The Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program coordinates volunteers to advocate for the best interests of children who are dependents of the Nevada County Juvenile Dependency Court, helping ensure they have a chance to live in a safe and permanent home.

Services include:

• Recruitment, training, and coordination of volunteer advocates
• One-on-one advocacy for children in the juvenile dependency system
• Assistance in ensuring children live in safe, permanent homes
• Support with navigating the court system

Volunteer requirements:

• Completion of an application packet, including a personal interview and background check
• Driver’s license and current insurance
• Training sessions held in the spring and fall, with applications accepted year-round

Web pages

• Home (Application Found Here) - https://caofnc.org/casa/
• FAQs - https://caofnc.org/casa-faq/

Sierra Harvest's Gold Country Gleaning Program organizes volunteers to harvest fresh, seasonal produce that would otherwise go to waste and donates it to local food banks. Volunteers are encouraged to take gleaned goodies home too.

Web pages

• Home - https://sierraharvest.org/
• Gold Country Gleaning Program - https://sierraharvest.org/gleaning/
• Request Gleaning - https://sierraharvest.org/gleaning/site_registration.php
• Volunteer to Glean - https://sierraharvest.org/gleaning/volregistration.php

The Nevada County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) operates a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site offering free tax preparation assistance and filing of simple returns.

If a person earned less than $69,000 in 2025, they may qualify for assistance.

VITA services, including drop-off and limited in-person appointments, are available through April 13th, 2026.

Services include:

• Free tax preparation assistance
• Filing of simple returns
• Drop-off or limited in-person appointments

Additional notes:

Instructions for accessing VITA services in Nevada County can be found here.

Web pages

• Home - https://www.nevadacountyca.gov/
• Information and Instructions - https://www.nevadacountyca.gov/m/newsflash/home/detail/8541

Partners in English Language Learning (PiELL) offers free, individualized tutoring for adult English language learners in Western Nevada County.

Volunteer tutors meet with students one-on-one in locations and at times that work for both.

Services include:

• One-on-one English language tutoring for adult learners
• English language assessment and tutor matching
• Preparation support for citizenship and driver’s license tests
• Volunteer tutor training twice per year (March and September)
• Ongoing mentorship for volunteer tutors

Additional notes

All tutors are fluent English-speaking volunteers trained by PiELL. Most students begin at a basic or low-intermediate level.

Learners and tutors commit to meet 1–2 times per week for at least one year. Students come from a wide range of countries and backgrounds.

Web pages

• Home - https://piell.org/

The Connecting Point Volunteer Hub serves as a community hub that connects Nevada County residents with volunteer opportunities in the community.

Services include:

• Access to an online directory of volunteer opportunities
• Listing availability for organizations looking to post their volunteer needs

Web pages

• Home - https://volunteerhub.connectingpoint.org/

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Online Tax Assistance allows taxpayers to e-file their return themselves free of charge or with the remote assistance of an AARP tax counselor.

Services include:

• Help from a volunteer counselor who walks the user through the process
• Access to free software to prepare taxes totally on their own (OnLine Taxes)
  • Access to free software is limited to taxpayers with an AGI (Adjusted Gross Income) of $73,000 or less.

Web pages

• Home - https://taxaide.aarpfoundation.org/

Bear Yuba Land Trust protects land, builds trails, and offers environmental education programs in Nevada and Yuba counties.

Services include:

• Maintaining public preserves and open space
• Managing conservation easements to protect natural lands
• Building and maintaining trails for public recreation
• Offering youth education programs focused on nature and stewardship
• Providing volunteer opportunities for trail work, events, and habitat restoration

Web pages

• Home - https://www.bylt.org/
• Conservation Easements - https://www.bylt.org/
• Trails - https://www.bylt.org/build-trails/
• Volunteer Opportunities - https://www.bylt.org/support/volunteer/

North San Juan Community Center serves the San Juan Ridge Community area.

Services include:

• Hosting the Annual Cheery Festival
• Helping the community through shelters, affordable weekly meals, local farmers market, classes, meetings and many other services

The center is entirely volunteer operated.

Web pages

• Home - https://www.nsjcommunitycenter.org/

The Rough and Ready Volunteer Fire Department provides fire department services for the residents of Rough and Ready, California.

Services include:

• Fire protection
• Emergency rescue services
• Sandbags during flood times

Web pages

• Home - http://www.rrvfd.com/

Placer County Fire Department (PCFD) provides all fire and emergency medical services. Through a Cooperative Fire Protection Agreement with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) which was initiated in 1974, PCFD integrates state and local firefighting resources, career and volunteer, into an effective combination fire department.

Web pages

• Placer County Fire Dept. - https://www.placer.ca.gov/7625/Fire-Department
• Fire Stations - https://www.placer.ca.gov/7646/Fire-Stations