From recreation activities to crisis intervention, volunteers play a key role in the success of many programs and services in the City of San Diego. During National Volunteer Week, April 21 through 27, the City is highlighting the impact of the 1,500 volunteers who served over the past year.

In 2023, City volunteers contributed more than 140,000 hours of their time to make San Diego a better place. Through the City’s Volunteer, Internship and Work Readiness Program, here are some of the ways volunteers offered support:

• Crisis Interventionists served more than 21,000 hours helping residents experiencing traumatic events.
• Volunteers in Parks and Recreation’s AgeWell Services supported older San Diegans with nearly 7,000 hours.
• The Retired Senior Volunteer Patrol spent almost 40,000 hours helping keep neighborhoods safe.
• AmeriCorps VISTA volunteers spent 5,200 hours working on the Promise Zone initiative in Southeast San Diego.
• Community events and activities such as the Library’s Summer Reading Program, Parks and Recreation’s Movies in the Park and the City of San Diego’s December Nights couldn’t succeed without volunteers. 

National Volunteer Week is a celebration of those who give their time and service to build a better future. President Joe Biden issued a proclamation in honor of this nationwide event, calling on Americans to volunteer in service projects across the country and pledge to make service a part of their daily lives.

Anyone interested in volunteering this week can join the City of San Diego’s Arbor Day celebration and help plant a tree at Memorial Community Park. The Transportation Department is looking for 250 volunteers for the event this Friday, April 26. To sign up, visit the Arbor Day webpage and click the link to register.

To learn more about volunteer opportunities at the City, visit the Volunteer Opportunities webpage.