Volunteering for Thanksgiving
Take a moment and give back to the community this Thanksgiving.
Read on below for organizations across San Francisco and the Bay Area in need of volunteers to help spread food and warmth to those less fortunate.
Know of another volunteering opportunity for Thanksgiving 2016? Let us know!
Thanksgiving Day Block Party
San Francisco City Impact is reaching out to the Tenderloin Community with a Thanksgiving Day block party that aims to deliver 7,000 hot meals to homes, serve 300 a sit-down Thanksgiving dinners, and deliver 500 grocery bags.
Thursday, November 24, 2016 | 9 am to 2 pm | 230 Jones Street, San Francisco
RSVP online. A $25 registration fee is required and will go directly towards making this event possible.
Meals on Wheels
Help bring food to 2,500+ local seniors on Thanksgiving day by delivering hot turkey dinners, or helping out with logistics and gift-wrapping at MOWSF’s offices. Shifts run 2-3 hours long and start every 15 minutes between 8am and noon on Thanksgiving Day. (The last shift ends of 2 p.m.)
Thursday, November 24, 2016 | 8 am to 2 pm | Meals on Wheels of San Francisco, 1375 Fairfax Avenue, SF
RSVP online (shifts fill up quickly)
San Francisco Food Bank
Come see what’s in season – from peaches to beans and rice – and get it out the door. Help the SF Food Bank sort, package and distribute these nutritious foods for the community. If you can’t do it on Thanksgiving there’s many other opportunities around the holidays.
Thursday, November 24, 2016 | 9 am to 1 pm | 900 Pennsylvania Avenue, San Francisco
RSVP online (shifts fill up quickly)
SPCA Holiday Windows at Macy’s
Volunteer to help spread holiday cheer at the annual holiday SPCA pop-up adoption center at Macy’s. Although the adoption center is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas day, it’s open every other day for the holidays.
November 18 – January 1 (except Thanksgiving Day & Christmas Day) | Various shifts | 170 O’Farrell, San Francisco
Sign up online to volunteer at Holiday Windows. Please note that many shifts are already filled.
Glide Thanksgiving Meals
Put on your apron and come to GLIDE to help chop, dice, mix and slice in preparation for their Annual Thanksgiving Day dinner or come serve thousands complete Thanksgiving meals with all the fixin’ to individuals and families. Then keep the holiday spirit going the day after Thanksgiving by helping serve breakfast.
Thursday, November 24, 2016 | Various shifts | 330 Ellis St., San Francisco
Sorry, RSVPs for Thanksgiving shifts look like they are full, but, please consider supporting GLIDE through a donation or by volunteering on another day.
Little Brothers: Friends of the Elderly
Make a difference in an elder’s day by providing much needed companionship this holiday season. Visit an elder who would otherwise spend the holiday alone and cheer them up with a a gift bag and flowers. Visits last about 1-2 hours. You may volunteer as an individual, a pair, or a group of up to 3 people.
Thursday, November 24, 2016 | 10 am to 1pm | 450 Powell Street, SF
RSVP is required. They are no longer accepting volunteers for Thanksgiving Home Visits. They encourage you to sign up for the Holiday Home Visits around Christmas.
Salvation Army Meal Delivery
Help deliver Thanksgiving Day meals to 4,000 homebound individuals. Drivers must provide their own vehicle and bring at least one passenger with you. Shifts take no more than 3 hours each. All deliveries occur within San Francisco. On-site that morning you will receive an orientation, refreshments, a route sheet (who to deliver to), map (directions how to get there) and meals
Thursday, November 24, 2016 | Shifts from 8 am to 1 pm | Harbor Light Center, 445 9th Street, San Francisco
RSVP online.
Project Open Hand
Catch the holiday spirit by volunteering at Project Open Hand with shifts throughout the holiday season, including meal preparation and assembly, meal delivery by car and meal delivery by foot.
Mon-Thur, November 21-24, 2016 | 9:30 am to 2:30 pm | 730 Polk St, San Francisco
RSVP online. Spots fill up quicky. If you have questions about volunteering, please call the volunteer hotline at (415) 447-2404 or email volunteer@openhand.org.
