At International Relief Teams, volunteers do more than lend a hand. You change the course of someone’s life.
For over 38 years, volunteers have been the heartbeat of our work.
When you volunteer with International Relief Teams, you pack food so children don’t go hungry, rebuild homes after hurricanes and wildfires, and help families in poverty finally have a safe place to live. You’re proof that ordinary people can create extraordinary change.
Join a volunteer team today and be the reason a family can rebuild.
Volunteers are the backbone of International Relief Teams. Without your support, our work helping families survive and recover wouldn’t be possible.
We have four volunteer opportunities for United States residents ONLY.
On January 7, 2025, a series of major wildfires ignited in the greater Los Angeles area destroying nearly 40,000 acres of homes, schools, and businesses, leaving countless families in dire situations. Close to 11,662 homes were destroyed and 1,631 have major, minor, or repairable damages. Los Angeles County faces urgent recovery challenges-restoring homes, basic services, and shelter-while also needing a long-term, resilient rebuild.
Project: Assist in the repair of homes damaged by the 2025 fires
Dates: Opportunities emailed out monthly
Team Size: 4-6 volunteers
Skill Level: Some to expert level
Project Duration: Based on project and work
Background: Hurricane Florence made landfall in North Carolina on September 14, 2018. After the hurricane and 4 days of continuous rainfall, 74,563 structures were flooded, 11,386 homes had moderate to major damage, and 140,000 North Carolinians were registered for disaster assistance. Today, there are still 3,000 homes that need to be repaired or rebuilt.
Background: In Tijuana, families that have migrated from central Mexico live in informal colonias on the outskirts of town. Their homes are made of cardboard and metal scraps with no electricity or water. International Relief Teams’ volunteers have been working in these colonias for many years, helping to provide families with a safe and secure home.
Background: Childhood hunger has been a growing concern in San Diego County. Since 2018, International Relief Teams has been providing children at local elementary schools with weekend food packs to help families combat weekend food insecurity.
Background: Last year, San Diego’s brutal storms devastated entire neighborhoods. 549 homes were severely damaged by water levels that reached 4 feet high. 200 families are still displaced and do not have the financial means to recover on their own.
Please fill out the form below and we’ll get back to you soon! If you’d like more information, reach out to Marilyn Sethi at msethi@irteams.org or call (619) 284-7979.
