Thanks to our local volunteers for their time and involvement supporting the community! Your contributions help our community be a place where people with all backgrounds and income levels can thrive.

Are you looking to give back to your Redwood City community? Join thousands of Redwood City volunteers who have contributed over 200,000 hours of service!

We have lots of local organizations ready for your support. Below are a few of the organizations making our community run that are open for volunteers. Make an impact in the community by volunteering today!

City Boards, Commissions, and Committees

Members of boards, commissions, and committees assist our City Council to make the best, most informed decisions possible, for the benefit of the entire Redwood City community. The advisory and regulatory bodies generally meet once a month (in a few cases they only meet quarterly). They're great opportunities to lend your unique voice to our local government. Click here to learn more about open seats and to apply.

Looking for other ways to get involved?

Check out our community engagement page or consider a job with Redwood City.

These opportunities are great for groups! Many are also great for children and teens volunteering with parents or other responsible adults.

Parks Clean Up Crew
Volunteer with the Park Clean Up Crew to help the parks system to stay beautiful by picking up trash, rake sand, clean playground equipment, remove debris, and more. For more information about volunteer opportunities and events, go here.

Parks and Arts Foundation
Do you enjoy Redwood City’s public art and events? The Redwood City Parks and Arts Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit which advocates, advances, and develops support for parks, recreational programming, community services, cultural activities, and the arts in the Redwood City and the surrounding unincorporated areas. The foundation is a key partner in many of the City's events providing volunteers, administrative support and fundraising, and hosts its own events such as Chalk Full of Fun on the Square, Family Campout, Open Paint/CATA, and Picnic en Blanc. Show your appreciation by making a donation to the Foundation here, or sign up to volunteer at an upcoming event here. 

Pride and Beautification Committee

The Pride and Beautification Committee promotes the quality of life in Redwood City by creating, participating in, and supporting activities and programs that improve the physical and aesthetic environment of our community. The Pride and Beautification Committee meets the first Wednesday of February, May, August, and November, at 8 a.m. at City Hall. The public is encouraged to attend. Resources are available through the City Manager's office, 650-780-7207.

CityTrees

CityTrees is a volunteer-run organization in Redwood City that works with local partners and community volunteers to promote a vibrant urban canopy within our community. The team works to ensure an equitable spread of trees across all areas of our community, wherever possible. Our mission is to improve the quality of life in the greater Redwood City area through a coordinated program of education, outreach, and advocacy for tree planting, maintenance and support. We work with the Redwood City Public Works Department, local school districts and other community partners to plant and maintain trees along Redwood City's streets, schools, and other publicly owned property. Please visit citytrees.org to learn more about how you can help!

Downtown Events Volunteer

The Redwood City Parks and Arts Foundation support the City's signature events through volunteer coordination, which relies on the community to help run the events. Enjoy a variety of fun activities including Music on the Square, Picnic en Blanc, Chalk Full of Fun on the Square, Pub in the Park, and more. Signing up to volunteer for these events guarantees you won't miss out on the fun! To learn more about Downtown events, go here.

Redwood City Together

Our vision is that all people living in Redwood City and North Fair Oaks are healthy, safe and successful. We bring our community residents together with local organizations and public agencies to develop and implement a wide range of projects that are focused on addressing acute needs and building on strengths in our community. Our goals are to reduce the impact of poverty, improve the academic success of students, promote community health and wellness, increase community engagement, and enhance safety. To receive information on how to get involved sign up for our newsletter here.

Senior Events

Make a difference in your community and volunteer to work with your local seniors. For more information, contact Volunteer Coordinator Anna Carlos at 650-670-2206. You can also learn more about volunteering with seniors here.

SMC History Museum

The San Mateo County History Museum is dedicated to the collection and preservation of historical data, artifacts, and information about San Mateo County. The Museum is looking for volunteers to serve as docents, assist with family craft days, operate the used bookstore, or work on other museum projects. Teen volunteers welcome for family craft days. Contact Carmen Blair at 299-0104 ext. 233 or volunteer@historysmc.org or visit the History Museum website.

COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM (CERT)

If a disaster happened, are you prepared? Is your neighborhood? Are your loved ones?

You can be and so can they! If you care about being ready, we welcome you to come gain valuable skills and knowledge at the city’s CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) Trainings and join a community of others who care too.

Redwood City's Fire Department CERT Program is a great way for you, your family and your neighbors to join together and prepare for potential disasters such as an wildfires, earthquakes, floods and other natural disasters. Want to learn basic yet essential medical first aid, how to do search and rescue or become part of a team who wants to grow their skills and knowledge, TOGETHER? We would be excited to welcome you into our trainings. Preparedness is all our responsibility and your CERT team is the best way for you to get the hands on training you need to be prepared and learn what to do in emergency situations. All trainings are open to anyone 18 and over. Learn more here.

