By Larissa Runkle
San Francisco is a community of helpers. If you’ve ever been on the street during an emergency or witnessed an accident, you know what I mean. It’s no wonder we’re a sanctuary city. Nonprofits work hard to create a fair and safe place for everyone.
Our volunteer-powered organizations, unlike those in other cities, are often at capacity, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still make a meaningful contribution. Here are a number of places where you can donate your time or part of your paycheck:
If you like dogs
Muttville SF is a one-of-a-kind dog-rescue center because they focus on finding homes for dogs ages seven and above. These “senior” dogs still have plenty of spunk and love to give, and they also rely on volunteers to take care of them. If you want to give some love to some of the most deserving pooches in SF, apply to volunteer here.
If you ride a bike
Have you ever been curious as to why we have such a bike-friendly city? Well, the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition is one of the reasons. Committed to creating more bike lanes and providing free bike education and discounted services for bikers, this is a great place at which to donate your time if you’ve benefited from their efforts (and chances are you have).
If you like books
Consider volunteering with the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library, where the volunteers mainly spend time doing things like sorting books (sounds terrible, we know). After books are donated at various drop-off points, the volunteers sort through them in preparation for big events, like the upcoming Annual Big Book Sale at Fort Mason. Turns out, you really can spend a full day discovering new books and help out in the process.
If you have mad coding skillz
Pass it on to a kid. ScriptEd teaches students in under-resourced schools the essential coding skills that will help them advance in higher-education programs and careers. Everyone has to start somewhere, and passing on your knowledge to the next generation is probably one of the best things you can do to level the playing field for super-capable kids who don’t have access to educational resources.
If you like to write
826 Valencia is an awesome place at which to spend the afternoon. While it fronts as a pirate store, this organization has been quietly tutoring thousands of kids in the Bay and teaching them essential reading and writing skills. They’ve been around for 15 years, and they also periodically publish their kids’ stories in literary journals available for purchase in their store. Yay for mini-authors and a big reward.
If you like to climb
Have you ever wondered how the crags (and the trails leading up to them) stay so clean? It’s not because of the crag fairy; it’s because of volunteers. Groups like the American Alpine Club and the Bay Area Climbers Coalition meet up on weekends for clean-up projects on your favorite outdoor routes and trails. There probably was never a better cause than giving back to the people who keep you safe in the outdoors.
If you’re passionate about keeping SF green
Who isn’t? The San Francisco Department of the Environment partners with a variety of smaller organizations to protect a range of natural habitats and support environmental conservation and education. Check out this calendar for upcoming events where you can join in to help keep our community green.
Help the homeless
There are a ton of organizations in SF dedicated to helping the homeless and low-income families. One awesome organization, Project Homeless Connect, provides same-day services that would normally take someone experiencing homelessness months to figure out. Some examples of the services they provide on-site (thanks to partner providers and government organizations) include dental care, eyeglasses, HIV testing, housing info, mental health services, legal advice, California ID cards, employment counseling and addiction services.
There’s always something you can do to help the community. Whatever it is that drives you, and whatever unique talents you have, take a moment to find an organization that could use your help.
Still can’t decide? Choose another place to volunteer on the basis of your interests here.
