Service Opportunities
As a reminder, all service must be performed through a charitable organization or agency. Any service opportunity outside of a charitable organization or agency MUST be pre-approved by the Director of Christian Service in order to qualify for Mater Dei.
Parents/guardians should refrain from "verifying" their own student's service hours. If a parent/guardian chaperones/oversees a particular service event that their child is participating in, please contact the Director of Christian Service in advance of the service event for information on how best to complete the verification process.
Summer Service Opportunities:
2025 Summer Opportunities (see Dates in Red)
- Wise and Wonderful Companionship & Fun with Senior Citizens Multiple Dates (5 direct service hours each time/ More info HERE)
- Holy Family Catholic Church Vacation Bible School (VBS) July 28- August 1, 2025 (more info HERE)
- St. Thomas Moore Church Vacation Bible School (VBS) July 14-18, 2025
- DSAOC: Down Syndrome Association of Orange County Bike Camp serving children with disabilities July 28-Aug. 1, 2025 (more info HERE)
- UP (Unlimited Possibilities) & CHOC iCan Bike Camp serving children with disabilities August 4-8, 2025 (more info HERE)
- HUB OC Resource Center serving the unhoused Multiple Times: Mondays-Saturdays (7 am-3pm)
- Youth Centers of Orange Summer Camps June 16-Aug 8, 2025 (1 week camps) more info HERE
- Bracken's Kitchen Feeding those in Need Multiple Times: Mondays-Saturdays (9 am-3pm)
- Orange County Coast Keeper Saturday July 5th, July 12, August 2, August 9
- Vocational Visions Club House for Adults with Special Needs Shifts Friday: 2 pm - 6pm and Saturdays: 11 am - 6 pm
- SPIN Serving People in Need Multiple Times & Dates
- H.I.V.E. After-School Program Summer Opportunities Announced Soon
- Thomas House Family Shelter Various Opportunities
- Down for Dance Camp June 23, 25 & 27, 2025 and Various Afternoon Classes Mon-Thurs
- Cantlay Food Distribution Tues./Wed./Thurs.
- Catholic Charities Various Opportunities
- Someone Cares Kitchen and Tutoring Program Everyday Opportunities No advance sign-up required
- Whispering Winds Camp Weekend July 11- 13, 2025
- ENC (Environmental Nature Center) June 16-Aug 8, 2025 (1 week camps)
- City of Santa Ana Volunteen Program Various Opportunities
- Miracle League of Orange County Sundays during Season
- Working Wardrobes Multiple Times: Tuesday-Friday (9 am-3pm)
Ongoing Service Opportunities in the Community:
- Hub Resource Center
(which is our program that serves the unhoused). Is open Monday-Friday from 7AM-1PM, and Saturdays from 9AM-1PM. Students can sign up for a shift here. For general volunteering questions they can email me at [email protected]
- Someone Cares Kitchen for Direct Service Hours every day without signing up in advance (including Saturday & Sunday Mornings.) CLICK HERE for more information. The facility is open for Monday-Friday shifts: 8:00 am-noon & noon- 4:00 pm and Saturday/Sunday shifts: 7:00 am-noon. (720 W 19th St, Costa Mesa, CA 92627 (949) 548-8861). Also on the 4th Saturday of the month 10 am- 2pm they have a farmers market from that needs volunteers!
- Down for Dance, CLICK HERE to learn more, starts new sessions for dance classes for participants with all abilities in January and needs help with weekly afternoon classes 3:45pm -5:55 pm in the Irvine/Costa Mesa area. CLICK HERE and/or email [email protected]
- Vocational Visions in Mission Viejo, CLICK HERE for more information, has shifts Friday 2 pm - 6pm and Saturdays 11 am - 6 pm for groups for House of Champions Clubhouse serving adults with developmental disabilities (a great Direct Service Hour option for "No School" & FLEX Days.). CLICK HERE to sign-up.
- Dwell Food Pantry in Anaheim, CLICK HERE for more information. The Dwelling Place Food Pantry is designed like a grocery store, where guests can participate in a shopping experience within an environment filled with hope, dignity, and beauty. Volunteer Shifts are 2-3 Direct Service Hours and there is some evening availability. CLICK HERE to sign up for a shift.
