Getting Involved

ORANGE COUNTY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

Docents are needed to lead tours of the Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Learn about the history and the development of the Center and the workings of the backstage areas. Call: (714) 556-2122, ext. 4259.

ORGANIZATION FOR THE HUMANE CARE OF ANIMALS

Volunteers are needed to care for stray and lost animals in the Newport Beach, Costa Mesa and Corona del Mar areas. Call: (949) 722-1357.

PACIFIC SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Pacific Symphony Volunteers in Education Opportunities program needs volunteers to assist children in a variety of hands-on musical activities. Call: (714) 876-2386.

PARENT HELP USA

Founded by Mothers and Others Against Child Abuse, Parent Help asks the public for help and volunteers to inform the community on vital issues affecting children and the family. Call: (949) 650-3461 or (949) 675-5271.

PEDIATRIC CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION

PCRF, which raises money to support pediatric cancer research, needs volunteers for a variety of duties. Call: (949) 859-6312.

THE PHARMACOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE

The institute is looking for volunteers to take part in a study on smoking cessation. Call: (888) 774-4673.

PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY OF ORANGE COUNTY - UPPER BAY COMMITTEE

Do you love music? Would you like to share that love with local school children? As a member of the Upper Bay Committee of the Philharmonic Society of Orange, you could usher at youth concerts or be a docent for our many K-12 programs. You would meet other music-loving friends and participate in fundraising events. Call (949) 642-2381.

PRIME DYNAMICS

Prime Dynamics, a Newport Beach nonprofit organization for the 99-and-younger set, needs volunteers for its programs. Call: (949) 262-7300.

PRO AMERICA OF ORANGE COUNTY

Pro America of Orange County is an independent, educational organization pledged to preserve the American form of government as set forth in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States. It meets from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month. The meeting includes lunch and a speaker each month, except in the summer. Pro America is seeking new members. If you are interested, please call Sandy at (949) 378-8944.

PROJECT ACCESS

Project Access is a nonprofit organization that links residents of low-income housing developments with beneficial social services, usually through resource centers. Volunteers are needed to tutor children and teach crafts and computer skills at the various centers. Call Paul Shapiro, (949) 253-3120 ext. 229.

PROJECT CUDDLE

Project Cuddle is a Costa Mesa-based nonprofit organization that meets the needs of girls and women facing unplanned pregnancies. In addition to office help and 12-hour hotline shifts once a month, volunteers are needed for an auxiliary group and fundraising committees. The organization also needs donated gift items for mothers and babies. Call (714) 432-9681 or visit www.projectcuddle.org.

READ/ORANGE COUNTY

Volunteer literacy tutors are needed to help create a more literate community with no-cost tutoring for adults in reading and writing. The adult literacy program serves the Orange County Public Library system. Required training is provided. Call: (714) 566-3070 or visit www.readoc.org.

READING BY 9

The mentor reading program seeks volunteers to read to students in kindergarten through third grade. Costa Mesa schools need help for students in reading, writing and English. Mentor sessions may be scheduled from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. and after school from 3 to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. Call: Pomona Elementary School, (949) 515-6980; Whittier Elementary School, (949) 515-6898; Wilson Elementary School, (949) 515-6995; and New Shalimar Learning Center, (949) 646-0396.

SALVATION ARMY OF ORANGE COUNTY

Group or family volunteers are needed to adopt a family, sponsor an angel tree, hold a canned food or toy drive, or make a special gift or donation directly to the Salvation Army. Call: (714) 832-7100.

SAVE OUR YOUTH

The Westside Costa Mesa youth organization is looking for volunteers to help create a positive alternative for people 12 to 23. Volunteers are needed to help in areas such as boxing, sports, health, fitness, aerobics and academic tutoring. Call: (949) 548-3255.

SERVICE CORPS OF RETIRED EXECUTIVES

Join other business professionals to help small businesses succeed by leading seminars and coaching entrepreneurs online. The corps is a nonprofit charitable organization composed of 11,500 volunteer business mentors, both working and retired, who counsel businesses from nearly 400 offices throughout the country. Call: (714) 550-7369.

SERVING PEOPLE IN NEED

Serving People in Need (SPIN) helps Orange County’s homeless find permanent housing, overcome substance abuse and learn to become self-sufficient. Volunteers are needed to help in the office, prepare meals for the homeless, teach “life-skill” classes, and with special projects including clothing drives and donation pick-ups. Call Kim Frazier at (714) 751-1101, ext. 19.

SHANTI O.C.

Laguna Shanti, an organization that works with persons with HIV or AIDS, is seeking volunteers to assist with running the front office, delivering meals, providing transportation and providing complimentary therapies such as massage, acupuncture and chiropractic care. Call Carolyn Spivak, (949) 452-0888.

SHARE OUR SELVES

Share Our Selves — a nonprofit charitable organization in Costa Mesa — has been serving Orange County’s low-income population for more than 35 years, providing free medical and dental care, as well as emergency food, clothing, financial assistance and counseling to those in need. The organization needs volunteers to serve in many areas. Call: (949) 642-3451.