Each year, over 200 volunteers participate in providing life-changing services to homeless youth at My Friend's Place. We would love to have you join our family!

Please click here to meet our Volunteers of the Month for 2008!

Volunteer Opportunities for Groups:

Groups require a team leader who will meet with our volunteer coordinator prior to the event. All group members will be oriented the day of the event. Limits on the size of a group will be determined by the volunteer activity.

Serve a Meal: Serve a special meal to the youth. Group members donate to cover the cost, we order the food and you serve! Approximate $150 total to serve 60 youth.

Beautify our Safe Haven: Help out by organizing clothing, cleaning or painting.

Gardening: We have flower beds and planters that need a green thumb. Groups bring flowers, plants, and planting soil as a donation.



Volunteer Opportunities for Individuals:

MFP Lunch Special (held monthly): If you are unable to make an ongoing commitment but still want to help out, this is your chance to make a difference. Volunteers will receive a tour of MFP, meet staff, and serve a special meal to homeless youth. We ask volunteers to pitch in $15 each to cover the cost of food.

Volunteer Members: We need individual volunteers who can make an on-going commitment in the following areas of need:

Administrative/Fundraising: Help us build awareness about homeless youth through data entry, bulk mailings, and special events.

Resource Center: Help build trust with our youth by serving lunches, playing board games, conducting art projects or assisting in workshop facilitation.

Educational Workshops: Share a special talent or skill with our youth. Assist or direct workshops ranging from employment and education to the arts.


Volunteer Opportunities for the Community:

Drives that collect items for homeless youth are a great way to build community spirit in your office or on your school campus. All you need is a barrel or box and a little publicity. We will supply MFP literature for you to hand out and arrange for your group to tour the center. Collected items must be delivered to MFP. All donations are tax deductibele.

Shoe Drive: Improper footwear is often the cause of serious health problems and a barrier to employment. Our greatest need is sturdy, men's shoes sizes 10 and higher.

Clothing & Hygiene Supply Drive: Every day our youth need clean, casual clothing to help build their self-esteem and their ability to achieve their goals. Our greatest need are sizes XL and up and men's casual clothing.

Canned Food Drive: Last year over 80 homeless youth moved off the streets. As they struggle to make ends meet, we help them by providing canned items and other non-perishable food such as tuna fish, soup, peanut butter and bottled water.

Gift Drive: For a variety of holidays, we give every homeless youth a new gift. An extensive wish list can be provided and includes: gift certificates for food, clothing or movies, backpacks & blankets, and CDs.

Educational and Recreational Supply Drive: We offer a variety of educational and recreational activities. We are in need of school supplies, art supplies, DVDs (rated PG-13 or lower), and board games.


How do I Volunteer at MFP?

We are thrilled to have you join our team to make a difference in the lives of 1,000 homeless youth each year!

To get started…

Abbie recently relocated from Dallas to Pasadena, and was first inspired to volunteer soon after witnessing a woman near to her grandmother’s age digging in a dumpster. “I made her a sandwich and gave her a bottle of water but I felt like I could be doing something more to help people like that in need.”

Abbie found that “something more” at My Friend’s Place. She is drawn to MFP because she likes the idea of early intervention to give young people a better chance at turning their lives around. Abbie also appreciates MFP’s openness and acceptance of all people who access services and enjoys being exposed to the diverse client population.

As a bimonthly volunteer, Abbie spends most of her time in the Sunday Internet Workshop.  She says of the workshop, “To be able to do anything from apply for a job, to message a friend or loved one on MySpace, just shows how diverse each client’s needs may be, and I think it’s great that MFP is open to those varying needs.”

Abbie continues to volunteer at MFP because of the one-on-one connections she is able to form with the youth she meets through Internet Workshop. One of Abbie’s fondest memories to date happened one day when the internet was down and she played Connect Four with a young female client who had signed up for Internet Workshop. The computer malfunction allowed her to get to know the client on a more personal level – to learn more about her struggles, future plans and dreams. For Abbie, it’s the times of improvisation at MFP that produces the most meaningful experiences.

 

February:  Tiffany

Tiffany has been facilitating our music workshop since June of 2007. She first started doing volunteer work as a way of giving back and providing the same type of support and mentorship that she was able to receive as a young person. “I’ve found that if you can give just a little of your time and yourself, it can help someone else in a big way.” Even though Tiffany finds herself busy with the demands of everyday life she sees volunteering as a priority because of the rewards it brings when, “you step out of your routines and your comfort zone, and interact with people you wouldn’t otherwise.”

Tiffany chose to volunteer at My Friend’s Place so that she could provide music education to an underserved population. Since high school she has been teaching piano but in the recent years had tapered off her teaching efforts. MFP’s Music Workshop renewed her passion for music education and engaging young people through the arts. “I’ve always felt strongly that music education should be available to everyone, not just kids who have parents that can afford lessons, so I wanted to do my small part in helping to change that.”

One of Tiffany’s most memorable moments at MFP was when she found herself alone in music workshop with a client that was usually reserved and quite. The client felt comfortable opening up to Tiffany in the one-on-one situation and was able to express her pain through singing. It was emotional for Tiffany to sit there and listen to this unveiling and it was an important step for the client in her healing process.

Tiffany does an amazing job making the Music Workshop a non-judgmental space where the young people can express themselves while stepping away from the context of the rest of their lives. “There is some amazing raw talent, and for some of them, music is their lifeline, so it’s really a privilege for me to be there encouraging them. My goal is that they come away feeling that whatever they are is okay, and that they take with them that ability to find moments of peace and happiness – no matter what else is going on.”