- Cantlay Food Distribution in Santa Ana, CLICK HERE for more information, has weekday shifts and Saturdays for groups for Food Distribution (a great Direct Service Hour option for "No School" & FLEX Days.).
- H.I.V.E. After school Program at St. Peter Lutheran Church; 1510 N. Parton Street., Santa Ana 92706 is looking for volunteers Monday-Thursday 3:00p.m.-5:30p.m. Come for any part or all of the afternoon. Help students with homework, read with and to children, serve snacks and play for Direct Service Hours CLICK HERE for more information or Contact Laura Caraccio @ 916-832-1546 / [email protected] if interested.
- LightHouse in Aliso Viejo, CLICK HERE for more information, has Monday nights 7-8:30 pm for Club Night serving adults with special needs. CLICK HERE to sign-up.
- Second Harvest Food Bank to help in the warehouse, distribute food and more for Direct Service Hours CLICK HERE
- Saint Simon and Jude StayCare Afterschool Program in Huntington Beach. They have opportunities for volunteers to provide homework help, play organized outdoor and indoor games, make crafts and more. Contact the SSJ StayCare Director Christine Birkner @ 714-803-8778 or [email protected]
- Casa Teresa, CLICK HERE to learn more about how they serve mothers & babies in need in the city of Orange, can use volunteers on-site by
- providing a meal, could be lunch or dinner
- sorting through clothing that goes into our thrift store, The Collection by Casa Teresa
- Volunteer babysitting (because we are building trust with the residents, we ask that volunteers who would like to be babysitters commit to a consistent slot for at least 2 months and be fingerprinted. Volunteers that are 14-16 years old must have a signed release form and can only babysit with a parent or guardian who has been through our Livescan process. Volunteers that are 17 may volunteer without a parent or guardian if they have a signed release form.
- organizing an urgent needs or clothing drive, and then dropping off the donations collected
- Mary's Kitchen in Orange, CLICK HERE for more information, has Monday nights 7-8:30 pm for Club Night serving adults with special needs. CLICK HERE to sign-up.
- Beach Clean-Ups w/ Orange County Coast Keeper. CLICK HERE to learn more and volunteer.
- Thomas House Family Shelter offers a variety of ways to volunteer with their Family Shelter. CLICK HERE for more or contact Martha, Operations Manager, at [email protected]
- Working Wardrobes has a variety of ways for you to volunteer and help clients succeed as they interview for jobs. CLICK HERE to get involved.
- Heart of Jesus Retreat Center is looking for volunteers to help most Saturdays and Sundays to serve children and families alongside the Sacred Heart Sisters. For questions or to sign up, call or text Sister Rachael at 714-743-4027.
- Sacred Heart Kids' Club, which is hosted by the Sacred Heart Sisters also needs volunteers, Thursdays 3-6pm. Text/call RSVP to 714-743-4027 or email [email protected] for more information on how to be part of this awesome club!
The location for both of these opportunities is less than 15 minutes from MDHS at:
Heart of Jesus Retreat Center: 2927 South Greenville St. Santa Ana, CA 92704 WEBSITE LINK
Organizations present at the Service Fair on Thursday, April 10, 2025
*Representatives will be at tables during both upper & lower lunches
- SPIN Serving People in Need
- Heart of Jesus Retreat Center (Kid’s club)
- H.I.V.E. After-School Program.
- Thomas House Family Shelter
- Down for Dance
- Catholic Charities/Cantlay Food Distribution
- DSAOC: Down Syndrome Association of Orange County
- St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church
- ENC (Environmental Nature Center)
- The Lighthouse Group
- City of Santa Ana Volunteen Program
- HUB OC
- Miracle League of Orange County
- UP (Unlimited Possibilities)
- Holy Family Catholic Church Vacation Bible School (VBS)
- St. Thomas More Vacation Bible School (VBS)
- Saint Simon and Jude Stay Care afterschool program
- Bracken's Kitchen
- Vocational Visions
Additional Links for Local Organizations that offer Opportunities to Serve: