Arcadia, California - Volunteering in 3 Days

• Day 1:
  • Arcadia Wilderness Park - Spend a morning helping with trail maintenance on one of the park's many hiking trails.

  Arcadia Wilderness Park offers a beautiful escape from the city and a chance to give back to the environment. Spend a morning working with park staff and other volunteers to maintain hiking trails and preserve the natural habitat.

  • Los Angeles Regional Food Bank - Spend an afternoon sorting and packing food donations to distribute to those in need.

  The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank provides access to nutritious food for those in need in the greater Los Angeles area. Spend an afternoon giving back by sorting and packing food donations to distribute to local shelters and feeding programs.

• Day 2:
  • The Gentle Barn - Spend a morning helping with animal care tasks at this sanctuary for rescued farm animals.

  The Gentle Barn provides a safe haven for rescued farm animals and offers educational programs for visitors of all ages. Spend a morning helping with animal care tasks such as feeding and cleaning pens alongside staff and other volunteers.

  • The Union Station Homeless Services Adult Center - Spend an afternoon helping with meal preparation and service for individuals experiencing homelessness.

  The Union Station Homeless Services Adult Center provides a variety of services to individuals experiencing homelessness, including meal service. Spend an afternoon helping prepare and serve a meal for guests alongside staff and other volunteers.

• Day 3:
  • Pasadena Humane Society and SPCA - Spend a morning helping with animal care tasks at this animal shelter.

  The Pasadena Humane Society and SPCA provides temporary shelter and medical care for animals in need, and works to find them permanent homes. Spend a morning helping with animal care tasks such as feeding and socializing with animals alongside shelter staff and other volunteers.

  • Heal the Bay Beach Cleanup - Spend an afternoon participating in a beach cleanup with this nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the ocean and coastal communities.

  Heal the Bay is a nonprofit organization dedicated to keeping Southern California's coastal communities and marine environments healthy and clean. Spend an afternoon participating in a beach cleanup alongside staff and other volunteers.

Time and Costs Estimates

• Arcadia Wilderness Park (4 hours, free)
• Los Angeles Regional Food Bank (3 hours, free)
• The Gentle Barn (4 hours, $50 donation)
• Union Station Homeless Services Adult Center (3 hours, free)
• Pasadena Humane Society and SPCA (4 hours, free)
• Heal the Bay Beach Cleanup (3 hours, free)
Total Estimated Costs: $50 donation to The Gentle Barn

Transportation

While Arcadia itself is a relatively small city, some of the volunteering locations may require a car or public transportation to reach. It is recommended that volunteers either rent a car or use ride-sharing services such as Uber or Lyft to get around to each location. Estimated travel costs are approximately $100-150 for three days.

Useful tips

If you have more time, consider visiting nearby attractions such as the Santa Anita Park racetrack or the Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. If you have less time, consider choosing two or three volunteering locations to prioritize and spend more time at each one.

Airports

The closest airport to Arcadia is the Bob Hope Airport (BUR) in Burbank, located approximately 20 miles away from the city center. Other airports in the area include the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), located approximately 30 miles away from Arcadia, and the Long Beach Airport (LGB), located approximately 35 miles away.