How to Volunteer in Manila: Shelters, Food, Reading, Cleanups and Relief

Animal shelters

Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) runs the most structured shelter volunteer programme in the city. Volunteers walk dogs, bathe, groom and socialise animals at the PAWS Animal Rehabilitation Center. Quezon City (Aurora Boulevard corner Katipunan Avenue, Loyola Heights). Shelter volunteering runs Monday to Saturday except Wednesday, 8am to 5pm. Commitment: at least 8 hours a month for 6 consecutive months. Tip: PAWS asks for a ₱1,000 deposit with your application, refunded once you complete the 6 months, and pre-exposure rabies shots are required for direct animal care. Submit your application before the orientation date, not on the day. Good to know: from Makati or BGC (Bonifacio Global City), allow an hour or more each way at peak traffic. It suits people who can promise a regular slot.

Pawssion Project cares for rescued dogs and cats at shelters in Bacolod and in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan. It is the most open option for a one-off visit: walk-in volunteers are welcome, and you help with cleaning, bathing and walking dogs, socialising the animals and the afternoon feeding. San Jose del Monte, Bulacan (Paradise Drive, Tungkong Mangga). Open to volunteers Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm. Tip: book your visit through the form on their website first. Plan on two hours or more each way from the south of the city. It is a full-day trip, so it works well as a group outing.

CARA Welfare Philippines cares for cats in Mandaluyong and dogs in Novaliches, Quezon City. General volunteer sign-ups are on hold, with the programme to be revisited in 2027, though CARA is reviewing applications for its Content and Media Team by email.

Food and hunger

DSWD Luzon Disaster Resource Center (Pasay) is where the government packs family food packs for people hit by typhoons and floods. It is the best answer for anyone who wants to help this week: walk-ins are accepted, though the DSWD asks volunteers and groups to register first with its National Resource and Logistics Management Bureau so it can schedule them. Chapel Road, Pasay, near the airport. Monday to Saturday, 8am to 5pm. Commitment: a brief orientation, then at least four hours. Tip: wear closed shoes. Volunteers must be 18 or older, or come with a guardian, because heavy machinery is used inside the warehouse. Good to know: one of the closest picks for Makati, BGC and the south of the city.

Scholars of Sustenance (SOS) Philippines is a food rescue charity. Through its Rescue Kitchen Program, volunteers cook and hand out meals with one of its community partners. Office in UP Village, Quezon City. Schedule: weekly, monthly or quarterly, arranged with the team. Tip: email sosph@scholarsofsustenance.org to ask about the next kitchen.

Rise Against Hunger Philippines runs Meal Packaging Experiences, where volunteer teams pack meals for hunger relief. These are built for companies and organisations rather than individuals. Tip: if your workplace is planning a volunteer day, suggest it to your HR (human resources) or CSR (corporate social responsibility) team and contact Rise Against Hunger Philippines through its LinkedIn page.

Teaching and reading

BINHI English Literacy Foundation runs a reading programme for kindergarten to Grade 2 children who are struggling to read. Volunteers can be Testers, who assess children one-on-one at partner schools in Manila, Pasay, Pasig, Parañaque, Muntinlupa and Quezon City (plus Calamba, Laguna), or BINHI Buddies, who tutor a child online. Office in Legaspi Village, Makati. Testers: an online orientation plus at least 3 hours on a date you choose; testing rounds run around September to October, January to February and June. Buddies: one hour a week for about nine weeks, online. Tip: Buddies need to speak both English and Filipino and be at least college level; a recent Buddy round charged a ₱350 fee that covers the child's internet.

Project PEARLS works with families in Tondo. Its weekly Saturday feeding and "Brain Booster" mornings serve about 500 children and adults; volunteers help prepare, serve and clean up, or join as a "teacher for a day" for arts and crafts. Sign up per date through iVolunteer Philippines. Tondo, Manila. Saturday mornings, meeting around 7:15am to 7:30am and finishing by 11am. Tip: read their child protection policy, code of conduct and volunteer guidelines before you go, and confirm attendance with the contact listed on the event.

