Volunteering - it's good for you and our community!

Mayo Clinic: Helping people, changing lives: 3 health benefits of volunteering

Research has shown that volunteering offers significant health benefits

National Alliance on Mental Illness: How Volunteering Improves Mental Health

Wellness benefits and getting started

Psychology Today: Volunteering Benefits the Health and Wellness of Kids and Teens

New research demonstrates the positive effects of volunteering for young people

Volunteer Opportunities within PUSD's neighborhoods

Shoal Creek Elementary School Fall Festival Carnival – Student Volunteers Needed!

Friday, October 16 | 4:45–8:15 p.m.

Location: Shoal Creek Elementary School, 11775 Shoal Creek Drive

Help make the Shoal Creek Elementary Fall Festival Carnival a fun and memorable event for elementary students and families! High school students are invited to volunteer and earn community service hours while supporting a local PUSD school.

Volunteer opportunities include:

Game Booths: Help elementary students participate in fun carnival games.
Food Servers: Take tickets and help serve hot dogs, nachos, and other food.
Mt. Carmel Baseball Fast Pitch: Assist with the Fast Pitch activity. This role is available only to Mt. Carmel High School baseball players.

This is a great opportunity for high school students, clubs, teams, and service organizations looking for a fun way to support younger students in the community.

Sign up to volunteer:

Shoal Creek Fall Festival Carnival Volunteer Sign-Up

Los Peñasquitos Elementary School Fall Festival - High/Middle School student volunteers needed!

Saturday, October 17 | 3:00–6:00 p.m.

Location: Los Peñasquitos Elementary School in Rancho Peñasquitos

High school students are invited to help make the Los Peñasquitos Elementary School Fall Festival a fun event for elementary students and families!

Volunteers can sign up for one or more 60-minute shifts to help run classroom festival booths. Additional volunteers are also needed to help with cleanup after the event.

Students who would like to volunteer at a particular teacher’s booth can include the teacher’s name in the comment section when signing up. Organizers will do their best to accommodate requests. Students can sign up for available shifts and volunteer roles supporting the Fall Festival. This is a great opportunity to earn community service hours while helping create a welcoming and fun event for younger students and their families.

Sign up to volunteer:
Los Peñ Fall Festival Volunteer Sign Up

Volunteer at Poway's Once Upon a Hallowe’en!

Join the City of Poway and the Poway Chamber of Commerce for a fun night of community service at Once Upon a Hallowe’en at Old Poway Park on Saturday, October 24, from 3:00–8:45 p.m. Volunteers help bring this popular community event to life while earning service hours and gaining hands-on event experience.

Opportunities include serving as costumed characters (creepy clowns, witches and zombies), helping with children’s crafts and carnival games, supporting the Nightmare Before Christmas area and Pumpkin Patch, assisting with the Haunted House, helping at train crossings, and joining the event clean-up crew. Some roles may have specific requirements or instructions from City staff.

Students and community members are welcome! View available positions, requirements, and sign up here: https://bit.ly/OnceUponAHalloween2026

More event information on the City's website

Poway Chamber of Commerce Fall Festival

Sunday October 4

Join the Poway Chamber of Commerce on Midland Road for one of Poway’s biggest community events of the year!

Hundreds of vendors
Live music
Food trucks
Classic car show
Kids’ activities
Shopping & so much more!

Sign up, choose your time slot(s), and be part of something fun in our community. Volunteer roles all parts of the day and you can volunteer more than one shift. Volunteers under 18 are encouraged. The Chamber would love to have high school ambassadors & students involved in cheer to participate for guest and vendor relations.

Volunteer benefits

Chamber staff signs volunteer hours logs for high school students
Chamber staff will provide volunteer hours verification letter for each PUSD student volunteer

Areas of Need for PUSD high school student help

• Morning Set-Up & Vendor Relations

• Greeting Attendees & Attendee Relations

• Afternoon Tear-Down & Assisting Vendors

Questions about volunteering?

Email the Fall Festival Volunteer Coordinator & Chamber Board President Lisa Tate

Fall Festival volunteer sign-up link

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0849ABAD2FA1FF2-65552085-fall#/

More information on the Fall Festival

https://www.poway.com/poway-fall-festival/

Ride Above Disability Therapeutic Riding Center

Prior experience with horses or disabilities is not required. Minimum age is 14+

Become a RAD Volunteer:

Assist in horse care
Participate in lessons
Build community

Rolling Hills Boarding Stable

15529 Sycamore Canyon Road Poway CA 92064

Contact Miriam Libonati-Bitton

858-209-5662

miriam@radtrc.org

Unified Social Club

Unified Social Club is organized through the efforts of the North County Special Needs Community Foundation and made possible through the generous support of its founding sponsors, Unified E-Sports League and General Atomics Aeronautical, along with support from the City of Poway, the Poway Chamber of Commerce and other civic and business partners.

