Getting involved with your San Francisco community is easier now than ever. Whether it be through organizing a corporate volunteer event, dedicating your skills to a project, or simply donating your resources, there are many ways to get involved. Here is a small snapshot of ways you can get active right now:
Education
Circle the Schools is an initiative started by sf.citi, in partnership with the San Francisco Unified School District and the San Francisco Education Fund that engages local companies to adopt San Francisco public schools. These partnerships help ensure all students have the skills and resources they need to live, work, and thrive in San Francisco. Employees participate in volunteer activities designed to advance student skills in literacy at the elementary school level, STEAM in middle schools, and college and career readiness in high schools.
ACTION: Help San Francisco Students Thrive: Adopt a School
CONTACT: info@sfciti.org | Visit their website.
826 Valencia 826 Valencia is a San Francisco-based non-profit organization dedicated to supporting under-resourced students with their writing skills and helping teachers inspire their students to write. This organization seeks to close the academic achievement gap for under-served youth in the Bay Area, provide tools and resources necessary for success in school and beyond, connect caring adults to young people in need of individualized support, and make the path to college less of a leap. 826 Valencia offers a wide range of programs, all free of charge, for students, classrooms, and schools in the Bay Area.
ACTION: Support Young Writers at 826 Valencia
CONTACT: volunteer@826valencia.org | Visit their website.
Reading Partners mobilizes communities to provide students with the proven, individualized reading support they need to read at grade level by fourth grade. This organization partners with under-resourced schools and engages volunteer reading partners to work one-on-one with students who struggle with reading.
ACTION: Volunteer One Hour/Week to Help a Child Read as a Reading Partner
CONTACT: volunteerSF@readingpartners.org | Visit their website.
Healthcare
Planned Parenthood Northern California champions healthy communities and increases access to quality health care, information and reproductive freedom by providing medical services, education and advocacy. With a total of 100,000 patients across 20 counties in Northern California, this organization serves all people regardless of income, immigration or insurance status.
ACTION: Promote Planned Parenthood’s services to the community at your next event or health fair
CONTACT: Click here | Visit their website.
Women’s Community Clinic strives to improve the health and well-being of women and girls in the Bay Area by offering a warm and welcoming environment where women can access affordable health care and outreach services. Clinic volunteers engage with homeless and marginally housed clients, distribute kits with supplies for safer sex and drug use, serve meals and provide clothing for women in need. Last year alone, the Clinic provided 5,809 clinical visits for 3,120 low-income Bay Area women and girls.
ACTION: Lend a Hand at the Women’s Community Clinic: Offer Your PR, Photography or Graphic Design Expertise
CONTACT: Click here | Visit their website.
In San Francisco, HealthRight 360 has fifteen distinct locations where they operate four primary medical clinics, seven residential programs, four outpatient/day reporting centers, two gender responsive jail programs, co-occurring programming, case management services, outreach and prevention programs as well as employment, housing and educational assistance. Together, these programs increase San Francisco’s diverse communities’ access to a continuum of care that increases their capacities to lead healthy lives.
ACTION: Conduct Practice Interviews as a HealthRight 360 Volunteer
CONTACT: volunteer@healthright360.org or Visit their website.
Social Support
Meals on Wheels San Francisco (MOWSF) provides a network of drivers, social workers, nutritionists, community partners, volunteers, donors, and advocates together as a force against senior neglect and malnutrition. MOWSF exists to alleviate the food insecurity and loneliness experienced by seniors who want to stay in their own homes but cannot shop or prepare meals for themselves. MOWSF’s services are geared towards those with the greatest physical, social and economic need.
ACTION: Support Seniors by Adopting a Low-Income Residential Building
CONTACT: Kstirling@mowsf.org | Visit their website.
Project Homeless Connect partners with city leaders, community agencies and volunteers from across the Bay Area to bring essential services to those who are at risk of becoming homeless, are currently homeless and are transitioning from shelter to permanent housing. Project Homeless Connect strives to ensure its participants receive comprehensive care in a dignified setting. The organization began as an initiative of the San Francisco Mayor’s office, and is part of the City’s innovative response to the crisis of homelessness.
ACTION: Participate in Project Homeless Connect’s Outreach Walk
CONTACT: volunteer@projecthomelessconnect.org | Visit their website.
GLIDE’s mission is to create an inclusive community mobilized to alleviate suffering and break the cycles of poverty and marginalization in San Francisco. GLIDE’s Volunteer Resource Program places about 10,000 volunteers each year who serve meals through their Daily Free Meals Program, work with children, help fundraise, are involved in HIV services and much, much more.
ACTION: Get the Office Together and Serve a Meal with GLIDE
CONTACT: SKaranwal@glide.org | Visit their website.
