Fall into autumn with The Youth Center’s upcoming volunteer opportunities

Here’s some in-cider information about The Youth Center’s annual fall volunteering events you’ll be sure to have a gourd time at

Jaya Eapen, Audience Editor

October 31, 2024

Through The Youth Center events, kids have the opportunity to partake in exciting Halloween crafts and fun games with their friends. (Photo courtesy of The Youth Center)

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. — Fall is back Griffins, and so is The Youth Center’s annual fall events and opportunities for high schoolers to volunteer at. The non-profit organization dedicated to helping the community grow by fostering youth has become a vital part of the Los Alamitos area with their support towards families.

Returning with their seasonal events, The Youth Center once again provides childcare for Los Al’s youth, with the added bonus of providing volunteer opportunities for high schoolers.

Beginning as a Youth Center volunteer and currently a staff member, Los Alamitos High School senior Gabriel Freedman-Finch expressed his love of the organization’s fall events.

“(The events) provide such a safe and fun place to get (together) with your friends and celebrate an amazing holiday,” Freedman-Finch said. “As someone who struggled making friends, it’s amazing to see a community of genuinely caring people trying to connect with everyone and that’s what The Youth Center is.”

Rossmoor Halloween Harvest Fest

The Rossmoor Halloween Harvest Fest is a fun community event to bring a spooky spirit to Los Al. The Youth Center will be holding a craft booth and needs volunteers to run the activities with the children. Crafts include creating stress balls and conducting a “ghostly experiment.” For the first two volunteers that show up, volunteer hours will also be tripled. Staff and volunteers are also encouraged to wear an appropriate costume to the event!

Date: Oct. 31

Time: 4-7 p.m.

Location: Rush Park (The Youth Center’s booth) 3001 Blume Dr. Rossmoor, CA 90720

The Halloween Harvest Fest is the perfect opportunity for the community to come together and celebrate the ghostly holiday. (Photo courtesy of The Youth Center)

The Youth Center's Kidsgiving is perfect for both kids and parents who want a fun night out. (Photo courtesy of The Youth Center)

Kids Night Out: Kidsgiving

Next up is The Youth Center’s upcoming Kids Night Out: Kidsgiving. Kids are able to celebrate Thanksgiving together with fun activities such as games, STEM activities and slime making, leaving their parents a night to themselves. Volunteers are needed to help support staff in executing the activities planned as well as supervise the children present.

Date: Nov. 15

Time: 6-10 p.m.

Location: The Youth Center, 10761 Los Alamitos Blvd.

The Youth Center’s Kidsgiving is perfect for both kids and parents who want a fun night out. (Photo courtesy of The Youth Center)

Fall Break Camp

The Youth Center’s Fall Break is four days during Thanksgiving break that provides supervision and fun activities to entertain and look after children during the days off of school. Volunteers are needed to help the staff execute their activities and spend time helping and watching over the kids. Each day during the week, children are also able to go on walking field trips that volunteers can help out with.

Date: Nov. 25-27 and 29

Time: 7 a.m. — 6 p.m.

Location: The Youth Center, 10761 Los Alamitos Blvd.

The Youth Center’s fall break camp is four consecutive days (excluding Thanksgiving) of holiday fun to ring in the new season. (Photo courtesy of The Youth Center)

Jingle Bell Run

Although not associated with The Youth Center, the Arthritis Foundation is also hosting their Jingle Bell Run and is also eager for volunteers. Students are given the opportunity to help out with many different aspects of the event such as helping with set-up, registration, mission area, water crew, route support, parking, kid zone, finish line and clean-up. The event is being spearheaded by LAHS senior Bella Kim and is meant to support the Arthritis Foundation’s research for a cure to the disease and help families suffering from the illness.

Date: Dec. 7

Time: 7 a.m. — 4 p.m.

Location: Angel Stadium

The annual Jingle Bell Run helps community members get active and partake in a fun event while also providing funding for life-changing research. (Photo courtesy of the Arthritis Foundation)

Signing up for the events

To sign up for The Youth Center events, students can visit The Youth Center website to find their volunteer sign up form, as well as email The Youth Center’s Youth Programs Coordinator, Alisha Donahue, at [email protected].

If interested in the Jingle Bell Run, make sure to register with the Arithiritis Foundation’s Jingle Bell Run website, or contact Kim for more information at [email protected].

“I think everyone should volunteer at The Youth Center since it provides such a safe place to learn vital communication and leadership skills with a group of people who will respect and support you, as well as practicing it on kids who make every day feel like a blast rather than tedious volunteering,” Freedman-Finch said.

Make sure to sign up for the events, Griffins, in order to support the different organizations and make an impact in the community!

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