For the third year in a row, sf.citi hosted our annual One City Gives holiday giving event to bring the tech community together and give back to our San Francisco neighbors in need. Like just about everything else in 2020, this year’s edition of One City Gives looked different in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Rather than hosting a single day of action, we organized a week-long One City Gives virtual holiday giving campaign from December 3–11. Over 100 volunteers signed up for One City Gives, participating in three virtual volunteer activities to support San Francisco nonprofits Meals on Wheels San Francisco, Larkin Street Youth Services, and Compass Family Services.
Since the start of the pandemic, each of these organizations has worked tirelessly to provide critical care and services to San Francisco’s most vulnerable populations, notably our homebound seniors and unhoused youth and families. In a year that has challenged us all, One City Gives brought some much-needed holiday joy to the members of our San Francisco community who need it most.
Volunteers had the opportunity to complete one or more of the following virtual volunteer activities as part of our One City Gives holiday giving campaign.
Make Holiday Cards for Homebound Seniors with Meals on Wheels San Francisco
Every year since 1970, Meals on Wheels volunteers have made and distributed thousands of homemade holiday cards. Especially during the COVID-19 crisis, these cards help lift the spirits of homebound seniors in San Francisco, many of whom will spend the holidays isolated and alone. As part of One City Gives, volunteers continued the Meals on Wheels tradition of crafting thoughtful, homemade holiday cards to be packed and delivered with meals throughout the 2020 holiday season.
Now more than ever, we all need to come together in order to support the community we love. San Francisco’s tech and nonprofit sectors have historically partnered to achieve incredible goals that have positive impacts on people’s lives, and for that, we’re ever so grateful.
—Kathy Stirling, Director of Volunteers & Corporate and Community Engagement, Meals on Wheels San Francisco
Donate Holiday Gifts for Young People Experiencing Homelessness with Larkin Street Youth Services
One City Gives volunteers helped make the holidays extra special for young people experiencing homelessness in San Francisco by donating basic essentials from a curated Amazon wishlist. The donated items will be included in holiday gift kits and distributed by Larkin Street Youth Services staff at their annual Winter Festival celebration.
Thank you to One City Gives for featuring Larkin Street Youth Services again this year! This collaborative initiative provides much needed holiday gifts and cheer to young people experiencing homelessness! This year has been extremely challenging for the young people we serve. Partnerships like this with One City Gives and the tech/San Francisco community are vital so we can continue to provide necessary support for young people to thrive now and after the pandemic. Thank you to all those who participated and made this season brighter!
—Clare Armbruster, Development Director, Larkin Street Youth Services
Read Aloud Holiday Stories with Compass Family Services
A number of One City Gives participants spread holiday cheer for unhoused families by creating videos of themselves reading aloud holiday books, poems, and inspirational quotes. All of the video stories will be shared with unhoused and at-risk families who are a part of Compass Family Services’ programs to enjoy during the 2020 holidays.
As this crisis drags on, our most vulnerable families and community members need our support now more than ever and we are grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with sf.citi and the local tech community to foster engagement and uplift the communities we serve.
—Abbey Leonard, Director of Development and Communications, Compass Family Services
The sf.citi team joined our friends at NextRoll and Twitter to read “Frederick” by Leo Lionni as part of One City Gives.
We thank each and every one of our One City Gives volunteers for helping us make the holidays a little bit brighter in San Francisco, especially at the end of a year that has been particularly difficult. We are also incredibly grateful to our three nonprofit partners for being part of our holiday campaign and continuing to serve our San Francisco community throughout the pandemic. The spirit of giving does not have to end with One City Gives. We encourage you to continue supporting Meals on Wheels San Francisco, Larkin Street Youth Services, and Compass Family Services in whatever way you can!
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