Support adults and young adults with special needs in a welcoming social club environment.
Help participants feel included, make friends, and enjoy fun activities.
Assist with games and activities such as corn hole, video games, board & card games, karaoke, ping pong, pool, foosball, golf putting, air hockey and arts & crafts.
Help with registration, greeting participants, facility set up, refreshments and facility tear down.
Build leadership, communication, patience, and service skills while earning volunteer/community service hours.
The volunteer sign-up form asks for at least one reference and a brief description of why you are interested in volunteering.
Event staff will sign volunteer hours logs needed for school, court, college applications, scholarships, or potential employers.

Social club events are held on designated dates; volunteers should check the website for upcoming opportunities.
Sign up at the Unified Social Club Volunteer Page

Sam's Posse Poway Round-Up Rodeo 2026

Rodeo Weekend Saturday September 26, 2026

Sam's Posse

The Sam’s Posse Round-Up Rodeo is an opportunity for individuals living with intellectual and physical disabilities ages 5 and up, to experience the sport of Rodeo by interacting in specially adapted activities. The event is FREE and conducted in a safe and fun environment.

As a volunteer, you will be assisting participants navigate a variety of fun rodeo themed activities. Volunteers must be age 12 or older.

Please read the linked form completely. Once completed, you will receive a confirmation email. One week prior to the event you will receive an email with full instructions.

Date: September 26, 2026
Time: 9:00am-11:00am
Event Address: Poway Valley Riders Association - Poway Rodeo Grounds, 14336 Tierra Bonita Road, Poway CA
Please fill out separate forms for EACH volunteer.
Contact Deborah at: info@samsposse.org if you have questions, or need additional help.
Volunteer page https://www.samsposse.org/volunteer-sponsor/

Volunteer Sign Up Form

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSesFsCc1rGb0tMWdEWUleKKJjsUmdm01qwPDRJvAYIGd6m-Hg/viewform

Poway Rodeo

Poway Rodeo is a major event on one weekend in September of every year and always needs more than 85 volunteers each performance - 1 on Friday and two on Saturday. The Rodeo also needs help tearing down the event on Sunday right after the event. Go to the Poway Rodeo volunteer page to learn more and be able to contact the organizers to sign up. Training is provided.

Volunteer benefits:

Volunteer party on Tuesday before the rodeo where you will have a tour of the grounds and thank you dinner
Free parking near the venue
Free meal at designated food locations on-site
Rodeo crew t-shirt

Volunteer Questions? Volunteer4PowayRodeo@gmail.com

Poway Rotary Parade - Poway Days

Poway Scripps Rotary organizes the Poway Parade which takes place on a Saturday in September along Poway Road.

Volunteers are needed in several areas and before and after the parade. The Rotary would love to have high school students and teams sign up to help with set up and take down of the event. Click here for volunteer information and to sign up.

Areas to volunteer:

Helping to pace the parade
Set up
Clean Up

pdf

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Poway Teen Volunteer Program Welcome Packet - UPDATED 7.21.25 - LB.pdf

Download

1.1 MB

City of Poway Teen Volunteer Program

Are you:

in high school (grades 9-12)?
able to volunteer at least 20 hours over the course of a year?
ready to make new friends?

Lots of opportunities including Summer Movies in the Park, Teen Program Series, Kids Night Out, Winter Festival and more! Becoming a volunteer is easy. More detailed information on events and teen programs here.

Steps:

Teen volunteers must review the volunteer welcome packet attached above for how volunteering works and expectations for volunteers. 👆
Apply online with the City of Poway
All teen volunteers must attend an orientation with the City of Poway.

Contact teenvolunteers@poway.org for more information on orientation meetings dates and times.

POWPAC: The Poway Performing Arts Company

POWPAC Theater needs volunteers! PowPAC is a nonprofit volunteer community theater.

If you have some time to share, please call Debi Pope at 858-679-8085.

You don't have to be trained in theater! If you can paint the walls in your living room, sew a shirt or put up a poster, you can help. You will be guided by experienced volunteers. We are always looking for new volunteers. High school theater tech students can volunteer to get more theater experience - we need technical expertise.

