I came here as a volunteer event with my coworkers and I can say it was hard work, but very…read morerewarding and most importantly fun! Sign up for this event was very easy. You sign up before you arrive and check in at the lobby sign in kiosk. They do require masks at this time, but do provide you with extra masks and gloves if you do forget yours. Before your shift, you do a temperature check/screening outside which is very easy and non invasive. Parking is safe. A gated lot with tons of security cameras and volunteers in the parking lot at all times. With outdoor tent eating area. Tasks include sorting fruits/veggies and bagging them for transport. Organizing boxes ect. A task for everyone. The volunteers are all very helpful and nice. And at the end of your shifts you can see how much meals you provided. Shifts are 3 hours each. One from 8:30-12 and 12-3. Time flies when having fun. Highly recommend this place to volunteer and give back. Link to volunteer: https://www.accfb.org/get-involved/volunteer/

I've been here two times and this is a great & safe place to volunteer! You must sign up in advance…read moreonline. There's two 3 hr shifts, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Once you get to the location, park all the way in the back, to the right side, then enter through the door. Once you enter, you'll be greeted, write your name on a name tag, then you'll check in on the computers, and they'll lead you to a room where they'll introduce you to the ACCFB, talk a little bit about the history, safety, etc. They also have lockers if you want to put your bag inside, and they have a break area where you can leave your water bottles, etc. The restroom is also clean as well! For the volunteering portion, I bagged apples & potatoes, and also assembled the giant cardboard boxes to fill up the produce and fruits in. It is super fun and you get a 15 minute break in between. This is a great location to do this solo, with family/friends, or even with work! There are lead volunteers around to help you with anything you may need. At the end, they'll recap how many pounds of foods were pack and how many meals will be served to the community. It is such a wonderful place to volunteer and I know it won't be my last time coming here!

You know you want to volunteer. You know when someone asks you what you did this weekend, it would…read morebe cool to say, "I helped pack meals for the homebound for Project Open Hand" or "I helped with some cleanup at Literacy for Environmental Justice". But you don't feel like you have enough time. Hands On Bay Area is such a cool vehicle for volunteering without commitment. Sign up, show up, do your 2-3 hours and go home. And if you find a project you really love, you can volunteer every month (most are recurring) or contact the agency to become a regular volunteer. I do wish they had more things I could do with my very young girls. I want to raise them to enjoy volunteering, and most of these projects only welcome older children. But we did do a "With Seniors" visit and a good time was had by all. Our new elderly friend Dorothy really connected with my 5 year old daughter. Meet great people, give back to the community, have fun doing it.

**************** REVIEW 427 ******************…read more I've been with Hands on Bay Area when it was Community Impact in Mountain View in 1999. Hands on Bay Area offer volunteers many options of the volunteer opportunities that match their interests, such as: - Adult education and literacy, - Animal support, - Children & youth (- Enrichment and recreations, tutoring, etc) - Community enrichment, - Environment, - Heath & wellness, - Homelessness and Hungers, You can choose from location different counties such as: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marine, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, & Santa Clara Counties! HOBA has a great website, that user friendly, you can RSVP your project that fits you & they email you the info and also reminder for you! You don't need any skill to volunteer! Hands on Bay Area website makes it really easy to do it & if you are new, they will make you go to an orientation, but it's easy & you get to meet many wonderful hearts just like yourself! So lend a hand, make a different in your community!

