Home » City Guide » ,

Thanksgiving Volunteering Opportunities for 2020

Consider giving your time to help the less fortunate this Thanksgiving
By - posted 11/17/2020 No Comment

Take a moment to give back to the community this Thanksgiving. Holiday volunteerism may look a little different this year, but now more than ever, Bay Area families need your help.

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 2020? Let us know.

Thanksgiving Volunteer Opportunities 2020

SF-Marin Food Bank
Due to COVID-19, the number of people in need of food assistance is staggering. In order to meet the dramatic need, SF-Marin Food Bank has opened pop-up pantries across San Francisco and Marin to accommodate large numbers of people who have lost access to food due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Most of them are serving about 10 times more people than their regular pantries. Make a hands-on difference by volunteering in the warehouse or in the community. Sign up online to volunteer. – Confirmed as of 11/16/2020

Glide Thanksgiving Meals
GLIDE’s Meals program has provided up to 15,000+ meals a week both on-site distributed outdoors in to-go containers as well as delivered to individuals and community partners across the city. GLIDE is redesigning its holiday events to continue their tradition of providing critical resources to the community during the holiday season while keeping staff, volunteers, and community members safe and healthy from COVID19. There are a limited number of on-site holiday volunteer opportunities available. If you are interested in learning more, please contact us Glide directly at volteam@glide.org or 415-674-6081. If their volunteer needs on a particular holiday have already been met, please consider supporting GLIDE through a donation or by volunteering on another day. – Confirmed as of 11/16/2020

Project Open Hand
Project Open Hand prepares 2,500 nutritious meals daily and provides 200 bags of healthy groceries every day to help sustain their clients as they battle serious illnesses, isolation, or the health challenges of aging. They serve San Francisco and Oakland, engaging more than 125 volunteers daily to nourish our community. If you have the time, volunteers must commit to at least one shift per week, for the next three months. If you have questions about volunteering, call the volunteer hotline at (415) 447-2404 or email volunteer@openhand.org. – Confirmed as of 11/16/2020

Salvation Army Meal Delivery
Help deliver Thanksgiving Day meals to 4,000 homebound seniors and disabled adults. Drivers must provide their own vehicle and bring along at least one passenger. Check in and meal pickup on Thanksgiving Day will be drive-up (volunteers will remain in their vehicles). Volunteers are needed as Greeters, at Check-in, to provide traffic control, load in, and make deliveries. Sign up.
Thursday, November 26, 2020 | Shifts from 6 am to 1 pm | Harbor Light Center, 445 9th Street, San Francisco. – Confirmed as of 11/17/2020

Meals on Wheels
Meals on Wheels is not hosting their traditional Thanksgiving meal delivery volunteer opportunity this year, but you can still make a meaningful impact by participating in Thanksgiving Day calls. Give an hour or two of your time on this national day of giving to wish a happy holiday to isolated seniors and adults with disabilities. This valuable and special call will help reduce isolation and brighten the day of our community members who may be experiencing more than typical seclusion during Covid-19.
Learn more to sign up – Confirmed as of 11/17/2020

Other 2020 Volunteer Opportunities

  • AREAA Thanksgiving Food Distribution – Oakland – Thursday, November 19, 2020 at 10am – Clinton Park, Oakland – AREAA GEB will be distributing food to those in need for Thanksgiving and need your help. They’re looking for volunteers to assist with setup, food distribution, food packaging, and cleanup at Clinton Park, Oakland, CA between 7th Avenue and E 12th Street
  • 6th Annual Thanksgiving Giveaway for 300 Families Antioch – Saturday, November 21, 2020 from 2pm to 4pm – Genesis Church, Antioch – The church aims to bless 300 families with a full Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings. If you are interested in serving, send a message via Facebook.
  • Thanksgiving Day Outreach 2020 – SF Thursday, November 26, 2020 from 9am to 1pm – 136 Taylor St. – A hands-on volunteer experience with San Francisco City Impact to serve the people in the Tenderloin. All outreaches are volunteer led and funded, so there is a $25 fee for all participants.