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 will be empowered and changed through service. From corporate sponsorships and legacy gifts to community food drives and reward points donations, there is a donor option to suit almost any individual or group.
Donors support our mission to touch hearts and open minds by putting empathy into action where care is needed most. Contributions have a direct impact on thousands of community members, including underserved children, by addressing hunger and 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
- Waitlisted schools for the Operation Teddy Bear schoolbags
- Waitlisted students for our teen programs
- Waitlisted schools with families that need Food for Kids meals
- Additional items such as healthy snacks, and social-emotional wellness tools for Operation Teddy Bear
- Additional holiday events gift distributions for our nonprofit partners
- Expansion of our Empathy In Action events to serve more youth
How to Contribute Financially
We accept many types of donations. 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.
Donations can be set up as automatic monthly contributions, to ensure that we can provide help where care is needed most every month of the year. Monthly donors are recognized in our monthly eNewsletter.
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, to the attention of Jon Phelps.
Transfer of stock – We accept stock transfer donations through our brokerage account with Vanguard. Contact Josh@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.
Grants and Sponsorships
Support for a Kind and Connected Community
Our donor programs are built around priority grants and scholarships that bring the community together in a continuous cycle of care. Our sponsorship priority is the Engaging Hearts and Minds (EH&M) initiative. Supporting EH&M allows sponsors to show families and children that their community is a place of empathy and care. With increased support, we can reach over 10,000 families and youth each year. Supporting EH&M allows sponsors to show families and children that their community is a place of empathy and care. With increased support, we can reach over 10,000 families and youth each year.
The annual program cost for EH&M is more than $1 million, primarily for materials, volunteer management, outreach, evaluation, and program staff. Our major funding typically stems from donations and grants made by corporations, nonprofit foundations, and government organizations (including the City of Torrance and Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach). Program fees for the Court-Referred Community Service program also form a portion of our budget. Like many organizations, the COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant decline in revenue.
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:
- New packages of 16 or 24 count Crayola crayons
- School supplies such as colored pencils, watercolors, markers, rulers, and coloring books
- New children’s books
- Breakfast items (cereal, granola bars)
- Peanut Butter & Jelly
- Shelf-stable fruit (canned fruit, raisins)
- Meal components (pasta, canned vegetables, canned meat)
- Travel-sized toothpaste
- Youth sized toothbrushes
- New, unwrapped toys, puzzles, and games for youth
How to Drop Off a Donation
We accept donation drop-offs Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. from individuals experiencing no signs or symptoms of COVID-19.
If you would like to make special arrangements for after-hours donations, or a donation larger than a standard vehicle, please email jon@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.
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.
It’s important to connect with our team first to confirm our immediate needs. 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 and collection box, considering an “impact day” at the office or in-store drive at a grocery outlet, and offering an opportunity to package up the donations with your fellow volunteers.
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.