I started volunteering with Oakland Elizabeth House in November of 2016 and had the pleasure to…read moremeet so many wonderful families who are working overtime for the betterment of their family. I found Oakland Elizabeth House through instagram and went through the application and interview process with the house volunteer coordinator at the time, Dana. I was able to meet most of the house and become an active volunteer within that next week. At certain times of the year they seem as though they have no shortage of volunteers but during school breaks and certain weekdays, they require more volunteer assistance on several different levels, which can range from helping tutor kids, watching kids during weekly house meetings, planning field trips, organizing reading buddies, and more. I'd usually go one or two times a week for 2-4 hours, or for full days sometimes if it were over spring break or an unexpected rainy day. I'd help with meals and mostly craft time. The age ranges of kids are anywhere from baby through grade school so it's certainly a task to find something all will be interested in for their age. The kids are full of personality and genuinely enjoy and appreciate the extra attention they can get and opportunities to feel special among new people. Some volunteer days are busier than others but even if you aren't interested in organizing events or hanging with the kids, you can volunteer in other ways like sprucing up their garden and play yard. If you have any special skill that are shareable or teachable, that's such a gift to bring to Elizabeth House. Elizabeth House also accepts donations of clothing and food but there is a somewhat strict policy for drop off times, due to it being a very small community in the house and only a few windows open for volunteers and housemates to organize.

I volunteered here today! I met their volunteer coordinator at Yelp Helps and had been in contact…read morevia e-mail since the event. I was glad to finally be able to attend one of their scheduled volunteering opportunities. Their website is thorough and will give you lots of information about who they are, including frequently asked questions. I was signed up to help the mothers and children wrap Christmas presents but when I arrived they had that covered. The volunteer coordinator quickly found something else for me to do. I helped prepare volunteer thank you letters for mailing. I was fortunate to be sitting across the table from the volunteer coordinator and she answered all my questions about their organization. I didn't see Le M's review until now and it reminds me that there a lot of people out there who don't understand how much staff time goes into accepting used or not currently needed donations. We actually talked about this today after I asked about donations and their volunteer coordinator commented about recently receiving bags and bags of canned food items...all of which were expired. The staff had to go through all of them to compost and recycle. With a staff of four, they certainly don't always have the time to go through used items to determine which are good enough for the women and children residents. I am sure that Le M's items were clean, intact and free from rips and stains but it may have been that Oakland Elizabeth House just didn't have the staff time to accept the items. Not accepting used donations is not a measure of how well an organization is doing. Often it is the smaller, more financially strapped organizations that cannot accept used items. *Tips for making donations to an organization: 1) Contact them to make sure it is something they need. 2) If you wouldn't give the item(s) to a friend, don't give them to a stranger. This is a fabulous organization supporting women and children at a time when they need it the most. I am looking forward to volunteering more of my time here in the future.

Ruth Brinker started Project Open Hand in 1985 to provide meals to neighbors suffering from AIDS…read more Seven neighbors receiving food made with love became her mission where people with AIDS, cancer, diabetes, heart disease and other illnesses as well as the elderly now receive meals and groceries. Seeing my son's ample free time one summer and the need for volunteers, I signed up my son for 10-15 hours a week. After school started, he continued volunteering 3 hours a week, filling in shifts as needed during breaks including holidays. It's not glamorous work, weighing and vacuum sealing beans, rice, chicken and other groceries, but it's important work: I emphasize that people rely on him to receive nutritious food they might not otherwise have. Giving back, caring about people, making time for others less fortunate, being selfless- these are qualities I've instilled in my son. He now enjoys the work, it feeds his soul. I'm proud he volunteers weekly for Project Open Hand for almost two years.

Here is a gem of a org that doesn't boast enough of its amazing work! they strive to provide some…read moreof the healthiest meals in the community. Big difference from the other non-profit food providers. The times that I have volunteered there, you get a sense that the employees really are passionate about their work.

