The city of Long Beach has launched a “Season of Giving” campaign to encourage volunteer opportunities and donations this holiday season and throughout the winter.
Here are some options they recommend:
Volunteer time
- GP God’s People Care Packages and Blankets of Love needs help creating hygiene kits for their December hygiene and shoes outreach event.
- Long Beach Community Table is looking for help with their weekly food deliveries and mobile food bank. Volunteer opportunities can be found here.
- Transitions in Motherhood has a monthly donation and hot meals program benefitting families with young children. Sign up to volunteer here.
- Food Finders needs help supporting their network of food delivery to local hot-meal and food pantries. Volunteer information can be found here.
- Precious Lamb needs help with their donation center for homeless families and children. Specialized volunteer opportunities are also available for people who are certified to work with children.
- St. Luke’s Episcopal Church provides free showers, laundry service and clothing for people experiencing homelessness. They need help with their Saturday meal distribution.
Other ways to give
A donation drive-thru event is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 16 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the health department main facility at 2525 Grand Avenue. Residents can schedule a drop-off time by calling 562-570-4586.
The city is looking for these types of donations:
- S, M, L, XL or XXL men’s and women’s sweatshirts, pants, coats, socks, blankets, umbrellas, shoes
- S, M, L, XL or XXL men’s and women’s underwear, sweatpants, beanies, scarves, caps, hoodies, towels
- Holiday-themed gifts are also welcomed
- Hygiene kits or house-warming gift kits from the Multi-Service Center Amazon wish list
- Welcome home kits with some of the suggested items above and a hand-written motivating message to go in the kit
- Backpacks filled with items such as hand warmers, flashlights, battery packs, batteries (usually D batteries), emergency blankets and charging cables
- Pet care kits including things like pet food, treats, collars, leashes, pet toys or collapsible pet bowls
- Food items like canned food (and small, manual can openers), bottled drinks like juices or water, and snacks such as granola bars or power bars, instant oatmeal and instant soup.
No gift cards will be accepted at drive-thru events, but gift cards can be donated to the Multi-Service Center where physical donations will be distributed. Donations received will also be available to local partner organizations to distribute to their networks and service outreach.
Donation drop-off bins can be found at all Long Beach Public Library locations during regular business hours, as well as the Boys and Girls Club of Long Beach on Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Scherer Park Community Center Mondays through Fridays from 3 to 6 p.m.
Tax-deductible monetary donations can be made by credit card or check to the Mayor’s Fund for Homeless Action, which helps fund grants to Long Beach organizations addressing the needs of the homelessness crisis.
For organizations interested in receiving donations to distribute, email [email protected].