Giving Back: The Standard Guide to Volunteering This Thanksgiving
Written by Sarah HoltzPublished Nov. 14, 2022 • 5:00pm
Skip to main contentPeople serve others during a free Thanksgiving dinner in San Francisco on Nov. 21, 2013. | Michael Short/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images
Much of Thanksgiving weekend in the SF Bay Area takes place in the outdoors. | Getty Images
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Volunteers John Lee (left), Catherine Chao Thomsen (middle) and Sarah Potter (right) carve ham at Freedom Hall for the Glide Memorial Thanksgiving feast on Nov. 26, 2015. | Liz Hafalia/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images
Though Thanksgiving has long been centered on gathering around a dining table, many San Franciscans now celebrate the holiday by volunteering to help others in the community.
This year, these long-standing groups—and several newer nonprofits—are hosting street dinners, neighborhood gardening sessions and many other events to serve others throughout Thanksgiving week, and there’s still time to sign up for a volunteer shift!
As the Ohlone expression goes, makkin ‘irrite ‘alšip, or "we are full of gratitude."
The Tenderloin
📍 330 Ellis St.
☎️ (415) 674-6000
Historic Methodist church and countercultural gathering place with a daily free food program
Available shifts: Thanksgiving prep between Nov. 19-23
Potrero Hill
📍 900 Pennsylvania Ave.
☎️ (415) 282-1900
The food bank collects and distributes free groceries for the hungry.
Available shifts: Every day of the week at the food bank’s network of partner pantries and through Nov. 23 in the food bank warehouses
Lower Nob Hill
📍 909 Hyde St. #628
☎️ (415) 771-7957
LBFE matches volunteers with members of the elderly community. Background check required.
Available shifts: Thanksgiving Day
The Tenderloin
📍 150 Golden Gate Ave.
☎️ (415) 241-2600
Social services organization that serves free meals, provides clothing and hosts a tech lab
Available shifts: Ongoing volunteer days
Little Saigon
📍 730 Polk St.
☎️ (415) 447-2300
Provides medically tailored meals and groceries to homebound and elderly San Franciscans
Available shifts: Senior lunch program shifts between Thanksgiving and Christmas
6. Openhouse SF
Mint Hill
📍 65 Laguna St.
☎️ (415) 296-8995
Community center that serves LGBTQ+ senior citizens
Available shifts: Opportunities with Openhouse’s home-delivered grocery program throughout the holiday season
The Castro
📍 2261 Market St.
☎️ (415) 584-3252
Free food program named in honor of a Tenderloin drag performer and bartender
Available shifts: Call for open slots
Downtown Oakland
📍 1736 Franklin St., Suite 800
☎️ (510) 735-9700
Organization that hosts shoreline cleanups
Available shifts: Ongoing volunteer days
Civic Center
📍 355 McAllister St.
14th annual free Thanksgiving dinner at U.N. Plaza on Nov. 20
Available shifts: Meal prep, serving and cleanup Nov. 19-20
10. 826 Valencia
The Mission | Mission Bay | The Tenderloin
📍 826 Valencia St. | 1310 Fourth St. | 180 Golden Gate Ave.
☎️ (510) 735-9700 | (415) 642-5905 | (415) 642-5905
Educational nonprofit that offers writing programs to under-resourced youth
Available shifts: Ongoing volunteer days. Application required
The Presidio
📍 1007 General Kennedy Drive #1
☎️ (415) 561-6890
Hosts native tree plantings and sidewalk gardening days
Available shifts: Ongoing volunteer days
Civic Center | The Mission
📍65 Ninth St. | 110 Julian Ave.
☎️ (415) 890-3184 | (415) 484-3288
Long-standing free food program hosts cooking and sharing sessions twice per week
Available shifts: Every Wednesday in the Mission and every Friday at Civic Center
Russian Hill
📍1483 Mason St.
☎️ (415) 677-7600
Delivers Thanksgiving lunch to elderly residents
Available shifts: Delivery drivers for Thanksgiving Day
The Castro
📍4111 18th St. #5
☎️ (415) 677-7600
Annual origami holiday tree decoration to promote peace, love and humanitarianism for display at Grace Cathedral
Available shifts: Nov. 16-27
SoMa
📍1275 Harrison St.
☎️ (415) 503-3000
International charity organizes Thanksgiving Day meal deliveries
Available shifts: Nov. 24, 6 a.m.-1 p.m.
Fort Mason
📍2 Fort Mason 11
☎️ (415) 561-3044
Cleanup days at Black Point Historic Gardens, a long-neglected site just north of the waterfront
Available shifts: Nov. 25, 9 a.m.-12 pm.
Point Reyes
📍1 Bear Valley Road
☎️ (415) 464-5225
Hosts native habitat volunteer days at Point Reyes National Seashore
Available shifts: Nov. 25
Check out The Standard's 2022 Thanksgiving Guide to find new ideas on everything from where to buy takeout turkey and unique pies, to where to stroll off your feast.
Shelley D. Fargo contributed additional research for this story.
Questions, comments or concerns about this article may be sent to info@sfstandard.com
