Volunteer Opportunities San Francisco (Food Pantries, Animals, Nature & More)
Volunteer Opportunities San Francisco (Food Pantries, Animals, Nature & More)
San Francisco volunteer opportunities by day, neighborhood. Food bank, soup kitchen, environment, dog rescue, youth, seniors, hospital, animals, high school/students San Francisco
Updated September 3, 2024
This is a super rough guide for volunteering in San Francisco. I will expand on it, add details, quick requirements, locations as well as drop-in notes for last minute opportunities.
My main focus is around:
food pantries/food service in kitchens
volunteering at specific locations (no need for driving)
pets, nature, youth/seniors & other one-time opportunities
especially looking for those accepting last minute drop-ins & shorter shifts
if places are filled up indefinitely or most days/weeks, I may remove them temporarily from this list
I started this list because I wanted to make volunteering as frictionless as possible. Often one has to search through 3-6 pages to learn more, see that slots are filled up, realize that a timeframe commitment or training is needed or figure out that the location is too far or not easy to get to or timing won’t work.
My goal is to surface key data points early on so that people can spend less time researching and more time volunteering.
If you have suggestions or notes to add, please leave them below or suggest places here. I have volunteered at several of these places, so if you have any questions, I will do my best to respond.
Anyone, feel free to chime in and recommend places.
Why Volunteer?
There are many benefits to volunteering, including:
a great way to meet people (friend, job networking, possible love interest?)
benefit your community, and help others,
it also can help with mental health
practice social skills, especially if you are super shy
can be good exercise!
Hands On Bay Area Volunteer Calendar (check here for daily aggregated opportunities)
San Francisco-Marin Food Bank Volunteer Opportunities (upcoming opportunities)
Youth Volunteer Opportunities, San Francisco
826 Valencia (Mission) Volunteer Opportunities (Tutoring)
Seeking Black, Indigenous & POC Volunteers
Also seeking design, photography & illustrative volunteers
Hospital Volunteer Opportunities San Francisco
Food Volunteer Opportunities San Francisco
City Of Hope Volunteer Opportunities (Mon/Wed/Fri Shifts)
Burrito Project, Mission District
St Anthony’s Food Kitchen Volunteering (Tenderloin); 7 days/week
Glide Church Food Kitchen Volunteering (Tenderloin); 7 days/week
Everyone should volunteer at least once here.
Foodwise Volunteer Opportunities (Ferry Building)
Volunteer at Farmer’s markets, events and more, orientation required.
Project Open Hand Volunteer Opportunities (Tenderloin)
St Gregory’s Episcopal Church Food Pantry, Potrero Hill, Wednesdays 9AM-2:30PM
Stop by for all the time or part of the time
St John’s Presbyterian Church Food Pantry, Inner Richmond; Saturdays 7:30-10AM
Kids & Families welcome! (Organize tables, hand out food, clean up etc).
Excelsior Community Food Pantry. Saturdays, 9AM-12:30PM
Environment Volunteer Opportunities, SF
Garden For The Environment, Inner Sunset (Wednesday/Saturday)
No walk-ups, bring own gloves
San Francisco Parks Conservatory Volunteering
(select volunteer from event type)
Save The Bay, Oakland Volunteer Opportunities
Planting, Removing Invasive Species; Themed Activities LGBTQ+, BIPOC
San Francisco Bay Keeper Volunteer Opportunities
Based in Oakland, but opportunities beyond?
Refuse Refuse (Volunteer Trash Pickup, Occasional HH)
Various neighborhoods, usually once a month in each one
Animal Volunteer Opportunities San Francisco
SF Animal Care & Control Volunteering (Design District)
SPCA San Francisco Volunteer Opportunities (Mission);
Attend training; volunteer 2hrs/week for 6 months (socialize w/ cats/dogs)
Muttville Senior Dog Rescue (Mission District)
3hrs/week, 6 month commitment
Fri 1-3pm; Sat 10:30-12:30pm (English/Spanish Bilingual Needed); 20lb lifting
Coding/Tech/Computer Volunteer Opportunities San Francisco
St. Anthony’s Support Specialist (Navigating a Computer, Resume)
Donate Clothes, Items San Francisco
St Anthony’s (clothing/shoes for men, women, & children: clean & in good condition. Also accept luggage, towels, linens, and unopened hygiene products.)
Civic Volunteer Opportunities San Francisco
Sunday Streets Volunteer Opportunities
Excelsior 7/21, Bayview 8/4, Mission 8/25, Western Addition 9/22, SoMa 10/13
Yoga/Wellness Volunteer Opportunities San Francisco
The Center, Lower Haight/Alamo Square
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