Give Back This Thanksgiving: Places To Volunteer All Around California

Thanksgiving is the time for taking the extra minute and realizing the small things that are hugely beneficial to our lives. Just like how the beauty of California’s crisp fall is finally here after a long and hot summer, the air of the holiday season brings a new feeling of change. For many of us, we want to change our habits and be more philantrophic. One way to make that change is by volunteering to serve a Thanksgiving meal to someone less fortunate. For university students on college campuses, we are often not given the opprotunity to go out and volunteer as often as we would like. So, I compiled a very basic list of places all around California, from Los Angeles to San Francisco, that are looking for helpers tomorrow.

Here is the quick list. Feel free to add your own at the bottom.

Los Angeles – Temple Beth Hillel Feed The Needy

For its eleventh year, Beth Hillel will be serving Thanksgiving meals and goodie bags to those in need. Volunteer shifts are still open, including prep shifts starting at 7am, clean-up shifts going until 3pm and cooking shifts the day before. To volunteer, email brotherhood@tbhla.org. For more information, call (818) 763-9148.

Founded over 60 years ago, Temple Beth Hillel, affiliated with Union for Reform Judaism, is a large temple in the San Fernando Valley. Beth Hillel reaches out to charitable groups in the community, such as Imagine LA and Children’s Burn Foundation. This is an interfaith event for all in the community. Volunteers have a great time meeting the people they are lucky to serve and it is a great place to spend a few hours if you are in the San Fernando Valley.

Santa Barbara – Organic Soup Kitchen’s Fourth Annual Thanksgiving Meal.

Website: http://www.organicsoupkitchen.org/what-we-do/events/details/11-organic-soup-kitchen-4th-annual-thanksgiving-meal

In Santa Barbara, the Missions will be doing some work Thanksgiving morning, but at the Organic Soup Kitchen it will be a party and a half. There will be live music, food, community, and conversation.This event is free to the Santa Barbara Community that is in need, and a great place to volunteer. It is located at The Veteran’s Memorial Building at 112 Cabrillo Blvd Santa Barbara, CA 93101.

San Francisco/Bay Area – Little Brothers Thankgiving

Website : http://littlebrotherssf.org/thanksgiving-2012/

Volunteer this Thanksgiving! Make a difference in an elder’s day. Provide companionship and love this Holiday season. Visit an elder who would otherwise be lonely without you! Little Brothers is deeply engrained in the community, and the event will be held at

There are various opprotunities, such as Set Up, Assembly or Check In.

Click on a volunteer opportunity below for more information or to sign up. People can assist in: unloading supplies, table set up, cake cutting, boxing cake or wrapping flowers before the event. During the event, Little Brothers needs help assembling bags, distributing elder profiles from various districts to volunteer and checking in volunteers when they arrive.

San Diego – San Diego Rescue Mission’s Annual Thanksgiving Campaign

Website: http://www.sdrescue.org/2012-annual-thanksgiving-campaign/

San Diego Rescue Mission can always use more assistance in being with the patrons as they eat and helping distribute the small care packages.