A small-but-mighty organization that has stayed true to its mission for over 25 years!…read more In a nutshell, great people who do great things for the community and city :)

Help the homeless WHILE devouring delectable Truffles?!?!? Yep, you read right!…read more Last night, February 9th was the second time that I've volunteered At The Crossroads (ATC) through One Brick, a non-profit organization that makes volunteering easy with NO long-term commitment. Here's the link to my One Brick review: http://www.yelp.com/biz/one-brick-san-francisco#hrid:CnCnP7lsYhtMlxBnI6mPJw WHAT'S ATC? ATC is a wonderful organization that reaches out to homeless youths in the Mission and Tenderloin area through night time street outreach, one-on-one counseling services and collaboration with other social service agencies. The caring and compassionate staff at ATC refers to homeless youths as their "clients" which not only takes away the stigma some people may associate with the homeless but shows how much respect they have for them as a human being. During the street outreach, the counselors distribute food, healthcare products, and clothes which slowly helps to build a relationship with their clients. Through counseling, the counselors help their clients determine their short-term and long-term goals (i.e. finding housing, gaining employment, pursuing their passion, etc) and work with various social service agencies to help them achieve their goals. HOW DOES VOLUNTEERING HELP ATC? By helping to sort, organize, clean, and/or pack supplies to be distributed, it allows the counselors more face time with their clients. For example, if 25 volunteers help for 2 hours, counselors will have 50 ADDITIONAL HOURS to spend with their clients (instead of being bogged down with sorting/organizing/cleaning/packing the supplies themselves). HOW DO YOU VOLUNTEER FOR ATC? I signed-up through One Brick which takes less than 2 minutes. You register for an account, go on the calendar and RSVP for an event. The ATC event is called, "Supply Prep for the Homeless" and normally occurs one Wednesday a month from 6-8 PM. The event is limited to about 25 people and spaces get filled quickly, so make sure to sign-up at least one week prior. WHAT'S INVOLVED WHEN VOLUNTEERING FOR ATC? It's very simple, show up with a smile and a helping hand! :) When you enter ATC, you're greeted by a One Brick Event Manager who signs you in and gives you a nametag. Rob Gitin, Director & Co-Founder of ATC will then explain the various workstations and what's involved. Then, you can decide which activity you would like to partake in for the evening. ALL of the work is easy and not labor intensive. There are normally 4-5 stations: 1. CANDY PACKING (My Fav): Pack chocolates and other sweets donated from the SF Food Bank into small individual zip lock bags. 2. TOILETRIES PACKING: Pack soap, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, sanitary pads etc. 3. TIMBUK2 BAG CLEANING: ATC wants to ensure that all of their clients receive clean like-new items, so volunteers wash minor stains and grime off, trim extra thread/fabric and remove any debris stuck in the velcro. 4. SORT/FOLD/ORGANIZE CLOTHING: Sort through and fold t-shirts, outerwear and jeans, and organize by gender and sizes. All of the clothing is new and donated by Old Navy and Levis. 5. GREETING CARD MAKING: Utilize your artistic and decorative skills by making Birthday Cards and ones for special occassions. WHY YOU SHOULD VOLUNTEER FOR ATC? The two-hour volunteering events passes by very quickly especially when there's music playing in the background, other volunteers to chitchat with and yummy snacks (fresh cut Asian pears and TRUFFLES) being passed out by Rob. After every event, One Brick organizes a dinner nearby (e.g. Pancho Villa) where all volunteers are welcome and encouraged to join. This gives you a wonderful opportunity to make new friends and network outside of your social inner circle. You never know who you may meet right? Most importantly, just taking two hours out of your busy schedule will help to improve the quality of life for these youths and empower them to transform their lives! One of my 2011 resolutions was to volunteer at least 2 times a month and so far I've been successful thanks to ATC and One Brick... Thank you both, for not only make volunteering easy and fun but also giving me a NEW APPRECIATION FOR LIFE and THE GIFT OF HUMILITY!

