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LA2050 Blog

It’s November and the spirit of generosity is in the air.
Are you looking to give back this season, but don't know where to start?⁠ Check out the 125+ volunteer events and opportunities linked below!

This list includes in-person, remote, and seasonal options from our LA2050 grantees, partners, and other social impact organizations. The information below comes from their respective websites, and is subject to change.

This star emoji indicates that an organization is an awardee of the LA2050 Grants Challenge!

Community Exchange w/ the Hollywood Food Coalition

Help HoFoCo sort and organize food and hygiene items for its community members.

Meal Prep w/ the Hollywood Food Coalition

Help the HoFoCo Kitchen prepare meals for its community members.

Meal Service w/ the Hollywood Food Coalition

Help the HoFoCo serve evening meals for its community members.

Hope Through Housing Foundation: Community Thanksgiving Event

Join this Thankful Thanksgiving Event, during which residents will be able to build a thankful craft and receive a Thanksgiving treat.

For the holiday season, Food on Foot is in need of volunteers to assemble various types of kits including general hygiene and feminine hygiene.

Hope Through Housing Foundation: Senior Thanksgiving Lunch

At this event, low income senior residents will be able to build a thankful craft and receive a Thanksgiving treat, with the support of volunteers.

Los Angeles Regional Foodbank Food Distribution

Volunteers are needed to help distribute food kits to seniors in our community. The food boxes consist of shelf-stable items such as milk, beans, grains, and canned fruits and vegetables.

The food pantry was created with a single goal: to help families in need decrease the stress of obtaining groceries and providing food for their loved ones. Since 2013, this operation has been open every Friday providing hundreds of families with fresh produce and dried goods.

LA Youth at Work needs volunteers at a WRC to serve as mock interviewers.

Project Ropa is looking for assistance in creating hygiene kits to distribute to our unhoused neighbors. This level of personalized care may require time and attention, but it is where the real impact happens. It's care that restores hope, and the guests deeply appreciate it.

Project Ropa's team members work diligently to help clients find clothing they'll be proud to wear – clean, stylish, and hand-picked. Volunteers will assist in creating hygiene kits to distribute to our unhoused neighbors.

Heal the Bay: Day of Service at Kuruvungna Springs

 is doing to preserve the heritage site and the natural and cultural resources of the area.

Soup Kitchen at St. James provides a safe space for unhoused neighbors to gather for socializing, home-cooked meals, clean clothes, a charging station, and bathroom access. The event is run entirely by volunteers who help to prepare meals, set up the distribution tables, and socialize with our guests.

Children’s Institute Thanksgiving Luncheon

Help to serve CII staff a delicious Thanksgiving meal at the CII Long Beach Campus.

Help sort and distribute produce to community members in Watts. Volunteers will help distribute over 17,000 pounds of produce each event.

Sowing Seeds for Life Drive Thru Food Pantry

Sowing Seeds for Life is in need of volunteers to help distribute food, load cars, or assist with traffic control. Signed waivers are all required before volunteering, which will be provided on site.

Thanksgiving Food Box Packing w/ The Salvation Army

Volunteers will help with meal preparation, serving, setup, and cleanup as we provide a warm and welcoming holiday meal for those in need.

Volunteers are a huge aid in every step of the process, from sorting produce through assembling and handing out packages to the last moments of cleanup.

Join L.A. Works Corporate Events team and Infinity Ward in providing hygiene kits to the Community Veteran Justice Project, a nonprofit that is dedicated to ensuring current and former military service members receive the information, support, and services they need.

Fall Festivities w/ American Family Housing

Volunteers will have the chance to engage with our community by serving meals, assisting with setup and cleanup, and leading a fun art activity.

Latino Equality Alliance is hosting a Thanksgiving Turkey Drive for those experiencing food insecurity in East Los Angeles and they need your help. By volunteering to help with the Turkey Drive, you'll be providing a nourishing meal to individuals and families of a diverse community.

