Friday, October 2, 2026
Long Beach offers more than just incredible views, relaxing beach scenes and outdoor activities. There are plenty of opportunities to get involved with a wide range of charitable groups, nonprofit organizations and community engagement.
MLK Center
Long Beach's Martin Luther King Center has been a staple of the community since it opened its doors nearly 60 years ago. The center has maintained the message of its namesake through community events, and the annual march down West Park Avenue on MLK Day.
The center currently offers a food pantry, after-school tutoring for children, social activities for seniors, sports and fitness facilities and a computer lab, as well as a blossoming music and podcast project for interested youths.
Last year, the center was able to renew its first lease agreement with the city in almost 30 years, ensuring that the neighborhood institution will be able to provide services for years to come.
Kiwanis Club of Long Beach
The Kiwanis Club of Long Beach, which was founded in 1957, focuses on helping area children by sending them to summer camps and education programs, organizing food drives and more. The club regularly hosts fundraisers and charitable outreach efforts, from its annual Playing in the Pubs Day, in support of musical programs for local children, to back-to-school supply drives. The annual Women's History Month brunch is another recurring fundraiser that doubles to shine a spotlight on women who impact the local community.
The club also hosts regular safety seminars, often in conjunction with the City of Long Beach, to keep kids safe on the roads — whether it's providing helmets to young ones riding bicycles or teaching teens how to be responsible with a new driver's license.
Long Beach Lions Club
The Lions Club is an international civic organization with active chapters in villages, towns and cities across Long Island. In Long Beach, more than 60 members consistently do charitable work throughout the year, raising money for a range of people, groups and goals.
The Lions Club regularly works with food banks and food drives, service dogs for veterans and similar military care, as well as providing support to the visually impaired. The club holds twice-monthly meetings to coordinate members, plan upcoming events and foster teamwork and communication between members.
In July of this year, the Long Beach Lions Club will celebrate its centennial — marking 100 years of serving the community with locally focused activity.