Have you ever thought of giving yourself the gift of "Humility?"…read more In a society overrun by materialism, we often forget about those who lack the basic necessities just to survive on a daily basis. I will admit that I use to be one of those offenders, you know the ones who see a homeless/less fortunate person and say, "Awwww, I feel sorry for him/her..." then turn a blind eye. As obvious as it may seem (yet we tend to ignore), feeling sorry for someone isn't going to help them unless you proactively help to change the situation. One day, I had an epiphany and felt like something was missing in my life. This is where One Brick came into my life to help fill in the gap. I've wanted to volunteer for a while now but with a busy work and social schedule, I couldn't commit for 6 months and 3-4 hours a week like many organizations require. After searching on Yelp, I came across One Brick, a non-profit organization that makes volunteering easy with NO long-term commitment. (Thanks, Sam T. for giving me more insight about One Brick and making my decision much easier!) SIGNING UP FOR A VOLUNTEERING EVENT 1) Create a One Brick account, which takes less than 2 minutes. 2) Go to the Calendar and choose from a number of volunteering opportunities: prepping supplies, food repackaging, food distribution, park clean-ups and gardening are among some of the examples. Each event has a description of what you will be doing and what to wear (*ahem* Ladies, NO stilettos! Lol!). 3) Once you find an event that tickles your fancy, you RSVP on the website. You can set a reminder to be emailed to you up to 7 days before the event. If you can't attend, you can always cancel. 4) Most events last for 2-3 hours with an option to go to lunch or dinner with other volunteers afterwards. MY VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE It's been a month since joining One Brick and so far I've volunteered at two events (with more to come): *Food Distribution to Families at the Mission Bay Community Church: http://ecfoodpantry.missionbaycc.org/. *Supply Prep for the Homeless At The Crossroads: http://atthecrossroads.org/. Before starting each event, you check-in with a volunteer manager(s), get a name tag and there is a short intro of the organization, as well as, the other volunteers. I love that the managers explains HOW your individual efforts contributes to the overall efforts of the organization and HOW it will help those individuals/families in need. They even provide drinks and snacks for the volunteers! Thus far, none of the work was strenuous by any means. For the food distribution, we had to open boxes, organize, and hand out food items (e.g. rice, soup, veggies, etc.) to Excelsior families in need. And, for the supply prep, there were 5 stations: candy packing, toiletry packing, folding scarves, hanging up coats and sweaters and cleaning supplies. On a first come basis, you get to choose what station you want to work at (I choose to pack candy). The managers and all the other volunteers are very friendly and take the initiative to get to know you. Being able to socialize while performing our tasks made the time fly by quickly. In addition, it was refreshing to socialize with people out of work and the nightlife scene. With only two volunteer events under my belt, it has been a very humbling experience to say the least. To see those who are less fortunate and the smile you put on their faces has truly been life changing. Although physical gifts are nice, nothing exceeds the intrinsic reward you get when you know YOU are making a difference in HUMAN LIVES! I can't say enough, how I HIGHLY recommend One Brick as an avenue to begin volunteer work. In just 2-3 hours of your time, you can improve the quality of life for others, extend your social network and give yourself the gift of a humble heart. Without the help of volunteers, One Brick and other organizations would NOT be able to do what they do. So, as we are approaching a new year, why not start it off right by GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY ONE DAY AT A TIME...all that's required is a SMILE and a HELPING HAND! :)

My Fellow Chicagoans may not know too much about One Brick. I met some One Brickers while…read morevolunteering to clean up Humboldt Park on Earth Day and they seemed like a nice friendly lot. Plus, they went for food and drinks afterward and invited me along, it's like Yelp +Volunteering! So it seems a perfect match to push their cause here. It took me a while to volunteer after that initial meet, but it was so easy! You can sign up on their email list and register directly from there or go to their website and do it. My event last week was cooking for the Lincoln Park Community Shelter. One Brick brought about 12 people together that chipped in for the food, the organizer made up the menu and brought the groceries and put us to work! I had no idea I could fry up 30 breasts of chicken in an hour but call me Mel I guess! "Order up Dingbat!" The volunteers did range from the experienced (100+ events done) to the novice (me and another), but we were made to feel welcomed and there was no snobbery or lack of getting to know people. There's such a variety of volunteer opportunities and you can sign up whenever you want and not feel pressured.There are also Social Events (hello Yelpers) where One Brickers meet to drink and socialize and perhaps rally around a cause like bringing school supplies for needy kids. I'll definitely volunteer with them again. (Getting down from my Soap Box now so you may climb up!)

