Open the Umbrella of Care
At the Volunteer Center, there are many ways of supporting our mission to build an umbrella of care for our community. We believe that whether our donors are individuals, community, or corporate groups, they can multiply the impact of their gift by supporting our volunteer-led services.
Your gift, no matter its size, will have a direct impact on thousands of community members, including underserved children, by addressing food scarcity, educational inequity, social and emotional wellness, and more. Donations also support transformational experiences in the lives of volunteers.
Make a Donation. Make a Change.
DONATE TODAY
Top Priorities for Donations
Food Insecurity – 25% of LA County residents and nearly 41% of low income families are facing food insecurity. Our Food For Kids weekend meals program is currently serving 17 Title I schools, and our community pantries in Torrance and Long Beach are open 3 days a week.
Education Equity – we provide literacy bags to first graders in title-1 schools, because students need access to resources like books, crayons and math tools. The stats unforutnately are alarming, over 56% are not meeting reading proficency standards in LAUSD and neighboring districts. Together, we can address these challenges one class room at a time.
How to Contribute Financially
To provide a financial gift in support of our mission, community members and volunteers, contribute a one-time gift or become one of our beloved monthly donors.
Additional donation methods:
Checks – Make checks payable to the “Volunteer Center,” with “donation” in the memo field. Please mail to: 1230 Cravens Avenue Torrance, CA 90501
Transfer of stock – We accept stock transfer donations through our brokerage account with Vanguard. Contact us at info@volcenter.org for process and account instructions.
Tax Deductions
The Volunteer Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and our EIN is 95-2301600. All online donations receive an immediate thank you email that can be used for tax purposes.
Subject to the guidance of individual tax experts in each case, our donors are eligible to claim individual and corporate deductions for monetary contributions as applicable. In-kind food and item donations also prompt a tax deduction and receipts are available upon request. If you need another copy of your receipt, please send an email request to info@volcenter.org with your name, amount, and date of donation.
Sponsorship Tiers
To discuss sponsorship details, please contact our president/CEO Josh Gezahegn at Josh@volcenter.org.
Visionary
Partner
Supporter
Friend
Donation Drives
In-Kind Donations
In-kind donations given by individuals and groups in support of the Volunteer Center benefit thousands of under-resourced families and children in our community, through our Food for Kids and Operation Teddy Bear programs. We distribute food and health-related products to low-income students in collaboration with our nonprofit partners in the South Bay and Harbor areas weekly – wherever the need is greatest. In addition to hands-on food drive initiatives, we also accept major donations and hands-on volunteer drives from businesses to amplify the care provided and create a meaningful experience for contributing teams.
What We Need Most:
- Breakfast items (cereal, granola bars)
- Peanut Butter & Jelly
- Shelf-stable fruit (canned fruit, raisins)
- Meal components (pasta, canned vegetables, canned meat)
- Youth-sized toothbrushes (individually wrapped)
- Standard orange pencils
- 8-count Crayola Crayons
- Primary composition notebooks
How to Organize a Donation Drive
One of the most hands-on ways to assist the Food for Kids or Operation Teddy Bear programs, and to be empowered and inspired by a volunteer experience, leverage your impact by holding a donation drive for your organization, business, or neighborhood.
When organizing a drive, we encourage you to follow best practices established for a successful drive including:
- Spreading the word through social media posts
- Posting a sign with the mission and items needed
- Set a creative collection box
- Create fun team competitions for a good cause
We also encourage teams to consider establishing a final “impact day” at the office or warehouse and offering an opportunity to package up the donations for delivery with your fellow volunteers.
Feel free to always connect with our team first and confirm current needs.
How to Drop Off Donations
We accept donation drop-offs Monday through Friday from 9 am – 5 pm at our Torrance office, 1230 Cravens Ave, Torrance, CA 90501.
If you would like to make special arrangements for after-hours donations, or a donation larger than a standard vehicle, please email info@volcenter.org or call (310) 212-5009 to make an appointment so we can ensure enough volunteers and carts to help you unload. We will count and/or weigh your donation, and you may receive a receipt copy upon request.
Help Us When You Shop
Individual donors can make an impactful empathetic gesture toward our community simply by shopping. Configure your accounts to share community and matching rewards with us. At Ralph’s and Food for Less, simply visit your online account and select the Community Rewards tab, where you can search for and add “Volunteer Center South Bay.”
Bestow a Legacy Gift
Supporting our community through programs that build empathy and resilience is an enduring legacy. For this reason, we established the De De Hicks Legacy Endowment Campaign to honor our former CEO. To discuss the establishment of a named endowment and/or gift through a will or trust, please contact our current president/CEO Josh Gezahegn at 310 212-5009 or info@volcenter.org
Upon request, an endowment can be directed to support a single initiative, program or scholarship.
Our Valued Sponsors
Without these generous organizations, we would not be able to provide the umbrella of care that our programs, volunteers, and community members create together.
