Volunteer Opportunities

This has been a blessing for me. I’ve been coming here for 25 years...I got hooked right away and became a volunteer.

– Lupe B., volunteer
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Make a positive impact and meaningful connections

If you are looking for a rewarding experience serving and enriching your community, volunteering at On Lok may be the right for you. Volunteers have always been an integral part of our history and identity. Many are seniors actively engaged in our programs and deeply connected with our community.

We offer a wide range of senior center volunteering opportunities, depending on your skills, experience, and interests:

  • Support the Activity Therapy Teams leading engagement in art, crafts, dance and movement, cooking, dramatic arts, games and exercise events or performances

  • Write birthday cards to seniors in many languages

  • Share your cultural traditions and celebrations

  • Engage in conversation in English or other languages

  • Provide 1:1 companionship, reading, and help with games

  • Engage with seniors through our email- and letter-writing campaign

  • Help package and serve takeout meals, or serve meals in our dining room

  • Provide technical support in our computer lab

  • Create opportunities for lifelong learning by teaching a class, workshop, or hobby such as origami, calligraphy, dance, and English as a Second Language

Volunteers under the age of 18 are welcome if accompanied by an adult guardian.

Have a special event or project in mind? Let us know! Email volunteer@onlok.org

Volunteering makes me very happy and it gives me an idea why I live in the world. Doing something for the community and people who need help. I know there are a lot of volunteer jobs, but On Lok is my favorite place. The people are very friendly—just like a family to me. I don’t think about volunteering anywhere else.

– Loraine Wong, On Lok volunteer for more than 20 years

Volunteers find joy, purpose, and community   

Volunteering can be a life-changing experience for both you and the seniors in our centers. Many of our volunteers have been visiting and interacting with our seniors for years, forging enriching friendships and learning valuable life lessons. Our centers are conveniently located throughout the Bay Area and ready to welcome new volunteers of all ages:

  • Enjoy the rewards of sharing quality time and making new memories with seniors enrolled in our Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) at a PACE adult day center in San Francisco, Fremont or San Jose. For some seniors struggling with feelings of loneliness and isolation, your visit will be especially meaningful, providing unforgettable opportunities for intergenerational connections and deepening life experiences.

  • Join a vibrant community of volunteers at On Lok 30th Street Senior Center in San Francisco, a multipurpose senior center for active older adults. Since its beginnings, the senior center has thrived because of the skills, talents, and service of its enthusiastic volunteers.

Ready to volunteer? Getting started is easy:

  1. Let us know your interests and availability—email us at volunteer@onlok.org.

  2. We will follow up with a volunteer opportunity that matches your needs and guide you through next steps.

  3. Attend a volunteer orientation and training session.

  4. Come volunteer—and hopefully, keep coming back!

Have questions? To learn more about volunteering at On Lok contact us at volunteer@onlok.org.