The food pantry was created with a single goal: to help families in need decrease the stress of obtaining groceries and providing food for their loved ones. This operation is open every Friday providing hundreds of families with fresh produce and dried goods.

Heart of LA's Thanksgiving Dinner Box Distribution

Last year, Heart of LA served 100 families and provided them with turkey dinner boxes. Help distribute Thanksgiving themed dinner boxes for families and youth.

Defy SoCal HealthRIGHT 360 Community Business Pitch Competition & Graduation

Volunteers have the opportunity to hear participants present their business pitches followed by Q&A and feedback sessions.

Engage in a morning of habitat restoration at the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve.

FAVE Family Volunteering: Create Thanksgiving Grocery Bundles

Your volunteer efforts will ensure that women with infants and seniors have Thanksgiving staples to create a meal and they will receive a thoughtful and useful re-usable grocery bag and Thanksgiving card of support.

Heart of Compassion is volunteer led non-profit, serving approximately 400 families a week with groceries and goods. This is a special Saturday event held once a year and many in the community look forward to it.

2024 Thanksgiving Day Run and Food Drive w/ Community Center of La Canada Flintridge

Volunteer opportunities include: handing out T-shirts, giving medals to kids as they finish the race, finish line water distribution, runner check-in and more.

Big Sunday’s 13th Annual Thanksgiving Stuffing Event

A memorable opportunity for families, friends, and groups to get together, assemble bags, and make new friends.

Hostelling International USA is looking for volunteers to help with the setup, distribution, and breakdown of its annual Thanksgiving Dinner service. This is a great opportunity to engage in cultural exchange with travelers from around the world.

Love My Neighbor Foundation Thanksgiving Day Serving

On Thanksgiving Day, Love My Neighbor Foundation will be serving food to the homeless and the less fortunate during the early part of the day. RSVP required.

Seeds of Hope is partnering with St. Athanasius Episcopal Church and St. Paul's Commons to host a free Thanksgiving feast for 500 people in Echo Park, and they need your help.

Hope the Mission is in need of set up/break down help, photographers, swag distributors, and more.

Help PATH LA make sure that everyone in our community – housed and unhoused – can enjoy a special holiday meal.

 Thanksgiving Day Meal Delivery | November 27th - 28th

Help PATH LA pick up, transport, and deliver meals to those who need them most.

Westside Thanksgiving Community Dinner & Celebration

Be a leader and take a few hours and join many others in creating a wonderful celebration.

10th Annual Pacific Palisades Turkey Trot

Kick-off the holiday season in style and volunteer to assist on race day.

Gobble Gobble Give is dedicated to feeding the homeless on Thanksgiving. Get involved in your community and make a difference.

🤎Decorate for the Holidays w/ PATH LA | December 2nd - 7th

Help decorate an interim housing facility to make things festive for its guests.

Serve LA provides an overage of 1000 meals per week! This volunteer role helps to plate food and or helps to serve meals to guests seated in the dining room.

125+ Volunteer Opportunities for the Season of Giving

The 2024 edition of our annual LA2050 Social Impact Gift Guide features 80+ products and experiences sourced from local nonprofits, sustainable makers, cultural establishments, and BIPOC-owned businesses. There’s something for everyone on your list – 

Browse all of this year’s featured gifts, below.

Fugetsu-Do is a family-owned mochi and manju sweet shop in Little Tokyo, creating the finest Japanese mochi and manju in Los Angeles since 1903.

People’s Pottery Project, a 2021 and 2023 Grants Challenge winner, employs and empowers formerly incarcerated women, trans, and nonbinary individuals through paid training, access to healing community, and meaningful employment in its collective non-profit ceramics business.

Superbloom Bandana from Theodore Payne Foundation

The Theodore Payne Foundation for Wild Flowers & Native Plants, a 2022 Grants Challenge winner, inspires and educates Southern Californians about the beauty and ecological benefits of native plants.

