Volunteering in Bell Gardens, California - 7-Day Itinerary

• Day 1 - Los Angeles Food Bank: Start your trip with volunteering at the Los Angeles Food Bank, the largest food bank in the country. Spend your day distributing food, sorting donations, and learning how the food bank operates in order to support those struggling with hunger.
• Day 2 - Save the Beach: Spend your day at the beach while making an impact on the environment by joining Save the Beach. Participate in beach cleanups and learn about how to reduce marine pollution.
• Day 3 - Habitat for Humanity: Join Habitat for Humanity and give back by volunteering on a local build site in Bell Gardens. Learn construction skills as you work alongside other volunteers to build affordable housing for deserving families.
• Day 4 - The Gentle Barn: Take a break from hard labor and visit The Gentle Barn, a sanctuary that rescues and rehabilitates abused and neglected animals. Spend your day feeding animals, cleaning barns or stables, and learning about animal welfare.
• Day 5 - Union Rescue Mission: Head back to LA and join the Union Rescue Mission. This organization helps and supports people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles by offering food, shelter, and medical care. Help in the community kitchen, distribute donations, or participate in the yearly Thanksgiving celebration.
• Day 6 - The Midnight Mission: Spend a day volunteering with The Midnight Mission, an organization dedicated to helping people experiencing homelessness in LA. Assist in the kitchen, participate in people's clothing donations, and lend a hand in the social enterprise building.
• Day 7 - Heal the Bay: Round out your trip with Heal the Bay, another non-profit organization dedicated to revitalizing and protecting the water and environment of Southern California. Participate in cleanups or learn about their monitoring programs.

Time and Costs Estimates

• Los Angeles Food Bank (4 hours, free)
• Save the Beach (5 hours, free)
• Habitat for Humanity (6 hours, free)
• The Gentle Barn (5 hours, $22 admission fee)
• Union Rescue Mission (5 hours, free)
• The Midnight Mission (5 hours, free)
• Heal the Bay (4 hours, free)
Total Estimated Costs: $22 (only for admission fee on Day 4)

Transportation

You will need a car to get around Bell Gardens and Los Angeles. You can rent a car at the airport for an average price of $50 per day. For public transportation, you can use the Los Angeles Metro Rail or the Los Angeles County bus system. The Metro Rail costs $1.75 per ride, while the bus system costs $1.75 to $2.50 depending on the zone of travel.

Useful Tips

If you have more time, consider volunteering with organizations such as LA Animal Services, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, or the LA LGBT Center. If you have less time, choose the volunteering activities that inspire you the most and spend the rest of your time visiting local attractions such as the Griffith Observatory, Universal Studios Hollywood, or the Getty Center.

Airports

The nearest airport to Bell Gardens is the Long Beach Airport (LGB), which is 10 miles away, followed by Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), which is 17 miles away from Bell Gardens. John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Santa Ana is another option, 28 miles away.