The mission of Illumination Foundation is to disrupt the cycle of homelessness.
CONNECT WITH IF • VOLUNTEER
Helping Hands &
Caring Hearts
Illumination Foundation gives families and individuals experiencing homelessness hope each day they are in our program. They receive stable housing, health care services, mental health counseling, case management and life-saving basics such as food and clothing. Our program empowers vulnerable families with the skills to identify and overcome their diverse problems and improve their lives.
Volunteer Info:
Please email volunteer@ifhomeless.org
to reach out for more information.
Volunteer on a regular basis.
Volunteering at an Adult Shelter
-
The Adult Shelter Volunteer is compassionate, patient and excited to support homeless individuals in their journey to self-sufficiency. You will provide companionship and a listening ear to our clients, and help the site staff with housekeeping tasks as needed.
Location: Fullerton, CA or Santa Ana, CA.
Hours: Mon – Fri, 9am-6pm. Occasional weekend availability.
Time Commitment: Minimum of one day per week for a minimum of 6 months.
Volunteer Requirements: Must be at least 18 years of age and complete a background check.
Volunteering with our Children & Families
-
The Theriault Family Emergency Shelter Volunteer is reliable, encouraged, and excited about making an impact in the lives of children. You will serve as a positive role model in the Parent & Me Program. Our volunteers will directly assist the staff with setting the program up, cleaning up after the program and supervising children.
Location: Theriault House Family Emergency Shelter in Stanton, CA.
Hours: Mondays, Wednesdays and/or Thursdays from 10:45am-12:45pm.
Time Commitment: Minimum of one day per week for a minimum of 6 months.
Volunteer Requirements: Must be at least 18 years of age and complete a background check.
Volunteering at Medical Sites (Recuperative Care)
-
The Recuperative Care Volunteer is passionate about health and wellness and is looking to make a difference in the lives of homeless individuals who have recently been discharged from nearby hospitals and are recovering from various medical conditions. Our volunteers will lend a helpful hand where needed and assist patients with daily tasks on their path to a healthy recovery!
Location: Santa Fe Springs, Midway City, Lincoln Park, Alhambra, Anaheim and Ontario.
Hours: Mon-Fri, 8am-7pm. Occasional weekend availability.
Time Commitment: Healthcare professionals are welcomed, and volunteer commitment is flexible dependent on individual needs.
Volunteer Requirements: Must be at least 18 years of age and complete a background check.
Please email volunteer@ifhomeless.org for more information about these opportunities.
Click an image below to open a photo gallery.
What people say about volunteering with Illumination Foundation:
“I find it heartwarming to hear stories and see people grow. There are some people who come up to tell me about how they finally landed a job or found a more permanent living situation, and I’m glad to know that they chose to share that success story with me.”
— General Volunteer • Children’s Resource Center, December 2018
“I want to take a moment to let you know that I really enjoy interacting with the children… Thank you for giving me the opportunity to volunteer a few hours each week at the Children’s Resource Center in Stanton. These children have enriched my life in the short time that I have known them.”
— General Volunteer • Stanton CRC, October 2018
Volunteer with a company or group.
1) Host a Community Day at our Recuperative Care Center or Adult Shelter
-
The Adult Shelter Volunteer is compassionate, patient and excited to support homeless individuals in their journey to self-sufficiency. You will provide companionship and a listening ear to our clients, and help the site staff with housekeeping tasks as needed.
Location: Fullerton, CA or Santa Ana, CA.
Hours: Mon – Fri, 9am-6pm. Occasional weekend availability.
Time Commitment: Minimum of one day per week for a minimum of 6 months.
Volunteer Requirements: Must be at least 18 years of age and complete a background check.
2) Host a Meal Service at one of our Family Emergency Shelters
-
The Family Emergency Shelters are a safe place to serve homeless families with children and provide critical services to help with transitioning into long-term housing. Clients look forward to having groups host a meal service. Prepare to feed ~50 people. Meals can be dropped off or prepared on site. We ask for the group hosting the meal service to provide the food, utensils, and paper ware for the event. Weekdays between 4:30 pm–7:30 pm are the preferred days and times to host a meal service, but there is some room for flexibility.
Location: Stanton or Anaheim
No children under the age of 18 are allowed at this center. We ask for a minimum of 30 days notice to plan.
3) Host a Booth at an Upcoming Illumination Foundation Event
-
We have multiple events throughout the year when volunteers of all ages can make an impact! Hosting a booth is a great activity for a group or family to be creative and come up with a children’s game or activity. All children volunteering under the age of 14 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Instead of filling out the volunteer application that long-term volunteers submit, event volunteers should contact volunteer@ifhomeless.org. They will be given more information about the event and how to register.