Here are a few of the volunteer opportunities we offer:

Set Design, Construction, and Decorating
Costume Design and Management
Sound and Lighting Design and Technicians
Stage Manager and Crew
Acting
Hospitality
Housekeeping
Ticket Desk
Greeter / Usher

Address

Lively Center Shopping Mall

(next to Cully's & upstairs)
13250 Poway Rd.
Poway, CA 92064

Poway Center for the Performing Arts

How old do I have to be to volunteer and what is the commitment?

Every usher must be at least 15 ½ years of age. We encourage high school students to participate and if you are under the age of 18 years old, it’s as simple as obtaining written parental consent.

You must be able to commit to 1 year of service. As an Usher, you are required to volunteer for one performance per month and/or complete a total of twelve performances within a season. The season runs from September to June. More information and application here

Address

Poway Center for the Performing Arts

15498 Espola Road

Poway, CA 92064

Questions

info@powayonstage.org

SD Library system - RB, PQ and Carmel Mountain Ranch branches

The libraries within Poway Unified's boundaries always need volunteers.Use this resource to help you find out how to volunteer.

The SD Library system also has a Teen Service Learner Program.

Volunteer to be a Teen Service Learner at the library and you'll have fun while earning community service hours and getting real work experience!

Who?
Service Learners may be between 12 and 17. Contact your local branch to learn the age range for their program.

What?
Teen Service Learners help organize library materials and participate in fun library events.

When?
Hours are flexible and include weekdays and Saturdays.

Where?
All County Library locations.

How?
Ask a staff member at your branch how you can sign up today!

Poway Library

Poway Library has several partnerships and areas where they need volunteer assistance, Those interested can contact Poway Library staff to sign up by email:

Farrah Mazhari - Adult Services Librarian II

Farzaneh.mazhari@sdcounty.ca.gov

Kathy Jung - Poway Library Branch Manager

Kathy.jung@sdcounty.ca.gov

Friends of the Poway Library

The purpose of the Friends of the Poway Library is to maintain an organization of persons interested in books and libraries; to promote the awareness and use of the library; to support the library in expanding its resources, services and facilities and to cultivate a closer relationship between the library and the community.

FOPL sells books and cds to help fund library efforts. Volunteers help sort donated books and set up for events.

Location:

Poway Library complex next to the library front door

13137 Poway Road

We are always looking for volunteers to help us make our vision of the Friends of the Poway Library a reality. We'll help you find a way to volunteer that best suits you.

Contact Us to Volunteer

858-513-2862

info@powayfriends.org

pdf

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Kiwanis HWH_Request for Heroes_2025.pdf

This informational document (Request for Heroes) is attached that can be shared with others, and it includes the link.

Download

230.3 KB

Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo

This club organizes community events to raise monies for community grants and student scholarships. The club engages in community service to help fulfill the Rotary International mission of "Service Above Self". The club organizes two community clean up events in RB each year as a service for residents to drop off unwanted items and volunteers are needed for those clean up dates.

Volunteer for Rotary Club of RB's Rancho BEERnardo here

Need assistance:

Setting up for the event
Tearing down the event
keeping event clear of trash and assist with parking

Kiwanis Club of Poway and The Ranches

This Kiwanis Club serves Poway , Rancho Peñasquitos, Rancho Bernardo, Carmel Mountain Ranch and 4S Ranch communities. The signature event is “Holiday with Heroes" in December, where under-served local children get to shop for family members alongside a member of the military or a first responder.

Three Poway Unified elementary schools work in partnership to pre-select 150 underserved students from grades 3-5 and they're paired with uniformed heroes for a 2-hour holiday festival. After checking in and getting a photo with Santa, the students shop for Christmas presents for their family members, and their hero secretly chooses a present for them. In a different area, they receive lots of items for themselves and their families, enjoy crafts, play a giant Candyland game, and decorate cupcakes. Then they go to the courtyard to enjoy dinner, popcorn, and hot chocolate with their hero. There will be a DJ, music, and lots of fun!

The arrival times for the heroes and children are staggered so every 15 minutes more heroes and students arrive. The first group of heroes arrive at 3:45 and the last of the children should leave by 7:45. Clean up is complete by 9:00pm.

More HEROES needed to match each child with one hero (military, ROTC cadets, firefighters, police, sheriff deputies, nurses, lifeguards, EMTs, fire academy students are all welcome!)

HWH requires many volunteers to set up, clean up, and run the event, as there will be a lot happening at once throughout the community center. If you have a preferred area to volunteer, let us know!

Event Location

Mickey Cafagna Community Center

13094 Civic Center Dr, Poway, CA 92064

How to Sign Up to Volunteer

Once Kiwanis starts seeking volunteers, there is a sign-up platform that is used for event volunteers (SignUp Genius). This resource guide links to the sign up platform for volunteers.

