca.gov, (619) 409-1995

• Friday, February 3rd, 10th, 15th (Virtual)

  Project LIKE- 7th Annual Virtual Global Literacy Fair

  Volunteer Time:

  • Complete the volunteer interest form by 5PM on Friday, February 3, 2023.
  • Submit a brief bio, image, and voiceover by 5PM on Friday, February 10, 2023.
  • Submit the lesson plan by 5PM on Wednesday, February 15, 2023

  Location: Remote/Virtual

  Volunteer Roles:

  • Project LIKE literacy leaders will support the virtual event by developing lesson plans for elementary youth related to various academic/career pathways and serve as voice actors for read-aloud activities. Project deliverables due by 2/15/23

  Site Contact for Questions: Edwina Williams, Program Director, projectlike365@gmail.com

• Saturday, February 25

  MAAC PROJECT Parent Engagement Summit

  Volunteer Time:

  • Saturday, February 25 from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

  Location: 956 Vale Terrace Drive, Vista, CA 92084

  Volunteer Roles:

  • Direct participants to their workshop & community resource fair, help with set up and clean up

  Site Contact for Questions: Ramona Araiza, Sr. Manager Family & Community Services; raraiza@maacproject.org

• Saturday, March 18

  Solana Center for Environmental Innovation: Food Cycle Program – Compost Bin Harvest

  Volunteer Time:

  • Saturday, March 18 from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

  Location: Solana Center for Environmental Innovation, 137 N. El Camino Real, Encintas, CA 92024

  Volunteer Roles:

  • Every month we need help harvesting finished compost. Volunteers assist with shoveling finished compost, sifting compost using our awesome trommel, and moving compost to curing station.

  Site Contact for Questions: Jessi Goralski, volunteer@solanacenter.org 

  Website:

• Saturday, March 18

  Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation – Tip Top Run

  Volunteer Time:

  • Saturday, March 18 from 7:30 am - 2:00 pm

  Location: 1580 Cannon Road, Carlsbad, CA 92008

  Volunteer Roles:

  • 5k/10k sign holders, set-up, tear-down, cheerleaders/dancers for finish line, costume judges, photographers, working food/drink booths, passing out swag bags etc.

  Site Contact for Questions: Carly Shields, Volunteer Manager, carly.shields@aguahedionda.org, 760-804-1969

• Thursday, March 23

  Volunteer Time:

  • Thursday, March 23rd from 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM

  Location: 1155 Deodar Rd, Escondido, CA 92026

  Volunteer Roles:

  • Helping with Crafts, Games, Dancing, Book Fair and Food Distribution

  Site Contact for Questions: Jami Schmottlach, jschmottlach@eusd.org

• Saturday, April 1

  American Red Cross of San Diego County- Sound the Alarm Smoke Detector Installation

  Volunteer Time:

  • Saturday, April 1 from 8:00 am - 1:00 pm

  Location: 10707 Jamacha Blvd., Spring Valley, CA 91978

  Volunteer Roles:

  • Assist in making homes in underserved communities firesafe by installing smoke detectors free of charge. Breakfast, lunch, and training provided!

  Site Contact for Questions: John Steinberger, Recruiter, john.steinberger2@redcross.org

• Saturday, May 6th

  Independent Minds Academy: Research Development for English Language Learners and/or Early Readers

  Volunteer Time:

  • Saturday, May 6th from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM

  Location: Online: Please contact for link

  Volunteer Roles:

  • Resource development for english language learners and/or early readers

  Site Contact for Questions: Mayli Levin,  info@independentmindsacademy.com 

• Thursday, May 18th

  Project LIKE: Family Literacy Night 

  Volunteer Time:

  • Thursday, May 18 from 4:30 AM - 6:30 PM

  Location: Gonsell MAAC Project, 139 Gosnell Way, San Marcos, CA 92069

  Volunteer Roles:

  • Volunteers will serve as booth attendants, where they will host bilingual literacy-themed activities! The projects are already created. We need students to host the booth and engage the kids and parents/guardians—we have instructions, and no experience is required!

  Site Contact for Questions: Edwina Williams, projectlike365@gmail.com

• Saturday, May 20

  Solana Center for Environmental Innovation: Food Cycle Program – Compost Bin Harvest

  Volunteer Time:

  • Saturday, March 18 from 9:00 am - 11:00 am

  Location: Solana Center for Environmental Innovation, 137 N. El Camino Real, Encintas, CA 92024

  Volunteer Roles:

  • Every month we need help harvesting finished compost. Volunteers assist with shoveling finished compost, sifting compost using our awesome trommel, and moving compost to curing station.

