Groups of 10 or less are needed to support our everyday activities. We can work with you to come up with a service opportunity that is most appropriate to your group’s goals and size. Opportunities include:
- Food preparation in our Kitchen – Help us prepare the 650+ hot meals we serve daily.
- Pantry service – Pack bags and distribute groceries to our clients.
- Kids Closet – Help sort clothes and stock our free children’s clothing store.
Shifts are from 9am – 12, or 1 – 4pm, Monday through Friday at our main San Mateo site on Pacific Blvd.

Setting up a monthly volunteer opportunity for your group is a great way to build team synergy as well as a sustaining partnership with us. We can reserve a regularly scheduled morning, afternoon or early evening shift each month for a team of between 3 and 10 in one of our programs. Over the course of a year, this means many more people can have the opportunity to volunteer. Example opportunities include:
- Service in our Kitchen, Pantry, Kids Closet, Administration, Food Pharmacy or Healthcare Clinics
- Coaching in our Financial Empowerment Program
- Helping to serve the evening meal at our Dining Room between 4 and 6:30pm
- Serving dinner and hosting an enrichment activity (such as game nights, karaoke, technology training, resume building, etc.) at our Safe Harbor Shelter.
At-Your-Site opportunities are a great way to provide a meaningful teambuilding experience to a larger group at your facility. Examples of these events have included bike building, backpack stuffing and various kit making events. Since there is a materials cost to these events, we do ask that you provide a budget for the purchase of the relevant materials. Please email us to learn more about this opportunity.
Teams of 5-25 are needed in December to help at our Holiday Program Toy Shop. More than 3,500 children come each year to this event at the San Mateo Events Center and receive toys, coats, books and other age-appropriate gifts. Corporate teams are instrumental in setting up the Toy Shop (a winter wonderland!) and handing out the gifts. To learn more about this popular opportunity, email us around October 1st.