Volunteer & Internship Opportunities
Home Start Volunteers Change Lives
Home Start has an AMAZING community of volunteers, interns, group partners, and Board Members that selflessly give their time to make our work easier and support our mission to help families thrive.
In Fiscal Year 2025:
- 534 individuals volunteered or interned at Home Start;
- 13,058 hours were generously donated;
- $443,662 of value was used leveraged to help our fundraising!
Home Start is indebted to all our volunteers for their compassion, generosity, selflessness, and general awesomeness.
How can you help families in need?
Home Start is in the community working to strengthen families every day. YOU can change the life of a family through a variety of volunteer opportunities.
We have several types of one-time and on-going volunteer options at Home Start, including:
- One-time, occasional, and ongoing volunteer opportunities for individuals across a wide variety of projects and interests, from admin help to garden projects, providing tax assistance to event support.
- Internships for high school, undergraduate, and graduate level students currently enrolled in accredited degree programs receiving course credit.
- Opportunities for groups to help with annual events, outreach, beautification, and more.
- Board & Committee opportunities.
- Some court-ordered volunteer service (determined on a case-by-case basis).
Home Start values dedicated and reliable volunteers across our organization! Please read below for current needs or email our Volunteer Coordinator Manasi Watts to find the right volunteer opportunity for you!
These postings are updated regularly. All of our current, available opportunties are listed below.
URGENT NEED: DIY Club Volunteers, Various Locations
Positions available: 2+
Timeframe: ONGOING
Home Start is urgently seeking dependable volunteers to be available to provide furniture assembly, moving, small project repair, and other DIY assistance for our offices and clients moving into Home Start housing units on an as needed basis. This position is a great opportunity to use handyman, crafting, and building skills while supporting Home Start’s mission to prevent child abuse and neglect. This position is ideal for a student or active retiree who has a flexible schedule and can drive to various locations in east and south county. Handyman, repair, moving experience / knowledge is preferred.
Find out more about this position here or contact Volunteer Program Coordinator Manasi Watts for more information.
VITA Volunteers, Jacobs Center Office
Positions available: 25+
Timeframe: Recruitment through December 2026; Program runs January - April 2027
VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assitance) is just around the corner! VITA provides free tax preparation and filing support to low-to-moderate income individuals and families across San Diego. Volunteers provide accurate federal and state tax preparation services to clients in accordance with IRS guidelines based on information freely provided by clients. This position is great for anyone who is organized and pays attention to detail. No prior experience is required – free, mandatory training is provided! This is an in-person, on-site position.
Find out more about this position here or contact Volunteer Program Coordinator Manasi Watts for more information.
Event Volunteers in Action
In April 52 volunteers spent more than 250 hours helping us host our Blue Ribbon Gala in recognition of National Child Abuse Awareness Month. This in-kind contribution of $4,500 supported Home Start's mission while helping us raise critical funds for our programs. Our biggest fundraiser of the year, our '90s themed night included amazing food, great music, incredible silent and live auction prizes and generous volunteers and guests alike.
Watch our 2026 Gala volunteers being totally awesome here! (song credit I'll Be There For You performed by The Rembrandts)
120 Home Start heroes helped us bring the magic, warmth and joy of the season to 260 of Home Start's most vulnerable families this year! More than 800 San Diego children received fun toys, books, tech gadgets, bikes, games, and other amazing gifts thanks to our generous donors and volunteers. Through 8 Gift Collection events, our Friends Gift Shop and our Holiday JOY Shop, Home Start volunteers gave us the most precious gift of all - nearly 400 hours of their time, a total in-kind contribution of $7,000.
Watch our 2025 Holiday volunteers bring joy to our families here!(song credit Best Day of My Life performed by American Authors)
Upcoming Event Volunteer Opportunities
Email Volunteer Coordinator Manasi Watts with questions or for more information!
Internship Opportunities
All Graduate and Undergraduate internships have been filled. We are not accepting applications for internships at this time.
Home Start internships are highly competitive. All of our internships are in person. Students must be enrolled in an accredited degree program and receive course credit for the hours worked at Home Start to be eligible to apply. If these parameters do not meet your program’s requirements, then Home Start is unable to accommodate your internship search.
Recruitment Calendar / Application Details
Watch this space! We will post application details here whenever we are accepting internship applications.
High School Internships
Home Start works directly with a number of high schools across San Diego County to provide appropriate, tailored internships at the high school level for juniors and seniors. If you are a high school administrator that would like to partner with us on a similar program, please contact Volunteer Program Coordinator Manasi Watts directly at mwatts@home-start.org for more information.
Group Volunteer Opportunities
Home Start offers a wide variety of options for group volunteers! We are always looking to partner with corporate, community, faith-based, school, service, and other groups that want to support our mission.
Examples of past group volunteer projects include assisting with Home Start events, facility improvement projects, distribution events, hygiene and food kit assembly events, hosting donation drives, and more.
We work with our partners to customize events based on group size, event location, time limitations and other variables to create rewarding projects that directly impact our clients lives. If your group is interested in partnering with us, please email Volunteer Coordinator Manasi Watts for more information.
Board & Committee Opportunities
Join our Board of Directors or serve on a committee!
Home Start is always seeking compassionate leaders in the community to join our Board of Directors. If you are interested and would like to learn more, please contact Volunteer Program Coordinator Manasi Watts
