75+ Volunteer Opportunities San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area community service opportunities: soup kitchen, environment, mental health, senior center, hospital, animals, Thanksgiving, Earth Day
Last Updated March 26, 2025 1:17PM
Be sure to check out my weekly email newsletter with activities, events & things to do each week in the San Francisco Bay Area & beyond; 20,000+ subscribers & counting.
Best Volunteer Opportunities San Francisco Bay Area
Note To Organizations:
I have reached out to several of you recently to help you obtain volunteers needed, desired. There are several things I have seen that are making it harder for volunteers to find you, including:
broken links on website
missing volunteer info on landing pages (have to click through 2, 3, 4+ pages to get to info about what kind of volunteers are needed)
posting volunteer info only on newsletters (after signup)
I am more than happy to help out when/where I can but I need some help which is partly why I am surfacing this info here, for the masses.
Use the contact form on the homepage to get in touch with me.
Note To Volunteers
Many organizations don’t list all their volunteer opportunities on their sites, social media etc. If you want to help:
List specific skills, ways you can help (website maintenance, social media, etc).
Let them know certain volunteer opportunities are not listed on their site or are buried very deep
Notify them of broken links, missing info on sign-ups etc.
Volunteer: Food, Hospitals, Homeless, Donations, Environment & More
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. This is a lot of work, so thank you for your patience.
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
Community Volunteer Ideas San Francisco Bay Area
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? Donate? Why Do Community Service?
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!
The need for volunteers and donations is at an all-time high. I expect many cuts for federal programs to happen within the next year and there is no better way to support others, help folks get off their feet and provide critical social services than to donate and volunteer.
Popular reads by Eddie’s List:
Check out my free weekly email newsletter with things to do each week (food, drinks, pop-ups, classes, live music, festivals, street fairs, talks & more)! Over 20,000 subscribers with things to do, see, eat, drink in/around the Bay Area.
San Francisco Bay Area Non-Profits Charities To Donate
In addition to the volunteer opportunities listed below, many of these organizations accept one-off or recurring donations.
Swords to Plowshare (veterans, homeless)
Guardian Gym, Oakland
Similarly, I listed some of my favorite organizations that I recommend supporting aside from volunteering opportunities.
Hands On Bay Area Volunteer Calendar (check here for daily aggregated opportunities)
Planned Parenthood Escorts San Francisco Bay Area
“Due to coordinated attacks on reproductive freedom throughout the country, we have seen an escalation in anti-abortion protestors outside our health centers, most notably in Concord, Walnut Creek, San Francisco, and Chico.”
https://www.weareplannedparenthood.org/a/patient-escort-signup
I believe these are 2 hour shifts but will update this once I get confirmation.
Youth Volunteer Opportunities, San Francisco
Working with youth and also opportunities for youth to volunteer.
826 Valencia (Mission) Volunteer Opportunities (Tutoring)
Seeking Black, Indigenous & POC Volunteers
Also seeking design, photography & illustrative volunteers
First Graduate (videography, marketing, salesforce, digital media)
Inner Richmond, Tenderloin, Bayview, Chinatown, Excelsior
Gardens of Golden Gate Park, 14-17 y/o Volunteer Opportunities
Hospital Volunteer Opportunities San Francisco
Food Volunteer Opportunities: Food Pantries, Soup Kitchens
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
Women’s Building, Mission District, Monday 8-10:30AM
Martin de Porres House of Hospitality, Potrero Hill
Tue-Fri 6-8AM; Mon-Sat 9-2:30PM
San Francisco-Marin Food Bank Volunteer Opportunities (upcoming opportunities)
Farming Hope, Food Service, Various (Civic Center);
Help with food prep, serving dinners, distributing groceries (food pantry), and delivering boxed meals (vehicle required). See opportunities here.
Spanish-speaking hosts for family dinners events.
