Volunteer opportunities abound in Greater Palm Springs area -- especially in the summer -- but some are hidden ⋆ The Palm Springs Post

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Volunteers, such as those seen here helping serve meals at an annual Well in the Desert event, are the lifeblood of many organizations in the Coachella Valley.

The doldrums of summer have settled on Palm Springs. And while that used to mean the city would close up shop for the season, these days it means restaurants and shops are choosing to stay open year-round. So too are nonprofits in the area, which need volunteers more than ever after the large population of snowbirds has returned home.

Local Jeff Pluth was interested in lending a hand where he could, but he ran into some challenges finding unique opportunities.

When he looked closer, Pluth noticed a few big name organizations kept coming up, like DAP Health, the Mizell Center, FIND Foodbank, and others.

“I decided to call these the ‘Marquee Mentions,’” said Pluth in an email to the Post. “Those organizations that are already known and present in the community’s top-of-mind awareness.”

While those large organizations do great work throughout the community, there are others here that may have less funding and public awareness but need just as much attention and support.

Some of these smaller organizations, like Desert Compost, Bridge Hospice Palm Springs, March to Equality, and more, are always looking for volunteers and donations, but they have to overcome the lack of public awareness. Plenty of Palm Springs residents want to volunteer, but they just don’t know how to find out about these more niche opportunities.

Pluth recognized the problem and got to work creating his own solution.

“Volunteering not only benefits the community but also offers you a chance to connect with your neighbors, make a difference, and enrich your own life in the process.”
— Jeff Pluth

“I wanted to create a sort of 35,000-foot view of all the volunteerism opportunities in the desert,” he said. “So far, I’m still getting my feet wet trying to find every non-profit out here, but there are some amazing options.”

Pluth built a document with a list of community service options to help residents explore the city’s wide range of volunteer opportunities. He wants anyone and everyone to come together and become a part of what he calls “the fabric of our neighborhood.”

The greater Palm Springs area has nearly 300 non-profit organizations, so there are plenty of opportunities to contribute, and it’s important that you do so if you are able.

“When mentoring someone [or volunteering], you may not always think you’re having an impact” said Pluth. “But I’ve had employees come back years later and talk about how much my help impacted their lives.”

“Volunteering not only benefits the community but also offers you a chance to connect with your neighbors, make a difference, and enrich your own life in the process,” he wrote.

The Post took Pluth’s document and expanded on it below. But it’s not meant to be an exhaustive list. If you know of a lesser-known volunteer opportunity, please email editor@thepalmspringspost.com and we’ll include it.