Introduction to Volunteering

It is next to impossible to volunteer in Encino - there's no one coordinating efforts or outreach. Only the churches and temples have anything organized and they tend to be perceived by outsiders as exclusionary. I recommend you participate in the twice-a-year clean-up of the LA River. The last scheduled clean-ups were in April, organized by Friends of the LA River (FOLAR) - their website is here - and in September, organized by Heal the Bay - their website is here. I participate in the April one.

With both events you need to get a liability waiver. Choose the "Sepulveda Basin" for the location. The base of operations is just off Balboa Blvd, on the northeast side of the river.

If, instead, you are interested in volunteering for our local churches and temples, they all run food banks in the Valley and they sometimes need part-time drivers and part-time staff. Each church or temple collects food donations from their members and they store them temporarily. The next step involves transporting it to a food bank. They also need a supply of volunteers to staff the office and hand out food and clothing. Obviously it's difficult if you have a full-time job, and perhaps you could be more effective by donating food.

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If you are interested in donating, here is what one food bank requires (the others are similar):

PLASTIC BAGS (so people can take the items home)

BABY FOOD

CEREAL & BOXED CEREAL

CANNED SOUP & CANNED VEGGIES

COOKING OIL

CUPS-OF-SOUP

DRY POWDERED MILK

EGGS

FRESH MILK

LUNCH MEAT

BOXED MACARONI & CHEESE

PASTA

PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY

PINTO BEANS

POP-TOP CANNED FOODS

RICE

SPAGETTI &  SPAGETTI SAUCE

SPAM

TUNA

VIENNA SAUSAGE

TOOTHPASTE

TOWELS/WASHCLOTHS

DIAPERS

SHAMPOO

BAR SOAP

LAUNDRY SOAP

FEMININE HYGIENE ITEMS

I have also seen large donations of fruits and breads although you might want to call first about anything perishable.

Everything can be dropped off at your local churches or temples. Again, call first.