Santa Monica nonprofits need food, money, volunteer hours and gift-card sponsors heading into the holidays. Santa Monica residents can support holiday meals, donate essential supplies and volunteer with local nonprofits this season. Opportunities include seasonal fundraisers and programs that operate year-round.

SMC Foundation: GIVING THANKS(giving)

Santa Monica College Foundation holds its 10th annual GIVING THANKS(giving) event on Monday, Nov. 23, and Tuesday, Nov. 24, on the SMC campus. The two-day meal gathering aims to serve more than 2,500 students, according to the foundation's event page.

The need is growing. Visits to SMC's on-campus food pantry, the Bodega, have risen 20% since September 2025, the foundation said.

Donations also support SMC's Basic Needs Program and Emergency Grant Fund, which provide year-round groceries, clothing, hygiene supplies and urgent financial aid for housing and medical bills. Checks can be mailed to Santa Monica College Foundation, 1900 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90405, with "GIVING THANKS(giving)" on the memo line.

Volunteers are needed for a prep day on Sunday, Nov. 22, with shifts running 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Shifts on Nov. 23 run 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., and on Nov. 24 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The foundation asks volunteers to sign up by Nov. 10. Contact Socrates Manuel at [email protected] with questions. Katie Moe, development director, handles sponsorship inquiries at [email protected] or (310) 434-8583.

The foundation is also collecting new and gently used coats and hoodies for students.

St. Joseph Center: Share the Season

Venice-based St. Joseph Center is running its Share the Season campaign, providing Thanksgiving meals and holiday gift cards to individuals and families. The center serves communities across Los Angeles County, including Santa Monica.

Donation tiers are specific: $50 covers a Thanksgiving meal for one person, $100 feeds a family of four, $250 covers an individual and two families, and $500 feeds five families. Gift-card sponsorships start at $50 for a grocery card for one individual, $100 for a family of four, or $200 for holiday retail gift cards for four children or youth.

Dr. Ryan J. Smith, president and CEO of St. Joseph Center, said on the campaign page, "In the City of Angels, people really are angelic. The work is happening thanks to our Beloved Community."

Westside Food Bank: food drives and donations

Westside Food Bank distributes nearly 5 million pounds of food annually through more than 60 member agencies across western Los Angeles County. The food bank serves 72,000 households, according to its website.

The organization accepts physical food drives and is collecting specific items for fire relief efforts: bottled water, ready-to-eat meals, pop-top canned soups, protein bars, peanut butter, boxed cereal, diapers, formula and hygiene products. Donors drop off collected food at the food bank's location. Email [email protected] to schedule a drive.

Prefer to give money instead of cans? The food bank says $1.80 in monetary donations buys the same amount of food as $3 spent at a grocery store. Virtual food drives can be set up at wsfb.org/virtualfooddrive.

The food bank also runs a mobile pantry at Virginia Avenue Park, 2200 Virginia Ave., Santa Monica, on Thursdays from 11 a.m. to noon. Call (310) 828-6016, ext. 21, with questions.

Meals on Wheels West: deliver meals or assemble care packages

Meals on Wheels West delivers more than 200,000 meals a year to homebound seniors, veterans and people with disabilities. More than 95% of clients live in Santa Monica, Venice and Marina del Rey.

Delivery volunteers pick up meals at the Santa Monica office and bring them to about 10 neighbors per route on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Operations volunteers sort and distribute meals at the Pico Neighborhood office on the same days. The Community Connections phone program lets volunteers make weekly check-in calls from anywhere.

Residents can also assemble Neighbor-to-Neighbor care packages, including birthday bags and hygiene kits, delivered alongside regular meals. High school and college students earn community service hours.

A background check and volunteer application are required. Call (310) 394-5133, ext. 2, or email [email protected]. In-kind donations, including holiday gifts and seasonal care-package items for seniors, can be arranged through [email protected].

The People Concern: volunteer and donate in Santa Monica

The People Concern operates program sites in Santa Monica, Downtown and South Los Angeles, and Lancaster. The organization offers individual and group volunteer opportunities year-round for people experiencing homelessness and survivors of domestic violence.

Individual volunteers commit to a regular schedule. Group opportunities are scheduled case by case. Volunteers must complete an online application, attend an orientation held roughly twice a month, pass a background check and submit a negative TB test from the past year. Contact [email protected] or call 323-334-9000.

The organization also accepts in-kind donations of clean clothing and hygiene items. Appointments are required for all drop-offs.

Give Thanks & Gobble: Thanksgiving feast and fundraiser

The Give Thanks & Gobble event, now in its 16th year, serves a Thanksgiving lunch to 120 to 140 clients from The People Concern's West LA sites. Donors can help serve the meal. Donations support the sack lunch program at The People Concern's Access Center in Santa Monica, which serves 150 lunches a day, five days a week. This year’s event takes place Saturday, Nov. 21, at Cloverfield Services Center in Santa Monica. The volunteer shift runs from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; interested residents can request a spot through the event website.

Skye Montgomery started Give Thanks & Gobble in 2011 as a Girl Scout Gold Award project at age 17. The event is organized and served by local families and businesses with support from area hotels and restaurants.

These campaigns have specific seasonal deadlines, but every organization listed accepts support year-round. The need does not end in December.