VOLUNTEER

Youth Assistance Coalition is a predominantly volunteer-run organization. Without our volunteers, we would not be able to help break the pattern of youth homelessness.

Help us empower San Diego’s homeless youth by working alongside community partners, corporate sponsors, and donors to provide outreach, essential supplies, and access to life-changing resources for youth experiencing homelessness.

Volunteer Opportunities

We welcome volunteers 18 and older for the following roles:

  • Marketing – Create social media posts, email newsletters, and multimedia content to share our mission.
  • Grant Research & Writing – Research funding opportunities, organize materials, and assist with proposal writing.
  • Outreach – Join evening street teams to connect with youth, distribute supplies, and offer support.
  • Drop-In Center – Engage with youth, help with meals and donations, maintain facilities, and provide resources.

Volunteer Schedule

  • Drop-In Center: Sunday–Friday, starting at 5:00 PM
  • Outreach: Monday–Thursday, starting at 5:30 PM

Volunteers help with education, housing resources, IDs, tutoring, meals, and more. We also support a local safe lot where donors provide dinners to residents.

How to Get Started

  1. Submit your contact information below.
  2. Check your email and complete the Volunteer Application.
  3. We’ll schedule an informal virtual interview with our Outreach & Office Director, Melody Vazquez.
  4. Once approved, submit a background check through AmericanChecked Screening Solutions.
  5. Complete the required CA Mandated Reporter Training (about 2 hours) and send us your certificate.

If you are interested in volunteering, please fill out the following:










Hire a Youth

A significant barrier for youth experiencing homelessness is maintaining employment. Complicating factors such as transportation challenges, housing instability, and past trauma can negatively impact a motivated youth. We are looking to increase partnerships with small businesses and local companies who are interested in assisting with job placement, skills training, or paid internships in San Diego for these determined young people. This is a fulfilling opportunity for employers to empower youth and teach life-long skills for self-sufficiency. While engaged in our services, youth will also receive assistance from volunteers to process any work-related challenges that arise. Will you help the youth of San Diego?

CONTACT US

DONATE

If you’d like to donate money to Youth Assistance Coalition,
you can donate online with a credit card here:

Donate

Or you can mail a check payable to Youth Assistance Coalition to:2801 B Street #238
San Diego, CA 92102

Donate Personal Items

Due to our limited storage capacity, we can only accept items that we can use immediately. Unfortunately, we do not have the capacity to wash or clean items. We are accepting gently used, clean, youth appropriate clothing. We are only accepting very gently used, clean youth appropriate clothing. Unfortunately, we do not have the capacity to wash or clean any items.

Items that are always needed include blankets, sleeping bags, tents, hand sanitizer, new socks (mens/womens), new underwear (mens/womens), sunblock, deodorant, hairbrushes, backpacks, gift cards (fast food, clothing, Target, Costco, Payless, etc), and mens/youth jeans/shorts (sizes 32-36, gently used ok).

We are also always in need of outreach snack bags. Just place the following in a gallon Ziploc (most items can be found at the dollar store, Costco or your local grocery store):

• Tuna kits, chicken salad kits, canned meat (Vienna sausages, etc.)
• Fruit cup/dried fruit
• Fruit snacks
• Trail mix
• Chips
• Other snacks
• Fork/spoon/napkin

For more information or to arrange drop-off, please call 619-458-6588 or e-mail info@yacsd.orgsd.org

Thank you for thinking of Youth Assistance Coalition.

Donate With Smile

Designate Youth Assistance Coalition as your charitable organization on Amazon Smile! Go to smile.amazon.com and search for “Youth Assistance Coalition” where it asks you to choose your organization. Select “Youth Assistance Coalition and Just Call Us Volunteers” from the list of organizations, and voila! As long as you remember to go to smile.amazon.com when making purchases, a percentage of your eligible purchases will be donated to Youth Assistance Coalition.

Youth Assistance Coalition is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization. Your tax-deductible donation will help support Youth Assistance Coalition activities.

MENTOR

mentor

Mentoring continues to be in high demand for the youth engaged with YAC. Our mentoring program is designed to link interested youth with a positive volunteer role-model who can provide collaborative support and guidance. Youth have reported benefits to receiving mentoring including improved grades, reduced use of substances, and increased openness to employment. YAC’s mentoring program utilizes evidence-based practices including mentee screening for safety, mandatory mentor training, and research-informed matching strategies. Check out our mentor position and apply today!

JOIN OUR E-MAIL LIST

Want to get periodic updates from Youth Assistance Coalition? Sign up for our e-mail list below!

Your privacy is very important to us. We will only use your information to provide you periodic updates
about our activities. We will not share or sell your information to third parties.