VOLUNTEER IN POLICE SERVICES (VIPS)

Join members of the V.I.P.S. program as they assist the Police Department to provide a high level of service to our community. Volunteers support community events, outreach, and public education presentations. Teen volunteers welcome. To learn more or get involved, visit the program website.

Fair Oaks Community Center Food Distribution

Fair Oaks Community Center is a monthly drive-through food distribution program, serving over 280 families. Families drive up to one of the three available stations to be greeted by volunteers ready to load their cars. Volunteers will support with bagging food, distributing pre-assembled boxes of groceries, cleaning up, and more. Sign up here.

HIP Housing
HIP Housing’s Mission is to invest in human potential by improving the housing and lives of people in our community. HIP Housing enables people with special needs, either from income or circumstance, to live independent, self-sufficient lives in decent, safe, low-cost homes. To achieve their mission, HIP Housing provides Home Sharing, Self-Sufficiency, Housing Readiness Programs, and Property Development. Volunteer with marketing and outreach, tutoring, translation, food distribution, and more. Learn more at Volunteer - HIP Housing

In addition to adults, all of these opportunities welcome volunteers under 18! You can find more teen volunteer opportunities on the Volunteen PRCS page.

America Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO)

Did you know that over 1,600 kids participate in Redwood City's AYSO program? Every year we have many open positions - for coaches, assistant coaches, referees, board members, etc. Your help WILL make a difference! Call 364-AYSO to volunteer or visit us online!

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula / Redwood City Clubhouse

The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula Mervin Morris branch at 1109 Hilton Street in Redwood City provides programs for youth ages 6-18 in academics, arts, athletics, technology, leadership, and more. Volunteers are sought for most programs, including individual tutors. Great volunteer options for adults, youth 14+, and groups. For more info see our volunteer webpage at https://www.bgcp.org/volunteer.

Cadet Program
The Redwood City Police Cadet Program offers local teens and young adults the chance to volunteer in the community as they explore the vocation of law enforcement. These volunteers support city events and large-scale incidents handled by the police department. The program also strives to provide participants with direction and guidance to prepare for the responsibilities of becoming a successful adult. See the Cadet webpage here for more information.

Healthy Cities Tutoring

Healthy Cities Tutoring helps kids who struggle to succeed in school. Community volunteers provide one-on-one tutoring and mentoring for children, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to improve their academic performance, engagement in learning and self-esteem. Training and support provided. Tutors of all ages are needed! We have a special program for teen tutors and provide additional training and mentoring so these valuable volunteers can learn important life skills while helping students. More information here.

Library Teen Center

The Redwood City Downtown Library has opportunities for teens to help select and put on teen programs at the Teen Center. Find more information here, or contact sdelgado@redwoodcity.org.

Pal Center

The Police Activities League runs programs for educational enrichment, sports, health and fitness, and leadership mentoring that afford youth the values, assets, and skills to succeed. You can help by donating to the program or by being a PAL (volunteer). Pal volunteer opportunities change by season, but include youth sports coaches, after-school program support, mentors for the PACE program, and setting up community events throughout the year. Learn more here.

Redwood City Education Foundation

The Redwood City Education Foundation (RCEF) promotes equitable learning for underserved students within the Redwood City School District by eliminating financial barriers and providing resources in mental health, social-emotional resilience, engagement, and academic readiness. Engaging with RCEF—whether as an education advocate, event or school volunteer, advisory member, or board director—is not just about giving back; it’s a chance to shape the community's future. To learn more, visit rcef.org/get-involved.

YOUTH & TEEN ADVISORY BOARDS

The Youth & Teen Advisory Boards offer teens a chance to speak up on issues that concern themselves and their peers. The Youth Advisory Board members are 6th, 7th and 8th graders; the Teen Advisory Board is for high school students. Learn more.

Find more volunteer and paid positions supporting the San Mateo County community through Thrive Alliance.

Resident Jerome Madigan has also created the HeartCity app to help locals find volunteer opportunities!

The Sequoia Awards presents scholarships to high school seniors from the greater Redwood City area who demonstrate an extraordinary level of volunteerism and community engagement. The Awards also honor one outstanding adult and one outstanding business who exemplify volunteerism in Redwood City. Donate, nominate, or apply for an award on their webpage.

Through Neighborhood Associations, the City works to address each neighborhood’s unique needs and to maintain Redwood City’s small town charm. They are a good place to learn about things happening in the community, connect with neighbors, and share questions with the City. Participate by dropping in to a meeting or volunteer to be a co-chair!

Shopping at Redwood City businesses is another way to support our community. Check out the downtown dining, accommodation, and other guides to find more info on local businesses!

The Monterra Community Fund https://www.monterracommunityfund.org/donate