An email will be sent to all registered volunteers before the event with additional details and instructions.

Uniformed Heroes Coordinator

Heather Skale

heatherskale@gmail.com

Event & Volunteer Coordinator

Beth Galloway

858-254-0420

beth.galloway65@gmail.com

Villa de Vida

Villa de Vida—a Poway nonprofit supporting adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities—welcomes volunteers to help with social activities, special events, and day-to-day classes. Roles typically include assisting with cooking classes, neighborhood walks, and fundraising galas like the Fiesta de Vida.

How to volunteer

Location: 12341 Oak Knoll Rd, Poway, CA 92064
Direct Application: Submit your skills and availability through the official Villa de Vida Volunteer Portal.
Event Support: They frequently need help greeting guests, dancing, and facilitating connections at community gatherings.
Contact: email info@villadevida.org or call (858) 935-8811

Friends of Poway Seniors

2 opportunities to help Senior Citizens:

BINGO sessions - Tuesdays and Sundays to help run the game
Reruns Resale Shoppe - shifts are 2 hours and up

Reruns Resale Shoppe Store is located at 12511 Poway Road

Contact Volunteercoordinator@friendsofpowayseniors.org

Proceeds from BINGO and the resale shoppe benefit the City of Poway Senior Lunch Program

North County Special Needs Community Foundation

www.ncspecialneedsfoundation.com

We are a nonprofit organization supporting special needs young adults after they have aged out of the public education system. We are looking for volunteers age 16 and up to help with coaching softball and basketball in Rancho Bernardo and Poway. Social activities and sports are important to feel connected to the community. This organization is connected to Villa de Vida and Unified e-sports.

Need basketball coaches in August

Need Poway Padres softball coaches in February

Questions/Volunteer to coach

Tony Rubino

619-665-1335

info@ncspecialneedsfoundation.com

Click here for Special Olympics volunteer forms needed to volunteer for this nonprofit group.

RB Spirit of the 4th Parade

Whether you're able to volunteer from home or onsite, year-round or one day, we would love to have you as part of our volunteer team.

Are you part of a group or organization that would be interested in getting involved? We would love to have you. We work with all sorts of groups from high school teams to church youth groups to Boy Scouts to The Rotary Club. Click here for volunteering

Fiesta de los Peñasquitos by Rancho Peñasquitos Town Council

Each May, the PQ Town Council hosts a family-friendly fair at the Rancho Peñasquitos Towne Center. There are opportunities for high school and middle school volunteers (including clubs and teams)

Rancho Peñasquitos Town Council website

Click on their Events button

Old Poway Park Halloween

We love volunteers!

Can you:

Help with construction?

Help with line control?

Monitor exits?

Distribute flyers?

Help with ticket sales?

Be an actor?

Help with teardown?

Help with social media?

If you're reliable, dependable and willing to work, please email opphalloween@gmail.com please include your full name, email address, phone number (if you're a teen, please state your age)

Community service hours

Hospice of San Diego - located in Poway

Click here for information and the application. Direct patient contact volunteers must be at least 18 years old and have a reliable form of transportation. Administrative and craft (e.g. sewing and knitting) volunteers must be at least 16 years old.

Some individuals have specialized skills and/or knowledge like baking, sewing, knitting, singing, and playing instruments. We absolutely welcome your talents as well!

What if I am not comfortable with patient contact? We can use all the help we can get! Work is always available in the office to help prepare mailings, assist in general data entry tasks, file papers, prepare admission packets and home charts, and help prepare for community events.

The Hospice of San Diego

12975 Brookprinter Place, Suite 150

Poway, CA 92064

Poway Community Food Connection

The Community Food Connection

Click here to learn more and to volunteer

We need volunteers for food pick up and food distribution.

Located in the heart of Poway, our organization is an all-volunteer non-profit group dedicated to helping those in need in our area. With the dedication of our volunteers and partnering organizations like the San Diego Food Bank and local stores, we currently give out over 90,000 pounds of food to over 4,250 households monthly. We strive to improve the lives of everyone who is food insecure by providing produce, bread, canned goods, dried goods, meat and other products through our partnerships with the San Diego Food Bank and Feeding San Diego.

Volunteer coordinator is Susie Hovey (858) 751-4613 tcfconnection@gmail.com or the main contact cfcvolunteerteam@gmail.com

Watch the CFC volunteer video on this page

Food Distribution

Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays from 3 pm - 6 pm

14047 Twin Peaks Road (Behind Trinity Church)

Poway, CA 92064

Drive-thru food distribution for those in need.

