Volunteer Opportunities for Long Beach Visitors

Travelers and conventioneers are increasingly looking for opportunities to give back to the communities they visit. If you are planning a visit to Long Beach, here are some ways you can have a positive impact and benefit the community and its environment. Long Beach thanks you for doing good during your stay!

FOOD FINDERS

Food Finders is a Long Beach nonprofit that works to reduce food waste and hunger in the community by rescuing surplus food and distributing it to food pantries. During the school year, Food Finders’ Food4Kids program fills boxes of food for distribution to Long Beach schools for students in need. Volunteers are also needed to help with distributing food boxes at local parks on Wednesdays and every fourth Saturday. Visitors to the city or corporate groups can sign up to help fill and distribute boxes by contacting Volunteer Coordinator Stephen Gomez at sgomez@foodfinders.org.

WETLANDS HABITAT RESTORATION

Helping protect wetlands habitats is one of the most significant things you can do on a visit to California. The state has lost 90 percent of its historical wetlands areas, and those that remain are threatened by development, pollution, and invasive species. On the first Saturday of every month at 10:30 AM, volunteers of all ages can join naturalists and educators from the Aquarium of the Pacific at the Los Cerritos Wetlands (6720 Pacific Coast Hwy, Seal Beach) to remove weeds and protect rare native plants. Visit the Aquarium’s website to register. In exchange for your efforts, participants are eligible to win Aquarium admission tickets and other prizes.

PARK RESTORATION

Willow Springs Park (2745 Orange Ave) has a long history as an important site in Long Beach, but after oil was discovered nearby, the land became degraded over time. The City of Long Beach Office of Climate Action and Sustainability has been working to restore the land since 2017 and hosts a monthly volunteer opportunity at Willow Springs Park. Restoration Fridays take place on the second Friday of each month from 2 to 3:30 PM. Volunteers can assist with watering and tending to native plants, pulling invasive plants, picking up litter, mulching, and trail maintenance. For more information, send an email to sustainability@longbeach.gov.

BEACH CLEAN-UP

Anyone can take part in a quick beach clean-up any day, any time to help keep trash out of the ocean and protect wildlife in Long Beach. Birds, fish, and even sea turtles living in our local waters are particularly vulnerable to ingesting trash, which can be damaging or even fatal. However, if you want to join a group and see your impact on a larger scale, local community organizer Justin Rudd holds a monthly clean-up every third Saturday at 10AM at Granada Beach (5000 E Ocean Blvd) in Belmont Shore. Trash bags, gloves, and refreshments are provided.

HYDROBIKE BAY CLEAN-UP

Sure, you can pick up trash on the beach, but why not get a free ride out of your efforts? Help pick up trash floating in the bay from a hydrobike! Long Beach Waterbikes (164 N Marina Dr) hosts monthly clean-up events on the last Sunday each month in partnership with Algalita Marine Research and Education, which provides the buckets and nets for capturing trash. After the clean-up, you can receive a discount at local businesses around the marina, including BYO Long Beach, Wax Stash, Keene Yacht Management, and Malainey’s Irish Bar. Visit the Long Beach Waterbikes website to register as spaces are limited.

About the Author

Claire Atkinson

Claire Atkinson is a Southern California native who has lived in Long Beach for 20 years. She spends her free time visiting local parks, farmers markets, and museums, and loves learning about Long Beach history and culture.