Tuesday/Wednesdays: Meal Service 4:30-7:30pm
Tuesday/Wednesdays: Meal Prep, 10-12pm
Fridays: Meal Distribution, 1-5pm
Food Volunteer Opportunities Bay Area
Food Pantries, Soup Kitchens, Warehouses, San Jose, Peninsula
Sacred Heart Community Service, San Jose
Second Harvest of Silicon Valley (peninsula, South Bay), various locations
Food Pantries, Soup Kitchens, Warehouses, Berkeley, Alameda
Berkeley Food Pantry (M/T/W/F; 2 hour shifts 10-4:30PM)
16+ and older; closed toe shoes
3 hour shifts morning, mid-day and & afternoon
Environment Volunteer Opportunities, San Francisco
San Francisco Parks & Recs Volunteer Opportunities
Parks: Planting & propagating native plants, controlling erosion, & monitoring wildlife habitat
Recreation: Assist staff with arts and crafts, game booths and sports activities at special events or rec centers.
Friends Of The Urban Forest Volunteer Opportunities
Planting & Caring For Plants Across Various SF Neighborhood Streets
Garden For The Environment, Inner Sunset (Wednesday/Saturday)
No walk-ups, bring own gloves
San Francisco Parks Conservatory Volunteering
(select volunteer from event type)
Refuse Refuse (Volunteer Trash Pickup, Occasional HH)
Various neighborhoods, usually once a month in each one
Adopt A Drain (clear gutters during rainy season)
Farm: Mon & Fri 1-5pm; Native Plants: 1st Mon/3rd Sat 1-4:30PM
If you would like to support my efforts with creating and upkeeping free guides like this for everyone, you can buy me a coffee below.
Environment Volunteer Opportunities, Bay Area
Alameda, Contra Costa Oakland Environmental Volunteer Opportunities
John Muir Land Trust, Contra Costa & Alameda
San Francisco Bay Keeper Volunteer Opportunities
Based in Oakland, but opportunities beyond?
Save The Bay, Oakland Volunteer Opportunities
Planting, Removing Invasive Species; Themed Activities LGBTQ+, BIPOC
Peninsula Bay Area Environmental Volunteer Opportunities
Pacific Beach Coalition Beach Clean-Ups; Cleanups Are 9-11AM unless noted; Equipment provided but buckets/gloves welcomed. Sign-ups preferred, walk-ups welcomed. Events will happen unless severe rain conditions occur.
Pacifica Beach Cleanups
Rockaway Beach, San Pedro Beach, 1st Saturdays
Sharp Park Beach, 2nd Saturday
Esplanade Beach, Linda Mar State Beach, 3rd Saturday
Daly City Beach Cleanups
Mussel Rock Beach, 4th Saturday
Thorton Vista, 2nd Saturday
Foster City Beach Cleanups (3rd Saturdays; Rotating Location)
Half Moon Bay Beach Cleanups
Harbor Beach & Surfers Beach & Bluff, 3rd Saturdays
Montara Beach Cleanups, 2nd Saturday
Animal Shelter 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
Animal Shelter Volunteer Opportunities Bay Area
Oakland, Alameda Animal Volunteer Opportunities
Cat Town, Oakland
South Bay, San Jose Animal Volunteer Opportunities
Mickaboo Companion Bird Rescue, San Jose
Technical help, transportation, admin, vets, teachers, outreach & more
Marin County Animal Volunteer Opportunities
Marine Mammal Center, Sausalito
Fine /Industrial Arts Volunteer Opportunities SF Bay Area
The Crucible, Oakland
Coding/Tech/Computer Volunteer Opportunities San Francisco
St. Anthony’s Support Specialist (Navigating a Computer, Resume)
Dev/Mission, SOMA - Free Tech Programs
The Last Mile - started at San Quentin, now operates across 13 facilities in 7 states
Donate Clothes, Toiletries San Francisco Bay Area
Donate Clothes, Toiletries San Francisco
St Anthony’s (clothing/shoes for men, women, & children: clean & in good condition. Also accept luggage, towels, linens, and unopened hygiene products.)
Project Open Hand, Tenderloin
Homeless Prenatal, Mission District
Donate Clothes, Toiletries Oakland
East Bay Collective: Feed The Hood, Oakland
winter items: warm scarves, gloves, knit hats (new or clean & gently used), tents, sleeping bags (new or clean & gently used), heavy duty tarps (new)
East Bay Volunteer Opportunities (Oakland, Alameda)
SF Bay Area Bench Collective: Adopt a Bench
Urban Compassion Project: Weekly? Urban Cleanups, Oakland
Usually Saturdays but check calendar/site.
