Have you ever thought of giving yourself the gift of "Humility?" 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! :) read more

My Fellow Chicagoans may not know too much about One Brick. I met some One Brickers while volunteering 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!) read more

Volunteering with One Brick has checked all the boxes for me. I choose from a variety of local organizations, and I've been able to have my Mom join me when she visits from the Midwest. The most important reason I have been able to remain a One Brick contributor for so long is that One Brick allows its volunteers to set their individual level of dedication--no pressure to commit to hours or events goals. So much flexibility and variety with this org! When life events occur--planned or not--One Brick's membership model allows its members to reprioritize as needed. (the above is an excert, slightly modified, from an article written in the Silicon Valley chapter's newsletter: https://onebricksv.wordpress.com/2020/04/19/one-brick-silicon-valley-update-04-19-20/) This is a national organization with local chapters. You can find events in your area by visiting the website. read more

I love helping out others an I hate that finding time is an excuse. One brick is perfect for that . Theres all kinds of different things on different days at all different times that its easy to fit in. My mom raised me to help others an one Brick has really helped me to fulfill that . I"ve also learned things with one brick like how to fix bikes and they have all kinds of social get together fun fundraisers. One brick is the best volunteer organization there is out there. NO commitment , you have the freedom to volunteer whenever or even take a break however long you like an then get back in the swing of things. I've helped feed the homeless,Helped raise money for stern grove, worked in gardens , sorted and packed at food banks, helped fix bikes, and so many other things and met so many interesting and very nice people. I don't really no why people wouldn't do one brick. Its a great experience. read more

Thank you to the person who has the vision of creating this organization. I wanted to volunteer but without the hassle of having to go through the paperwork, possible interviews, time commitments, etc. Enter One Brick. Their organization has one paid employee who oversees the different locales of OB. Those who facilitate the volunteer events are volunteers as well. You can check out what volunteer events are available by logging onto their website. There are events in every part of the Bay Area which range from sorting medical supplies to gardening. I've volunteered for several events over the last year from pulling out invasive plants in Pacifica to cleaning the Berkeley Marina's shores. Events typically last 3-4 hours. They try to go eat afterwards so that people can meet others. Not only is this a great way to meet others but it's also a great way to learn about the different organizations that exist and the causes they support. read more

So last night there were 27 volunteers sorted and packed over 12,600 pounds of carrots, and 5,280 pounds of plums. The carrots will be shipped out to needy families over the next few days, and the plums soon afterward. After the event, 15 of us met up at Goat Hill Pizza for pizza and beer. It was a LOT of fun! :) Great crowd last night! read more

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Organized Non-profit Exciting Builds community Reaches out In need of volunteers and donations Charitable cause Kind-hearted Past volunteering: SF Marathon goodie bag stuffing, and Kaleidoscope Family Day read more

I have always wanted to volunteer, but have a hard time committing to 6-month or 1-year stints, which is what most organizations ask for. I love the concept of One Brick: volunteer where you want, when you want. No long term commitments of any kind. It's perfect for anyone with a busy schedule. No there can be no excuses for not volunteering! You don't even have to set aside the time when you choose when to volunteer. And, registering and signing up for a volunteer project is a piece of cake on their website. So what are you waiting for? Go sign up! :) read more

Looking to do some good, have fun, and meet some nice people in the process? Then volunteer with One Brick. Whoever called One Brick "volunteering for the commitment-phobic" was right on. The whole process is super easy - you just go to their calendar and select an event that interests you, sign up online, and you're done. No red tape and no ongoing time commitment necessary. The variety of events is amazing. With this group I've sorted produce at the SF Food Bank, packed up books at the end of a Fort Mason book sale (volunteers were encouraged to pick out a few books for themselves), put together candy and supply packs for homeless teens, collected bids at a swanky auction, pulled weeds at an SF park I didn't even know existed, ushered for a play and then got to sit and watch it, and poured wine at a lovely event up in Napa. I recently became more involved with the group (I'm an Event Manager now), and that has made my One Brick experience even more enjoyable and rewarding. Another incentive for getting more involved: the more people they have running the show, the more events they can put on. There's usually a social outing at the end of each event - folks will go out to a nearby restaurant or bar for food and drinks. Don't skip these - they're a great way to get to know your fellow volunteers even better! Check it out. And do it now - events fill up quickly! read more

