Make a resolution to volunteer!
We’re several weeks into 2023, which means it’s a great time to check in on those New Year’s resolutions. If you haven’t made one yet, we’ve got a great suggestion for you – spend some time volunteering with Valley Village!
A volunteer group is all smiles at Valley Village!
There are so many great reasons to volunteer: it raises self-esteem, it helps foster new friendships and connections, it makes a community stronger, and it teaches transferable skills that can be used in any environment. If you’re new to the neighborhood, it’s a fantastic way to meet new people and feel connected to your new community. When you volunteer at Valley Village, you aren’t only building lasting relationships with staff and your fellow volunteers – you’re also building those bridges with the clients we serve.
Clients and volunteers decorate ornaments together at our holiday party.
Valley Village offers a variety of ways to get involved at a volunteer level. One of our most popular programs is our Super Saturday events. Super Saturdays are held once a month, always on a Saturday, and our goal is to provide an opportunity for clients to use their social and daily living skills by engaging with volunteers at local museums, festivals, and events. Our most recent Super Saturday took place at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, where clients completed a scavenger hunt and saw dinosaur bones, rocks and minerals, and a special exhibit honoring the development of Los Angeles. In December, we threw a holiday party at the local Elks Club lodge, where clients danced, decorated their own ornaments, and received a visit from Santa! One of our upcoming opportunities will be a trip to Descanso Gardens on Saturday, February 25th. Valley Village covers the cost of admission for all volunteers.
Clients and volunteers worked on a scavenger hunt at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles!
Once a quarter, we also throw a Community At Large event, and no other program in the greater Los Angeles area currently offers this engagement opportunity for adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities! Community at Large is similar to Super Saturdays, but it is open to all people with developmental disabilities in the area, not only Valley Village residents and program participants. Community at Large provides opportunities for people with developmental disabilities and challenges to meet and socialize. It also allows family members and caregivers a chance to interact with each other. We recruit volunteers to engage with our clients and people from other programs, making the experience even more rewarding for everyone involved.
We also have weekly Valley Village volunteer opportunities! On Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9am to 11am on a rotating schedule, our day programs take one to two clients out into the community to places like the park, the mall, the library and more to engage and interact with members of the community and maintain their gross motor skills. It’s great to have volunteer accompaniment on these outings to help our clients practice their social and daily living skills.
The Creepy Carnival was all fun and games for volunteers and clients in costumes!
We also offer opportunities for groups, not just on an individual basis! Frequently, we need help with larger projects like setting up and decorating for parties, and working events like our Creepy Carnival this past October or our annual fundraiser in the spring. There’s something for every skill set, and there are always chances to develop new ones along the way. Let us help you make a great, lasting resolution for 2023! Reach out to our volunteer coordinator Stephanie Almanza at stephanie.almanza@vvc.org or 818-307-5247 to learn about our requirements, to attend a short virtual volunteer orientation session, and to learn about some of our upcoming exciting opportunities for the year!