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Palo Alto's senior programs, from the downtown senior center to the weekday lunch sites, lean heavily on volunteers. Retirees make up a big share of those volunteers, but students and working adults fill evening, weekend and remote roles too.
This guide covers Avenidas, La Comida and Peninsula Volunteers in Menlo Park, based on what each organization published in 2026. It also points to hospital and food programs that serve many older adults. If you are looking for help for a parent or yourself rather than a way to give time, read our resources for older adults instead.
Avenidas Volunteer Corps
Avenidas is Palo Alto's main senior services nonprofit, based at 450 Bryant Street downtown with a Chinese Community Center at Cubberley and the Rose Kleiner Center in Mountain View. Its Volunteer Corps fills roles across all three. The page listing them was updated in June 2026.
Roles
- Friendly Voices. Weekly phone calls to an older adult to ease loneliness. It takes 1 to 2 hours a week from home. Avenidas says no special skill is needed, "just a caring heart and a willingness to listen."
- Door to Door drivers. Drive older adults on the Peninsula in your own car, with mileage reimbursed. Rides run Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Rose Kleiner Center. Help staff at the adult day health center with activities, lunch setup and cleanup or one-on-one visiting. You can also bring music or lead an art session.
- Classes and office help. Teach a class, help with an activity or do administrative work for programs in Palo Alto and Mountain View.
- Avenidas Village. Help members who are aging at home with odd jobs, technology or office tasks, as needed rather than on a schedule.
- Events. Help at signature events such as Lifetimes of Achievement and the Caregiver Conference.
Avenidas says it especially needs bilingual volunteers who speak Mandarin, Cantonese or Spanish. Students can volunteer and may earn course credit.
How to sign up
Call the Volunteer Corps at (650) 289-5460, Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or use the contact links on the Avenidas volunteering page. Friendly Voices has its own online sign-up form. Avenidas does not post a minimum age, training schedule or screening rules on that page. Drivers in particular should expect questions about their license, insurance and driving record, so ask when you call.
La Comida
La Comida serves sit-down weekday lunches to adults 60 and older at two Palo Alto sites: Stevenson House at 455 East Charleston Road in south Palo Alto and First United Methodist Church downtown. It says about 60 volunteers contribute over 12,000 hours a year and that 75 percent of them are seniors themselves. The rest are high school students, college students, community members and family members of diners.
What volunteers do
| Role | What it involves |
|---|---|
| Reception and registration | Greet diners, sign them in and help newcomers with forms. This role does not require standing. Mandarin is a plus. |
| Host | Welcome and seat diners and give newcomers a personal orientation. |
| Server | Greet and serve diners. You must be able to stand and walk while carrying plates for 60 to 90 minutes. |
| Dining room setup | Set tables before service and help clean up after. |
| Other help | Holiday events, office work, photography, live music and dance. |
La Comida welcomes volunteers once, weekly, monthly or daily. Groups of up to 8 people can serve together. The organization says all volunteers must be fully vaccinated. Fill out the form on the La Comida volunteer page and staff say they will reply within 24 to 48 hours. La Comida was also recruiting board members in 2026.
Peninsula Volunteers in Menlo Park
Peninsula Volunteers, Inc., known as PVI, runs four senior programs from its Menlo Park base: Little House, a community center for older adults; Rosener House, an adult day program; Meals on Wheels; and RIDE PVI. It says volunteer hours are mostly Monday to Friday and that most in-person volunteering ends by 3 p.m. Our Menlo Park guide covers the town.
Roles
- Meals on Wheels: deliver meals or pack them. Packing runs weekdays from 8 to 10 a.m. and some afternoons from 3 to 5 p.m.
- RIDE PVI: help coordinate rideshare trips for seniors.
- Rosener House: lead conversation, help with daily activities, answer phones, prepare crafts and help serve lunch.
- Little House: cafe setup, cashiering, serving and cleanup at lunch.
- Tech tutors: one-on-one help with iPhones, iPads, printing and web documents.
- Performers: 45 minutes to an hour of entertainment. PVI asks for a demonstration first.
Groups and families
PVI hosts corporate, faith and community groups for projects such as packing emergency kits for homebound seniors, garden work, making holiday art and cards and sponsoring a monthly lunch with a donation of at least $400. Groups book 2 weeks to 6 months ahead. People under 16 are welcome on site but must have an adult with them for the whole activity. Apply through the online form on the PVI volunteer page.
Hospitals and health care
Hospital volunteers spend much of their time with older patients and their families. Stanford Health Care takes volunteers from 16 (18 for inpatient roles) for one shift a week over at least six months, after a background check and health screening. Our volunteering at Stanford guide explains its application rounds. For the hospital itself, see our Stanford Hospital guide.
Meals and groceries for seniors
Food programs are another way to reach older adults. Second Harvest of Silicon Valley runs Operation Brown Bag, a weekly grocery program for low-income seniors. Its food distributions rely on volunteers. La Comida and PVI's Meals on Wheels are covered above. Our guide to volunteering against hunger lists the shifts and age rules for each food program.
Young volunteers and seniors
Several programs value the mix of generations. Youth Community Service, the Palo Alto nonprofit that runs service events for young people, has held Service Pop Ups at Lytton Gardens Senior Community. Avenidas says its event shifts suit student schedules. Teens who want a longer commitment should look at our teen volunteering guide for age rules elsewhere.
Which role fits you
| If you have | Consider |
|---|---|
| An hour or two a week and a phone | Avenidas Friendly Voices |
| A car and free weekdays | Avenidas Door to Door or PVI Meals on Wheels delivery |
| A lunch hour now and then | La Comida or Little House lunch service |
| Tech skills | PVI tech tutoring or Avenidas Village tech help |
| A group or family | La Comida (up to 8) or a PVI group project |
| A second language | Avenidas events and La Comida reception |
Good to know
- Expect a vaccination requirement at La Comida and health screening at hospitals.
- Weekday daytime roles are the hardest to fill. If you can offer them, say so.
- Reliability matters more than hours. A phone buddy who calls every week is worth more than an occasional long visit.
- Ask each group about training before your first shift, since not all of them post it.
Frequently asked questions
How do I volunteer at Avenidas in Palo Alto?
Call the Avenidas Volunteer Corps at (650) 289-5460, Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or use the email link on its volunteering page. Roles include Friendly Voices phone calls, Door to Door driving, help at the Rose Kleiner Center, teaching or helping with classes, Avenidas Village errands and events.
Can I drive seniors to appointments as a volunteer in Palo Alto?
Yes. Avenidas recruits volunteer drivers for its Door to Door service, which takes older adults on the Peninsula to appointments in the volunteer's own car. Rides run Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Avenidas reimburses mileage. In Menlo Park, Peninsula Volunteers lists a role coordinating rideshare trips for seniors.
How do I volunteer at La Comida?
Fill out the volunteer form on La Comida's website and the team says it will contact you within 24 to 48 hours. Volunteers set up the dining room, register diners, host and serve lunch at Stevenson House in south Palo Alto or First United Methodist Church downtown. La Comida says all volunteers must be fully vaccinated.
Can students volunteer with seniors in Palo Alto?
Yes, in several programs. Avenidas says students can volunteer and may receive course credit. Its event shifts suit school schedules. La Comida lists high school and college students among its volunteers. Peninsula Volunteers in Menlo Park welcomes people under 16 on site with an adult for the whole activity.
Is there a way to help isolated seniors from home?
Avenidas runs Friendly Voices, which pairs volunteers with older adults for weekly phone calls. It asks for 1 to 2 hours a week from home. Avenidas says no special skill is needed. There is an online form to sign up as a phone buddy.