Volunteer Project Catalog
Koreatown Youth and Community Center
Join KYCC to clean up our neighborhood and make it more livable for our community members in recognition of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. This will be one of biggest clean up events of the year. We can't do it alone and need your help! Event Location: 760 S. Westmoreland Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90005 Parking: Street parking only. As always, public transit and carpooling is encouraged! Date/Time: Saturday, May 16th from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Registration: ALL volunteers must register in advance. Sign up by scrolling to the bottom of this page and clicking "Volunteer" - please note this button will say "Fulfilled" when the event is full. Every year, KYCC removes thousands of bags of trash from our neighborhood to improve the quality of life for our residents, keeping trash out of our oceans and building a better Los Angeles. At this event, volunteers will work in small teams to beautify a designated part of our community. All tools and supplies are provided. Impact: Did you know? • Neighborhood beautification builds community pride and ownership and can improve the quality of life of the residents. When a person has a good quality of life, they are happier and relieved of many stressors related to their safety and well-being. • Neighborhood beautification can help attract new business, providing convenient local shopping and services, jobs to neighborhood residents, and contributing to street life and economic development. • Overall, community beautification is important because it makes a statement: someone cares about this place. Please be sure to wear comfortable clothes you don’t mind getting a little dirty, close-toed shoes, bring sun protection and a water bottle and be ready to make some change!
How you can help:
Koreatown Youth and Community Center
Join KYCC to clean up our neighborhood and make it more livable for our community members in recognition of Earth Month! This is KYCC's biggest clean up events of the year. We can't do it alone and need your help! Event Location: 687 S. Hobart Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90005 Parking: Street parking only. As always, public transit and carpooling is encouraged! Date/Time: Saturday, April 25th from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Registration: ALL volunteers must register in advance. Sign up by scrolling to the bottom of this page and clicking "Volunteer" - please note this button will say "Fulfilled" when the event is full. Every year, KYCC removes thousands of bags of trash from our neighborhood to improve the quality of life for our residents, keeping trash out of our oceans and building a better Los Angeles. At this event, volunteers will work in small teams to beautify a designated part of our community. All tools and supplies are provided. Impact: Did you know? • Neighborhood beautification builds community pride and ownership and can improve the quality of life of the residents. When a person has a good quality of life, they are happier and relieved of many stressors related to their safety and well-being. • Neighborhood beautification can help attract new business, providing convenient local shopping and services, jobs to neighborhood residents, and contributing to street life and economic development. • Overall, community beautification is important because it makes a statement: someone cares about this place. Please be sure to wear comfortable clothes you don’t mind getting a little dirty, close-toed shoes, bring sun protection and a water bottle and be ready to make some change!
How you can help:
Koreatown Youth and Community Center
KYCC's grocery program initially started during the pandemic when we began delivering hot meals to isolated elders in our community, but over the years the program has evolved and grown into a standing grocery program open to our entire community. Every 4th Friday of the month, our housing team and volunteers package hundreds of grocery bags, and as you can imagine it’s a very labor and time-intensive process so we can always use extra help! Shift: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - work with our team to unload, organize and distribute groceries to those in need as well as clean up after distribution. We also have a lunch that all volunteers are welcome to join (but optional) from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. (food is provided). Street parking only - please note this is a congested area and parking can be challenging at times so we do ask that you plan accordingly. Volunteers must be 18 years or older. Should you have any questions about getting engaged with this program please feel free to reach out to volunteer@kyccla.org.
How you can help:
Koreatown Youth and Community Center
In addition to all the services KYCC delivers in our community, we also know it's important to provide goods to ensure the day-to-day stability of our most vulnerable neighbors. If you'd like to join us in providing items directly to our community, we welcome you to lead your own item drive on behalf of KYCC and our families. As a note, we'd like to add that we generally prefer not to distribute used items, unless they are very gently used. Our needs may vary, but generally speaking we accept the following year-round: 1. Arts and craft supplies: Art materials and craft supplies for creative activities for our youth participants. 2. Toys: New or gently used toys and games for children of all ages 3. Raffle prizes: Donations of new, unused items suitable as prizes for fundraising raffles and events. 4. Outreach event giveaway items: Small gifts or promotional items to distribute at community outreach events and programs. 5. Hygiene items: Personal care products including toiletries, hygiene kits, and feminine hygiene products 6. Clothing: New or unworn clothing items for individuals of all ages for our housing program residents. 7. Household items: Essential household items such as kitchenware, appliances, furniture 8. Food and Snacks: Non-perishable food items, snacks, and beverages for food drives and programs. 9. School supplies: Backpacks, notebooks, rulers, etc. 10: Misc Items: We are open to donations pending appropriate use for KYCC programs and clients. Please contact us to see if we can accept your items. *KYCC accepts in-kind donations if they provide added benefit to the organization’s work and those we serve. We cannot accept all donations and have limited storage. KYCC reserves the right to decline items we cannot immediately distribute to our families. Items we are not accepting at this time: Books, masks, hand sanitizer.