  Site Contact for Questions: Jessi Goralski, volunteer@solanacenter.org

  Website:

• Friday, August 4

  Boys and Girls Club Vista: Art Room Re-do Prep VOLUNTEER

  Volunteer Time:

  • Friday, August 4  Please Reach out to site contact for scheduling of volunteer shift

  Location: Boys & Girls Club of Vista, 410 W. California Ave, Vista, CA 92083

  Volunteer Roles:

  • The Boys & Girls Club of Vista needs YOUR HELP! The Panda Cares Foundation is starting renovations on our NEW STEM Room and we need to clear out the old furniture and program materials. If you are interested and able to support moving the following items (i.e.: table, chairs, art supplies, and more) on Friday, August 4th please contact sierra@bcgvista.com or call 760-295-5933.

  Site Contact for Questions: Sierra Loredo, sierra@bgcvista.com

• Saturday August 19, Monday August 21, Thursday August 24

  Boys and Girls Club Vista: Back to School Bash - Backpack Stuffing

  Volunteer Time:

  • Saturday August 19 10AM-2PM

  • Monday August 21 8:30AM-11:30AM
  • Thursday August 24 4PM-6PM

  Location: Boys & Girls Club of Vista, 410 W. California Ave, Vista, CA 92083

  Volunteer Roles:

  • The Boys and Girls Club of Vista is looking for 10-20 volunteers on each day to put together approximately 400 backpacks for Back to School on August 19th between 10am and 2pm, August 21st between 8:30a-11:30am, and August 24th between 4pm-6pm.
    
    You will be stuffing the backpacks in an assembly line format, and in doing so, help prepare our Club kids for a successful school year. If you feel you can help, please e-mail sierra@bgcvista.com expressing your interest.

  Site Contact for Questions: Sierra Loredo, sierra@bgcvista.com

• Saturday, August 26

  Boys and Girls Club Vista: Back to School Bash - Backpack Stuffing

  Volunteer Time:

  • Saturday August 26 8AM-2PM

  Location: Boys & Girls Club of Vista, 410 W. California Ave, Vista, CA 92083

  Volunteer Roles:

  • The Boys and Girls Club of Vista is looking for between 10-20 volunteers to assist in the day-of logistics of our Back to School Bash and Community Resource Fair on August 26th between 8am and 2pm.
    
    Tasks will include but are not limited to:
    8:00 am - 10:00 am
    Setting up tables and chairs .
    Bringing backpacks outdoors
    
    9:45 am -1:00 pm
    Assisting in handing out backpacks
    Supporting the check in table.
    
    12:45 pm - 2:15 pm
    Returning all tables and chairs inside the building.
    Brining any excess items such as backpacks, swag, etc. inside the building.
    Assisting vendors with tear down of tables/booth as needed.
    
  • If you feel you can help, please e-mail sierra@bgcvista.com expressing your interest!

  Site Contact for Questions: Sierra Loredo, sierra@bgcvista.com

Fall 2022 Service Saturdays Events

• Friday, September 30 and Saturday, October 1

  City of Chula Vista's Champion's 5K Run

  • Deadline to register is Friday, September 16
  • Location: Olympic Training Center
  • Site Contact for Questions: Aaron Ruiz, aruiz@chulavistaca.gov 
• Saturday, October 15

  Alzheimer’s San Diego Walk4ALZ 2022

  • Volunteer Time:  6:00 am - 10:00 am
  • Location: Balboa Park
• Saturday, October 15

  12th Annual Ivey Ranch Park Western Hoedown

  • Volunteer Time:  All Day on 10/15 (various shifts, see below)
  • Location: 110 Rancho del Oro Dr., Oceanside, CA 92057
  • Volunteer Roles:
    • Ivey Ranch Park is having our 12th Annual Western Hoedown fundraising event on 10/15/2022 and we are expecting 400+ attendees and need the help of over 100 volunteers to put on this family-friendly fundraiser. 
      VOLUNTEERS NEEDED ALL DAY ON 10/15 and 10/15!
    • Multiple slots are available per volunteer shift, sign up with a friend! Please help us spread the word about this event, we want to fill volunteer spots by the end of September.

  

• Saturday, October 22

  Helen Woodward Animal Center Howl-O-Ween Harvest Family Festival

  • Volunteer Time:  8:00AM-1:30PM
  • Location: Helen Woodward Animal Center Education Pavilion
  • Volunteer Roles: Craft Helpers/Floaters
  • Site Contact for Questions: Mark Maxwell, MarkM@animalcenter.org
• Friday, October 28

  North County Lifeline Halloween Spooky Fest

  • Volunteer Time:  3:00PM- 8:00PM
  • Location: Crown Heights Community Center (1210 Division Street, Oceanside, CA 92054)
  • Volunteer Roles: Event set up and take down, game and activity assistance.
  • Website For Event: 

Questions? Please contact Department of Service Learning and Civic Engagement staff at servicelearning@csusm.edu or civicengagement@csusm.edu. Check out the Speaking of Democracy page for additional events.

Community Partner looking to post a Service Saturday Opportunity?