Fujita Soft Cover Notebook from Library Foundation of Los Angeles

The Library Store, located inside the historic Los Angeles Central Library, offers a curated selection of unique merchandise. The non-profit gift shop supports free programs, resources, and services provided by the Los Angeles Public Library.

Spark Family Fun Set from 826LA Time Travel Mart

A 2013 Grants Challenge winner, 826LA supports Los Angeles students' creative and expository writing skills while also inspiring student-authored works through its storefront, the whimsical Time Travel Mart, and its publishing arm, Barnacle & Barnacle.

The SalviSoul Cookbook: Salvadoran Recipes and the Women Who Preserve Them

 by Karla Tatiana Vasquez from Now Serving LA

Now Serving LA is a cookbook and culinary shop in Los Angeles, located in Chinatown, promoting a diverse range of recipes across cultures and flavor.

Lotus Tea Infuser from Japanese American National Museum

The Japanese American National Museum seeks to foster understanding of America's cultural diversity by sharing the Japanese American experience through exhibitions, educational programs, documentaries, and curriculum.

Slauson Signature Coffee Blend from Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen

Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen’s mission is to bring quality ingredients and good vibes to the communities we serve in an environment conducive to creativity, community, and connection.

Two Weeks Unlimited (New Student) from People's Yoga

Owned, operated, and powered by women of color, People's Yoga invests in shifting wellness culture – where movement meets cariño and community meets corazón.

Woven Rope Stool in Blue + Brown from NEOCOCO

NEOCOCO Collective is a women-led social enterprise founded for the sole purpose of creating jobs for women resettling in Los Angeles through the art of hand embroidery.

2025 Verso Radical Diary & Weekly Planner from Tía Chucha's Cultural and Bookstore

Tia Chucha’s Centro Cultural & Bookstore, a 2024 Grants Challenge winner, offers culturally relevant books and literacy programs focused on Xicanx, Latinx, and social justice themes. Through diverse programs and a specialized collection, the bookstore aims to foster literacy and cultural connection within the local BIPOC community.

Pumpkin Seed Toffee from Valerie Confections

Started in 2004, Valerie Confections quickly became synonymous with luxury chocolate, and nearly 20 years later, it has grown exponentially to include truffles, baked goods, and even a neighborhood cafe. In addition to being a beloved LA brand, Valerie Confections is recognized as one of the best confectioners and chocolatiers in the country.

Amano is a designer-owned leather workshop where each product is handcrafted on-site using a mix of traditional and modern techniques, ensuring durability and a lifetime guarantee on workmanship.

Enamel Pin - Turtle on a Scooter from CicLAvia

CicLAvia, a 2013 and 2021 Grants Challenge winner, promotes vibrant public spaces, active transportation, and health by organizing car-free street events. Through these events, CicLAvia fosters stronger connections within communities and encourages a reimagining of urban spaces.

Monarch Butterfly Mini Hooked Pillow from The Huntington Store

The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens is a research and cultural center in San Marino with 120 acres of botanical gardens, an art museum, a library of rare books, and much more.

Limited Edition "Crenshaw" Skateboard from The Marathon Clothing

Nipsey Hussle's Marathon Clothing opened its doors at the corner of Crenshaw Blvd. and Slauson Ave in 2017. While the brick and mortar location closed after his passing, Marathon Clothing continues through its online store.

Getty is a leading global arts organization committed to exhibiting, conserving, and understanding the world’s artistic and cultural heritage. Based in LA, Getty pursues its work with partners around the world, while sharing art, knowledge, and resources with the public online, and in-person at the Getty Center and Getty Villa.

"Made by Grandma" by Kimberly Espinosa Print from Las Fotos Project

Las Fotos Project, a 2020 and 2021 Grants Challenge winner, empowers teenage girls and gender-expansive youth from communities of color through photography and mentorship, fostering creative expression and career development. With a focus on social justice, the program enables participants to advocate for change and explore pathways to creative futures.