Please email volunteer@ifhomeless.org for more information about these opportunities.
Click an image below to open a photo gallery.
What past corporate groups say about volunteering:
“We were not only helping Illumination Foundation and the family who eventually lives in the home we were working on, but we were helping the whole community out… Thank you again for brightening our days and giving us the opportunity to give back in such a meaningful way.”
— PIMCO Global Week of Service Volunteer, July 2017
“Thank you for letting us spend time with your clients yesterday. There were some people who thought they might be out of their comfort zone, but at dinner they all told me how wonderful the afternoon was and how much they enjoyed the event.”
— Corporate Volunteer Group, December 2019
Past volunteer groups include:
Intern for Illumination Foundation.
-
![]()
Volunteer Department Intern
The Volunteer Department Internship takes you behind the scenes of a local non-profit. This position will work directly with the Volunteer Department in planning for volunteer events, conducting volunteer phone orientations and entering volunteer hours into our database. Interns that apply must have a passion for our mission to disrupt the cycle of homelessness in our community.
-
![]()
Communications & Development Intern
Help illuminate the lives of Orange County’s most vulnerable population by serving side by side with our Communications and Development teams! This opportunity is great for those with strong communication skills and a passion for social media and event management. Planning non-profit events and fundraisers gives you the opportunity to learn about what takes place behind-the-scenes to make an event come together.
-
![]()
Healthcare Intern
The Healthcare Intern is passionate about health and wellness and is looking to make a difference in the lives of homeless individuals who have recently been discharged from nearby hospitals and are recovering from various medical conditions. Our interns will lend a helping hand where needed and assist patients with daily tasks on their path to a healthy recovery! Our healthcare interns are most likely studying nursing, public health, occupational therapy or physical therapy.
-
![]()
Case Management Intern
The Case Management Intern is compassionate, and is dedicated in assessing the strengths and needs of homeless clients with proven ability to build rapport. The most important aspects of providing wraparound services are the knowledge of community resources and actively following up with each interaction made while building relationships. The intern will gain exposure to community resources and will have direct client interaction.
Intern for Illumination Foundation
Volunteer Department Intern
The Volunteer Department Internship takes you behind the scenes of a local non-profit. This position will work directly with the Volunteer Department in planning for volunteer events, conducting volunteer phone orientations and entering volunteer hours into our database. Must have a passion for our mission to disrupt the cycle of homelessness in our community. Interested in interning at IF?
Communications & Development Intern
Help illuminate the lives of Orange County’s most vulnerable population by serving side by side with our Communications and Development teams! This opportunity is great for those with strong communication skills and a passion for social media and event management. Planning non-profit events and fundraisers gives you the opportunity to learn about what takes place behind-the-scenes to make an event come together. Interested in interning at IF?
Healthcare Intern
The Healthcare Intern is passionate about health and wellness and is looking to make a difference in the lives of homeless individuals who have recently been discharged from nearby hospitals and are recovering from various medical conditions. Our interns will lend a helping hand where needed and assist patients with daily tasks on their path to a healthy recovery! Our healthcare interns are most likely studying nursing, public health, occupational therapy or physical therapy. Interested in interning at IF?
Case Management Intern
The Case Management Intern is compassionate, and is dedicated in assessing the strengths and needs of homeless clients with proven ability to build rapport. The most important aspects of providing wraparound services are the knowledge of community resources and actively following up with each interaction made while building relationships. The intern will gain exposure to community resources and will have direct client interaction. Interested in interning at IF?
What past interns say about volunteering:
“IF is an amazing organization, and the staff goes above and beyond to provide quality services to each of their clients. I have never worked or volunteered for a more caring and dedicated group of people.”
— MSC Intern, April 2019
“I am helping several children do better academically, physically, mentally, and socially. They are feeling more accepted by others and are doing better in other areas of their lives.”
— CRC Intern, April 2019
What past interns say about volunteering:
“Illumination Foundation is an amazing organization, and the staff goes above and beyond to provide quality services to each of their clients. I have never worked or volunteered for a more caring and dedicated group of people.”
— MSC Intern, April 2019
“I am helping several children do better academically, physically, mentally, and socially. They are feeling more accepted by others and are doing better in other areas of their lives.”
— CRC Intern, April 2019
Want to make a difference? Learn about our volunteer options: Volunteer Regularly | Schools & Corporate Groups | Internships | Donation Drives