Friends of Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve

Clink here for volunteer information

Volunteer Opportunities in Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve, Carmel Mountain, the Del Mar Mesa, and Black Mountain Parks

Projects:

Endangered Plant Surveys

Youth and School Programs

Exhibit Staffing at Events

Hike Leaders

Newsletter - writing, proofreading, designing

City and County Projects

Trail Building & Trash Cleanups

San Diego Wildlife Tracking Team

Restoration Work Projects

The Friends are well known for being leaders in the control of invasive weeds and the revegetation of disturbed areas with native plants. Restoration parties are held on Sundays, dates are published on the volunteer page and on social media. See the calendar for details. If you plan on volunteering with a group please call 858-863-7393 to organize the event.

Rancho Bernardo Senior Services

Click here for more information and a volunteer application

Duties for the volunteers include:
Answering the phone
Contacting those on the Reassurance list
Basic computer work
Researching solutions and answers to questions using the internet
Referring services and advertisers
Sharing community information
Making appointments for various events
Having fun meeting and greeting our visitors

Volunteer at Children’s Paradise in Poway!

Want to give back to your community in a FUN and meaningful way? We’re looking for caring, responsible volunteers to join our Baby Brigade Team!

· Location: Children’s Paradise Poway

· Days/Times: flexible hours Monday-Friday, 6:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.

· Commitment: maximum 15 hours per week

As a Volunteer, You Will:

Help supervise and engage children in play, crafts, and story time
Support staff in maintaining a safe and welcoming environment
Be a positive role model for young minds

No formal experience required — just a kind heart and a willingness to help!

We provide interviews and support in the classroom. Volunteers must provide TB test done within the last year and proof of TDAP and MMR vaccinations.

Ready to Join?

Contact Mara Stills at mstills@childrensparadise.com or apply here: Paradise

Match with Other Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer Match

This has merged with Idealist and is not as robust as Just Serve as a database of opportunities. Search for volunteer opportunities

Just Serve

Search for local volunteer opportunities in the Greater San Diego region. You can search by ZIP code to find opportunities close to home if your transportation is limited. You can search by organization if you have a specific interest area or passion for helping others.

Hands On San Diego

Click here for youth & family volunteer opportunities. You can sign up for an existing project and you can create a team volunteer effort on this site if you are part of a group that is interested in group volunteer efforts.

Diploma Recognition for Contributions to our Community

State Seal of Civic Engagement - High School Diploma

PUSD High School students can earn the State Seal of Civic Engagement on their diplomas through civic projects; volunteering can assist in the process of earning the seal.

Volunteering - it's good for you and our community! Volunteering - it's good for you and our community!

Mayo Clinic: Helping people, changing lives: 3 health benefits of volunteering

National Alliance on Mental Illness: How Volunteering Improves Mental Health

Psychology Today: Volunteering Benefits the Health and Wellness of Kids and Teens

Volunteer Opportunities within PUSD's neighborhoods Volunteer Opportunities within PUSD's neighborhoods

Shoal Creek Elementary School Fall Festival Carnival – Student Volunteers Needed!

Los Peñasquitos Elementary School Fall Festival - High/Middle School student volunteers needed!

Volunteer at Poway's Once Upon a Hallowe’en!

Poway Chamber of Commerce Fall Festival

Ride Above Disability Therapeutic Riding Center

Unified Social Club

Sam's Posse Poway Round-Up Rodeo 2026

Poway Rodeo

Poway Rotary Parade - Poway Days

City of Poway Teen Volunteer Program

POWPAC: The Poway Performing Arts Company

Poway Center for the Performing Arts

SD Library system - RB, PQ and Carmel Mountain Ranch branches

Poway Library

Friends of the Poway Library

Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo

Kiwanis Club of Poway and The Ranches

Villa de Vida

Friends of Poway Seniors

North County Special Needs Community Foundation

RB Spirit of the 4th Parade

Fiesta de los Peñasquitos by Rancho Peñasquitos Town Council

Old Poway Park Halloween

Hospice of San Diego - located in Poway

Poway Community Food Connection

Friends of Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve

Rancho Bernardo Senior Services

Volunteer at Children’s Paradise in Poway!

Match with Other Volunteer Opportunities Match with Other Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer Match

Just Serve

Hands On San Diego

Diploma Recognition for Contributions to our Community Diploma Recognition for Contributions to our Community

State Seal of Civic Engagement - High School Diploma

Volunteering - it's good for you and our community!

Volunteer Opportunities within PUSD's neighborhoods

Match with Other Volunteer Opportunities

Diploma Recognition for Contributions to our Community