Lost Angels Keychain from Lost Angel's Children's Project

Lost Angels Children’s Project, a 2020 and 2022 winner of the Grants Challenge, serves disadvantaged youth, young adults, families, and distressed communities through vocational training, social enterprise, and outreach programs. Their mission focuses on empowering individuals and revitalizing communities with innovative approaches.

Faves (Pack of 12) from Climate Candy ($30)

FAVES, the first Climate Candy has set out to solve the climate crisis by preventing food waste, upcycling perfectly good fruits and vegetables, and creating candy that's good for people and the planet.

Hollywood Bowl Iconic Seat Cushion from LA Phil Store

The LA Phil Store is the exclusive source of goods as uplifting as the music of the LA Phil, as playful as a summer night spent at the Hollywood Bowl, and as ingeniously designed as the iconic Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Sea Salt White Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies from Prosperity Market

Prosperity Market, a 2023 Grants Challenge winner, is a mobile, solar-powered farmers market showcasing Black farmers, food producers, and chefs, bringing a curated market experience to communities across LA, while also promoting food access and supporting Black-owned businesses.

"Si Se Puede" Notepad from Hija de tu Madre

Hija de tu Madre is a lifestyle brand for Latinas, based in LA.

Heal the Bay, a 2015 Grants Challenge winner, is an environmental nonprofit focused on keeping Greater Los Angeles' coastal waters and watersheds safe, healthy, and clean through science, advocacy, community action, and education.

Social Impact Gift Guide – Shop 80+ gifts for good!

Are you looking for festive ways to celebrate this holiday season? Look no further! The LA2050 Team has curated a map of 11 Holiday Lights in LA. 💡🤩🌟

Scroll for descriptions of each event, dates, and pricing.

Chanukah on the Boulevard, Menorah Lighting

Join Encino Courtyard for a ceremony of the kindling of the Menorah. Enjoy kosher refreshments and traditional Chanukah bites, music, and crafting!

Enchanted Forest of Light: Descanso Gardens

Looking for family fun? Visit the Enchanted Forest of Light, an interactive, nighttime experience, featuring a one-mile walk through unique lighting experiences in some of the most beloved areas of Descanso Gardens.

Christmas Tree Lane: 100th Annual Ceremony

Enjoy delicious food and beverages, support local arts and crafts vendors, and stroll beneath the world-famous lights at this family-friendly SoCal holiday tradition.

 | November 21st - January 8th | $37 - $39

The acclaimed Lightscape returns with stunning new installations along a new expanded trail. Wander through displays of color, light, and sound that include the spectacular Winter Cathedral.

 | November 18th - January 22nd | $27 - $34

Explore an immersive landscape filled with spectacular lantern sculptures of animals among blooming flowers, towering trees, and a wildlife-centered experience.

Enjoy a train ride of delightful and festive scenes with thousands of lights located at the one-mile track at Griffith Park & Southern Railroad. This long standing tradition is perfect for all ages.

Celebrate the 35th Annual Palisades Menorah Lighting in the Palisades Village on the 1st Night of Chanukah, with a live performance by the Beat Buds, Chanukah crafts, treats, and more!

Enjoy an immersive experience for the whole family. Tens of thousands of colorful lights, decor, and garland will deck the Third Street Promenade, 2nd and 4th Streets.

The holiday season in Marina del Rey offers locals and visitors a festive atmosphere with nightly twinkling holiday lights throughout December at Burton Chace Park. Enjoy unobstructed views of the harbor, along three sides of the park.

 of lights illuminate the night and synchronize to festive tunes including one of LA’s largest multi-colored interactive holiday displays.

Holiday Waterfront Trolley Tour of Lights

Board a classic cable-car trolley for a waterfront tour that will showcase the best light displays, including the famous floating Christmas trees of Alamitos Bay and beautiful Naples Island!

🌟Check out our 12 unique maps, from 10 botanical gardens around LA to historically significant locations places here: 

LA2050 Blog

11 LA Events to Light Up Your Holiday Season