How you can help:
Koreatown Youth and Community Center
Join KYCC to clean up our neighborhood and make it more livable for our community members. We can't do it alone and need your help! Event Location: Each event will meet at a different location. Please check your shift to find the meeting address for the event you have signed up for. As we are constantly scouting locations, some addresses will be updated closer to the date of the shift. All K-town Beautiful events will be held in the Koreatown or Westlake neighborhoods. Parking: Street parking only. As always, public transit and carpooling is always encouraged. Registration: ALL volunteers must register in advance, regardless of age. Any volunteers under the age of 14 must be accompanied by a supervising adult for the duration of the event. Sign up by scrolling to the bottom of this page and clicking "Volunteer" - please note this button will say "Fulfilled" when the event is full. Every year, KYCC removes thousands of bags of trash from our neighborhood to improve the quality of life for our residents, keeping trash out of our oceans and building a better Los Angeles. At this event, volunteers will work in small teams to beautify a designated part of our community. All tools and supplies are provided. Impact: Did you know? • Neighborhood beautification builds community pride and ownership and can improve the quality of life of the residents. When a person has a good quality of life, they are happier and relieved of many stressors related to their safety and well-being. • Neighborhood beautification can help attract new business, providing convenient local shopping and services, jobs to neighborhood residents, and contributing to street life and economic development. • Overall, community beautification is important because it makes a statement: someone cares about this place. Please be sure to wear comfortable clothes you don’t mind getting a little dirty, close-toed shoes, bring sun protection and a water bottle and be ready to make some change!
How you can help:
Koreatown Youth and Community Center
As part of KYCC's K-Town Beautiful campaign to spruce up the neighborhood, we're launching a new way for our community members to pitch in - by leading your own event! You provide the date, time, location and volunteers and we'll make sure you have all the tools and supplies you need to make our community sparkle. As an event leader, you will be the point of contact on behalf of your group with KYCC. KYCC will work with you to schedule a cleanup event and provide you with all the tools (we'll need them back afterwards though!) to beautify our community, and we'll also pick up your full trash bags at the end of the event. Event leaders must be at least 18 years of age and your event must be scheduled at least two weeks in advance. In order to start the planning process, please follow the steps below: 1. Signing Up: You can sign up to request tools and supplies here (https://bit.ly/KYCCbloom), but please note that if you’d like to partner with KYCC, the location and council district needs to align with KYCC’s service boundaries, which includes all of Koreatown. Based on your selection, the request will be routed to the appropriate agency. 2. Event Confirmation: If your event is within the KYCC service area, we will reach out and confirm all the details of your request. 3. Tool Pick Up: We will coordinate the tool pickup while also providing all the necessary supplies and logistical support—at no cost! 4. Lead your Event: Show up at your designated location, beautify and have fun! We’ll pick up the trash after your event ends. Impact: Did you know? • Neighborhood beautification builds community pride and ownership and can improve the quality of life of the residents. When a person has a good quality of life, they are happier and relieved of many stressors related to their safety and well-being. • Neighborhood beautification can help attract new business, providing convenient local shopping and services, jobs to neighborhood residents, and contributing to street life and economic development. • Overall, community beautification is important because it makes a statement: someone cares about this place. Please remind your volunteers to wear comfortable clothes they don’t mind getting a little dirty, close-toed shoes, and bring sun protection and a water bottle. For questions, please reach out to Angelic Perez at aperez@kyccla.org or (213) 365-7400 Ext. 5415.
