The Weekend Wind-Down
“The Weekend Wind-Down” is a new TBI series highlighting ways to explore the Bay Area, support your local community, and wind down from your stressful week. If you have an idea or tip, email us, or DM us on Twitter or Instagram.
One out of four San Franciscans went hungry last year — and that figure has steadily increased since the pandemic began. The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank, one of the largest food pantries in the region, has said they’re serving “about 10 times more people” than usual these days.
So how can you help?
Even though more people are in need because of Covid-19, donating food is also harder because of it. Aside from the occasional mass drop-off event, most pantries won’t take individual food donations these days because of the exposure risk it has. But that doesn’t mean you can’t give back by donating money to Bay Area food pantries before Turkey Day (to guarantee enough meals go out to feed in-need mouths) or volunteer your time packaging and handing out Thanksgiving dinners.
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There are plenty of ways to give back — and we suggest spending this weekend before Thanksgiving figuring out how you want to contribute. Here are some ideas:
- Philanthropic nonprofits like the Mission District’s Mission Food Hub are actively seeking donations and support to “provide a turkey dinner” to the neighborhood’s most vulnerable residents.
- San Francisco’s The City Eats organization is providing 500 individually wrapped meals on Thanksgiving Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 164 6th Street and needs volunteers to assist.
- Many nonprofits, churches, and food pantries in the East and South Bay, too, are actively looking for both helping hands and monetary donations — no matter how generous they might be.
- San Jose, specifically, has seen a massive uptick with people using food assistance programs, leaving local food banks, like Second Harvest of Silicon Valley requiring more volunteers than ever before.
Also, don’t let your Thanksgiving leftovers go to waste or become unnecessary amounts of compost. Freeze what you can (and plan to consume at a later date). Make themed dog treats for your fur baby. And when in doubt, never think twice about handing out Ziplock baggies of leftovers from the day’s feast.
This year’s Thanksgiving is different… for all of us.
Wear a mask. Be kind. Do your part in ensuring as many people as possible have sustenance in their stomachs come Thursday.
And please: Let’s also all agree to collectively say “fuck off” to any Trump-supporting relative who praises the day’s nods to vicious colonialism.
*Editor’s note: For more information on how you can help unhoused people in the Bay Area, revisit our piece on how to do just that, here.