Community service was a good way for me to get to know my new home: SF's history, its…read moreneighborhoods and their cultures, and of course the issues and needs present in the community. I've been a ROCK volunteer for a year now, and not only do I have a greater appreciation for this city, but I've also found a family in the kids, staff, and volunteers that I've met through ROCK. I'm involved in ROCK's Saturday Skill Drills, 6-week sports sessions (3 sessions per year) for elementary-school kids. The kids are extremely energetic and enthusiastic for a Saturday morning, but it's a rude awakening that's so much fun--and a welcome change of pace from hanging out with boring adults! There are also weekend programs geared towards middle-school and high-school students, as well an elementary after-school program, so there are plenty of chances to share your talents and lend a hand. Visitacion Valley has received some careless and ignorant media attention, and I wish more people could see what a vibrant community it really is. There's a quote from Daniel Burnham that goes, "To love one's city and have a part in its advancement and improvement is the highest privilege and duty of a citizen." I want to encourage fellow SF citizens to consider joining a remarkable grassroots effort that celebrates, protects, and empowers the next generation of this neighborhood (a neighborhood that Newsom & Co. are choosing to ignore). ROCK is profoundly changing lives, including my own, and I can't be more thankful and proud! be a part of it... http://www.rocksf.org http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhWLCJuESWc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-kNRLrzCNA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFWgFHAJvqw

I love volunteering for ROCK. Its awesome because you get to do different outdoor activities like…read moremountain biking, hiking, rock climbing, habitat restoration (if you choose the middle school program) while spending time with kids that live in the visitation valley on saturdays. Most of the volunteers are in the mid 20's - mid 30's age range, which is nice. They also totally understand if you can't commit to going every saturday in the 6 week sessions they offer 3x/year, just as long as you can go to at least half of them.

Home Repair in the Bayview area of San Francisco. No construction experience necessary, repair is…read morean all day shift, and you can't choose what kind of work you are doing. We had a fun and exhausting day and had a great crew leader and coordinator that worked with the vibe of our group to make it the most optimal. Our group's task was primering the outside of a home and helping clean the inside. Painting the outside was definitely the craziest part, leaning huge 2 story ladders with the bottom being on an angled sidewalk and made true by jamming scrapwood underneath one leg and the top part leaning on a house that was falling apart. Our crew leader did it with such comfort and confidence it made us feel more confidant about the safety. It was cool to see how a primer layer improved the look of the home and made it feel refreshed. I also enjoyed helping clean the inside, not sharing pictures of those for privacy but it was one of the most interesting houses with amazing history I've ever been inside of. Thanks for the fun experience, it made the end of day beers that much better!

I've been on 3 different projects, 2 in Menlo Park (read East Palo Alto) and 1 in Daly City, the…read morecondo development. It's been a lot of fun. I like that they do the safety talk at the start of each day. Also they have safety equipment such as helmets, ear plugs, knee pads. The knee pads are "well used" but are good enough to do the trick. Really nice folks at every site. I'm one to ask a lot of questions, and everyone has been really patient in answering. It's a good volunteer environment. The work itself can be hard work! But it's satisfying, and I was able to take the breaks I needed. It's also fascinating to learn about home construction. I've put down a subfloor, removed old laminate and hardwood flooring, and put down pergo. Plus done some random demolition. I've also seen inside of lots of walls, and have a better sense of how homes were constructed in the 50's. yikes. BTW I learned something important about Habitat. They don't give away houses--they sell them to families at a % of family income over time (30 years?). Then if the family wants to sell, they sell BACK to Habitat, and then they can use their built-up equity to buy something else. The neat thing is that the Habitat system is focused on affordability and smooths out bubbles by basing on salary. (US gov't, are you listening?) Also families that buy from Habitat have to do 500 hours of volunteer work. It's good stuff.