Volunteer Opportunities

The City of Rancho Santa Margarita is a small city with the soul of a small village. Volunteer opportunities of all types abound throughout the City.

ZeroTrash RSM

In April of 2014 when Brad McGIrr was the Mayor Pro Tempore McGirr, and with the assistance of the Bell Tower Foundation, the ZeroTrash initiative was started. Volunteers of all ages meet in front of the Cinepolis theaters the first Saturday of every month at 10:00 a.m., and proceed to remove hundreds of pounds of litter from our streets, parks and wilderness areas. Visit the ZeroTrash RSM website or Facebook page to learn more.

RSM CARES - The Bell Tower Foundation

The Bell Tower Foundation supports local cultural, educational, civic, recreational and social needs in RSM along with fostering community spirit and connecting volunteers. You can reach them through their Facebook page or visit the  Bell Tower Foundation website for more information.

Age Well Senior Services

There are daily opportunities to volunteer through the Meals on Wheels and congregate meal program which is based out of the Bell Tower Regional Community Center. Please contact the Age Well Senior Services Site Director at (949)709-7592 for information.

Boys & Girls Club

The Boys and Girls Club of Capistrano Valley offers after school and summer programs at the Bell Tower Regional Community Center. Please visit the Boys and Girls Club website , Facebook page, or call (949) 709-7595 for information regarding volunteer opportunities.

Friends of the Library

The Rancho Santa Margarita Friends of the Library bookstore carries a large inventory of gently-used books, audio, and videos at bargain prices. Visit the Friends of the Library website for more information or stop in to shop, volunteer, donate books, or join Friends of the Library. All money raised benefits the Rancho Santa Margarita Library. 

Lion's Heart

Lion's Heart is a 501(c)3 organization that mobilizes teens to volunteer in their communities and tracks their hours. The national nonprofit connects 6th-12th grade students with local service opportunities that help them build a strong community service portfolio. Teens can track hours, earn leadership awards, and export their service portfolio to use on scholarship, college, and career applications. Lion's Heart is nearly 10,000 members strong with new chapters forming every day across the United States; the south Orange County chapter is currently the largest with hundreds of members serving RSM. Lion's Heart is a certifying organization for both the President’s Volunteer Service Awards as well as the Congressional Award. Visit their website for more information.

Rotary Del Sol

Rotary is the world's largest service organization with more than 1.2 million members in 32,000 clubs in 165 countries around the world. The Rotary Club of Coto de Caza/Rancho Santa Margarita has been serving the canyon communities since 1983 and the Del Sol club was founded in 2004. Made up of business professionals who live and work in the RSM/Coto area, members work together on community, youth, and international service projects. The club meets weekly to plan service projects, enjoy interesting guest speakers, and share a meal and fellowship. Guests are always welcome. Learn more on Facebook.

RSM Chamber of Commerce

The Rancho Santa Margarita Chamber of Commerce hosts programs and events throughout the year, including the annual Rancho Family Fest, utilizing community volunteers in a variety of roles. Visit the RSM Chamber of Commerce website for more information.

Mission Viejo Animal Care Services

The City of Rancho Santa Margarita contracts with the City of Mission Viejo for animal care and sheltering services. Volunteer opportunities abound through a variety of programs and organizations dedicated to the care and welfare of animals. For more information about Mission Viejo Animal Services, please visit www.cmvas.org or call Animal Services Center directly at (949) 470-3045.

Volunteering at the Center  Volunteers work side by side with shelter staff caring for animals and helping with education and outreach to the community.

Mission Viejo Animal Services Youth Explorer Program
For youth 14-18, the program focuses on different careers within the animal field such as Entrepreneurship, Grooming, Veterinary Science, Animal Behavior/Training, Animal Tracking, Animal Law Enforcement, Animal Rescue, Field Biology, Marine Biology,  and Animal Handling. 

Dedicated Animal Welfare Group (DAWG)   Mission Viejo Animal Services works closely with Dedicated Animal Welfare Group (DAWG), a nonprofit organization committed to providing care to animals that come into the shelter. 

Volunteers are a gift to the community!