Volunteer Close to Home
Poway Unified School District
Psychology Today: Volunteering Benefits the Health and Wellness of Kids and Teens
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:
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!
Saturday, October 24 | 3:00–8:45 p.m.
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
Ride Above Disability Therapeutic Riding Center
Prior experience with horses or disabilities is not required. Minimum age is 14+
Assist in horse care
Participate in lessons
Build community
15529 Sycamore Canyon Road Poway CA 92064
Contact Miriam Libonati-Bitton
858-209-5662
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
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
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
City of Poway Teen Volunteer Program
- in high school (grades 9-12)?
- able to volunteer at least 20 hours over the course of a year?
- ready to make new friends?
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.
POWPAC: The Poway Performing Arts Company
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
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
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
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
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
Event & Volunteer Coordinator
Beth Galloway
858-254-0420
Villa 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
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
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.
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.