2KK Tulong sa Kapwa Kapatid Foundation holds "Kapatid Sessions" with children in Smokey Mountain (Tondo), Payatas (Quezon City) and Sampaloc (Manila), teaching values through stories, games and songs. Recent sessions run on Sunday mornings, around 9am to 12 noon. No fees and no experience needed. Tip: sign up per session on their website or iVolunteer, and book early because sessions fill.

Cleanups and building

The International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) is the year's big volunteer cleanup day. It falls on a Saturday in September; in 2026 it was 19 September, with 6,000 volunteers at Baseco Beach in Tondo, and SM by the Bay in Pasay as the main mall-hosted site on Manila Bay. Tip: pre-register with ICC Philippines through the form on its site, or through the organiser of your chosen site, and be there by 6am. Wear long sleeves, long pants and closed shoes. Outside September, smaller groups post Manila Bay cleanups on iVolunteer.

Habitat for Humanity Philippines offers Juan Build, a half-day or whole-day stint of real construction work in a Habitat community. Office in Legaspi Village, Makati. Tip: it is open to individuals and groups, and works well as an office outing or team day. Register through the Build With Us page at habitat.org.ph or email info@habitat.org.ph. More outdoor ideas live on our explore hub.

Disaster response and first aid

Philippine Red Cross is the main route into disaster response, first aid and community preparedness. You apply online or at a chapter, then attend the Basic Volunteer Orientation Course when invited by email. Requirements include Red Cross membership (the Membership with Accident Assistance Benefit), photocopies of two valid IDs, a résumé and a 2x2 photo. National Headquarters: 37 EDSA corner Boni Avenue, Mandaluyong. Tip: volunteering is unpaid, and a Certificate of Volunteerism needs at least 300 hours.

Where to find one-day events

iVolunteer Philippines is a listing site where Philippine organisations post dated volunteer events with locations, times, how many volunteers they still need and what to bring. Most of the one-morning activities in this guide appear there.

Hands On Manila has organised volunteer projects for 25 years, with monthly programmes on the environment, education, health and livelihood, plus Servathon, its yearly volunteer drive. Sign up through the volunteer form on its website to see dates.

Before you go

• Book the orientation first. Almost every group requires one. Many, like PAWS, need your form in before the date.
• Plan for traffic. Most programmes start early. Tondo and Quezon City sites can take an hour or more from Makati or BGC; Bulacan takes longer. Leave early, or take the train where it helps; see our train guide.
• Respect privacy. Ask before photographing children, patients or communities, and follow each group's rules on photos.
• Do not count on a certificate. Some groups, including PAWS, do not issue certificates for school requirements. Go for the work itself.
• Bring money only if asked. A few programmes ask for a deposit or small fee, such as PAWS's refundable deposit or a BINHI Buddy fee. The listing will say so.

Questions people ask

Where can I volunteer in Manila this weekend?

The DSWD Luzon Disaster Resource Center in Pasay takes volunteers on Saturdays from 8am, and the DSWD asks you to register ahead. iVolunteer Philippines lists dated Saturday and Sunday events, including feeding and values sessions in Tondo.

Can I volunteer at an animal shelter in Manila?

Yes. PAWS in Quezon City trains regular volunteers after an orientation and asks for at least 8 hours a month for 6 months. For a one-off visit, Pawssion Project in Bulacan welcomes walk-in volunteers Tuesday to Sunday, and asks you to book ahead.

Do I need experience to volunteer in the Philippines?

Usually not. Most groups give you an orientation and a clear task, and 2KK says no prior experience is needed. Online tutoring roles such as BINHI Buddy ask for at least college-level education and the ability to speak English and Filipino.

How do I volunteer for disaster relief in Manila?

Pack relief food at the DSWD Luzon Disaster Resource Center in Pasay, Monday to Saturday, 8am to 5pm, with at least four hours of service. For longer-term work, apply to the Philippine Red Cross and complete its Basic Volunteer Orientation Course.

Can I volunteer online?

Yes. BINHI's Buddy programme pairs volunteers with a child for one hour of reading practice a week over video call, for about nine weeks.