How you can help:
Koreatown Youth and Community Center
KYCC's Environmental Services unit offers opportunities for groups to host private tree planting and beautification events. These events are great ways for groups to bond, work as a team and improve morale, all while making a visible impact on our community in just a few hours. Private events also allow partners to work with KYCC staff to set the date, time and location. More details on our fee structure is available at bit.ly/kyccprivateevents To learn more about hosting a private event, please contact Ernie Yoshikawa at (213) 365-7400 Ext. 5239 or volunteer@kyccla.org.
How you can help:
Koreatown Youth and Community Center
If you're looking for a short-term individual or group project, we have needs that could be a fit! These can take anything from a few hours to a few days, depending on the project. Our needs can vary throughout the year, but may include the following: 1. Site beautification: paint a mural, re-finish and paint furniture, and/or do some light gardening/landscaping 2. Holiday decorations: this is a seasonal opportunity - our youth sites are often in need of some extra hands to decorate our facilities to celebrate upcoming holidays and spread cheer. Work with our team to create and put up decorations and brighten our kids' days. 3. Custom projects: We're open to suggestions, so if you have a project in mind please feel free to reach out to us and share your proposal! In the past we've had volunteers source materials and build furniture for our sites, create themed bulletin boards, and we're currently in need of a team to help us create a quiet space for children to decompress. Please feel free to contact volunteer@kyccla.org with any questions.
How you can help:
Koreatown Youth and Community Center
KYCC's Stop the Hate campaign aims to bring together residents, artists, and volunteers under the “Stop the Hate” message, fostering inclusion, safety, and resilience through art, storytelling, and enhancements to shared public spaces. KYCC's Environmental Services and the Koreatown Storytelling Program will be collaborating to create a safe environment for community building while facilitating opportunities for dialogue and understanding. Through workshops, interactive installations, and community art projects, we will encourage participants to express their stories and experiences. Volunteers will have the opportunity to work on a variety of arts projects, such as a mural, drawing and writing anti-hate messages on the wall of KYCC's new offices, and location. This will be a series of fun, hands-on event for families, youth, and adults! In addition, volunteers will have the opportunity to be interviewed by Koreatown Storytelling Program staff about their experiences with hate crime, spreading awareness and promoting inclusion and community resilience in this special gathering. No specific artistic skills are required. Just come prepared with comfortable clothes and shoes for a fun time! Event Dates: Sign up for one or sign up for all! Chalk Day#1: Saturday, January 31st 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. @ 3148 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90019 Utility Box Maintenance: Saturday, February 14th 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. @ 282 Normandie Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90004 Chalk Day#2: Saturday, February 28th 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. @ 3148 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90019 Mural Completion Ceremony: Saturday, March 14th 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. @ 3148 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90019 Parking: Street parking only. Please be mindful of posted restrictions. As this can be a congested area, public transit and carpooling is always encouraged! Registration: ALL volunteers must register in advance, regardless of age. Sign up by scrolling to the bottom of this page and clicking "Volunteer" - please note this button will say "Fulfilled" when the event is full. Volunteers under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult throughout the event.
How you can help:
Koreatown Youth and Community Center
Please note, since the 2025 tax season is over this program is currently only accepting previous VITA volunteers. We encourage all new volunteers to join us in November/December 2025 for our next series of trainings, with the new tax season starting in February 2026. The IRS-sponsored Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is a rewarding experience and a wonderful way to give back to your community. For each hour a volunteer contributes - $1,800 in refunds are brought back to your community. With your support, we can help more households with free VITA services. Our VITA program begins training in December, and operates seasonally from February - April every year. During our VITA season, we have the following positions available: Volunteer Intake Specialist - Assist taxpayers complete the Intake & Interview Sheet at the VITA site. These positions require the successful passing of both (1) Volunteer Standards of Conduct test and (2) Intake & Interview tests. Each test is 10 questions, open book, and about take 2-3 hours to complete. Expect 2-3 hours of studying and completing both tests. Volunteer Tax Preparer - Prepare simple tax returns on the IRS's Tax Slayer Software. This position requires the successful passing of (1) Volunteer Standards of Conduct, (2) Intake/Interview tests, and (3) either Basic, Advance, or Circular 230 tests. Expect 12-20 hours of studying and completing the tests. Our current tax season has begun and will be ending in mid-April 2024. Volunteers are welcome to join at any time during the tax season. All tests are self-paced and open book. Also, free tax preparation software is available to help you train. You can learn more about VITA here: https://www.volunteertaxprep.com/serve. Should you have any questions or if you would like to join please contact our VITA team at freetaxes@kyccla.org.
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