East Bay Regional Parks Volunteer Opportunities
habitat restoration; shoreline clean-up; trail & garden maintenance (weeding, pruning, mulching); bird box prepping, and many more
The Made, Alameda Volunteer Opportunities
Museum of Art & Digital Entertainment
The Crucible Volunteer Opportunities (maintain our studio spaces, assist instructors with youth classes, run special events, repair bikes and more)
A lot of opportunities from various orgs. Some listed below.
Lake Merritt Institute (trash cleanups): Tuesdays, Saturdays 10AM
Homeless/Family Volunteer Opportunities San Francisco
Homeless Prenatal, Mission District; limited volunteer opportunities
Friday mornings 9-12pm food bag distribution
Family Connection Services (Excelsior, Portola, Visitation Valley)
Zen Caregiving Project (formerly Zen Hospice Project)
Re-opens December 2024, 1 year, 1-5 hour shift per week
Safe & Sound (youth, families and community; meals, calls)
training +commitment of 6 weeks to 1 year
Women’s Volunteer Services San Francisco Bay Area
Las Casas de las Madres, Mission District: Domestic Abuse Services
Social media, text support, crisis hotline, graphic design & more
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
San Francisco NERT Training (Emergency Preparedness)
Senior Center Volunteer Opportunities San Francisco
San Francisco Village, Inner Richmond (food shopping, mobile phone help)
Little Brothers Friendly of the Elderly, Nob Hill
Disability Volunteer Opportunities San Francisco
Yoga/Wellness Volunteer Opportunities San Francisco
The Center, Lower Haight/Alamo Square
Corporate/Group Volunteer Opportunities Bay Area
Check here for opportunities
LGBTQ+ Volunteer Opportunities San Francisco Bay Area
Openhouse, Lower Haight
“Support SF Bay Area LGBTQ+ seniors overcome unique challenges they face as they age.”
South Bay, San Jose & Peninsula Volunteer Opportunities
The Tech Interactive, San Jose
Computer History Museum, Mountain View
Veggielution, Community Farm, San Jose
Sacred Heart Community Service, San Jose
Hope's Corner, Mountain View
2-3 hour shift, lift upward of 25 pounds, climb stairs
NERT Training San Francisco: Neighborhood Emergency Response Team
In the event of a major disaster, resources in San Francisco can be stretched thin, especially if many personnel are located outside the city and may be unable to arrive promptly or at all. By obtaining training for NERT, you can greatly reduce the liability you may cause by being more prepared and helping others seek training and help in an emergency.
6 trainings to get certified
Sessions rotate each 6 weeks across various neighborhoods
To register, click: ‘NERT Calendar: Meetings, Trainings & Events’
Then click on ‘SFPD NERT Member App’
Select ‘register email/set password'
May take 1-2 minutes to receive email confirmation to start application.
Create a profile.
See other trainings in other cities/counties here.
San Francisco Bay Area Organizations I Support
La Cocina - food incubator for women, BIPOC etc
ICA Fund - business accelerator program
City Arts & Lectures - talks
Commonwealth Club - talks
Centro Legal de la Raza - legal assistance for low-income & immigrants
SPUR - non-profit public policy, urban planning & civic issues
Women’s Building - services & advocacy, affordable space for non-profits & community members (need for bilingual speakers, front desk help)
Canal Alliance - social services for immigrants in San Rafael
If you found this guide helpful, please share it with others!
If you would like to support my efforts to create/update free public guides for all, feel free to buy my a coffee.
More free guides here: https://www.eddies-list.com/t/free
Read more about my newsletter here: https://www.eddies-list.com/about
Earth Day Volunteer Opportunities Bay Area
Coming soon
Thanksgiving Volunteer Opportunities Bay Area
Please consider volunteering on other days as well given slots for Thanksgiving fill up on the most popular volunteering day of the year well in advance. That said, here are some options for volunteering on Thanksgiving day and days leading up (more will be added shortly).
If you want to do something great this day and can’t find anything to do, consider picking up trash at your local beach, park, playground etc. That is always in need and always welcomed any day but especially this day.
You can also donate money as well to any of the above organizations above.