One Brick is a wonderful organization, but my opinion may be a bit biased considering that I've volunteered at over 100 projects since discovering One Brick at a KFOG KaBoom event back in 2005. I've always been a volunteer-junkie, but One Brick just makes it so easy. No more exchanging emails and phone calls with volunteer coordinators. Just sign up online (name and email, that's it!) and you get a confirmation and a reminder with additional instructions as the event approaches. One Brick has allowed me to help out at some of the biggest, most exclusive Bay Area parties, and an opportunity to volunteer at the annual SF International Beer Festival in late April, KFOG's KaBoom in mid May, the Golden Glass Wine Tasting Festival in early June or the annual Oktoberfest by the Bay can not be passed up. I really enjoy the weekend morning gardening and weeding projects and I have discovered so much more of SF parks since volunteering through One Brick. Other favorite projects you can often find me at are the SF Food Bank, the Monday Night Playground events at the Berkeley Rep and the annual Craigslist.org Non Profit Boot Camp. I'm not always a social person, but the fact that there is an opportunity for a post-event social at many of the events is a plus. Great people, great organization. read more

The project coordinator said it was like "volunteering for the commitment-phobic". Oh, dear One Brick... where have you been all my life? I can have a reckless one nighter with you and not worry about whether I have to call you back or get in touch with you the next week. You know who I am. I just can't commit to 6 months of consecutive volunteering at this point. It's not where I'm at, babe. read more

One of the cool things about One Brick is that they have a variety of volunteering events. You can help serve food at Glide or help sort out supplies at different centers and food banks. You can give your green thumbs a work out by helping out at the local parks and gardens. You can also help serve drinks at events like SF Beer Week or Oktoberfest. Volunteering at these events will gain you free admission! So, for you non Yelp elites out there... keep an eye out for the Yelp Holiday Party volunteering event. Hey, this non Elite has to find a way to get in! I also wanted to check out Oktoberfest, which has a bad rating on Yelp, so I rsvp'd to help with the set up. Unfortunately, that shift has been canceled... boo... and most of the other shifts are now booked... boo... So, sign up as soon as possible... some volunteering events fill up fast!! read more

This is a great way to kill time meet new people, and do something for the community in the process. Ive participated in a few different type activies...all being for somewhat selfish reasons, but the great thing about one brick, is they dont care why you are there...just that you are there. 1. handed out water at the sf marathon (my friend erica was running) 2. Cleaned up shrubbery on Fulton off of GG park. (hung out with my friend amanda that day, she volunteers too) 3. Helped promote recycling at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass (i was going to be there anyway, why not get all access passes too!!) 4. Helped collect money at Stern Grove for the Ozomatli show. (showed up at 1. had prime seating. they stopped letting people in at 11:00, i just cruised up, showed em my volunteering badge, and they said "right this way"!) No commitment, choose what interests you...just make sure you sign up for the good ones quickly...they fill up fast. I keep on meaning to attend a happy hour too. I hear they are good times. THANKS YELP FOR DONATING YOUR MONEY TO A GREAT ORGANIZATION read more

Have you ever tried to volunteer your time only to have to fill out forms in triplicate and give a blood sample and four forms of I.D.? Okay, maybe not quite, but a lot of places make it difficult to volunteer. Seriously. Maybe I'm not always sure I'll have the time free three weeks in advance. Maybe faxing them copies of ID to sign up isn't convenient. One Brick is NOTHING like that. Check their website or get on their mailing list. Have a weekend that you'd like to dedicate to cleaning a park, restoring native plants to the sand dunes, replant flowers, feed the homeless, help children with their reading, hydrate marathoners, and do lots of other cool stuff? Good. Sign up. On line. Easy. read more

I'm going to call One Brick an excellent gateway for volunteer work. I got a general broadcast message from a friend one day, saying that he's going down to New Orleans to work on houses, bang up his knees, drink, and cuss. Sounds like fun, I though, so I asked how to get involved. Enter One Brick. I signed away a week of my life for a trip to St Bernard Parish, outside New Orleans, to work with Habitat For Humanity rebuilding a community devastated (still) by Hurricane Katrina. Since that trip, I've found a variety of ways to volunteer... through One Brick, I've worked with the SF Food Bank (will do more) and the St Vincent's de Paul in San Leandro (not my thing). Outside One Brick, I found how easy it was to work with Habitat For Humanity here, and I directly contacted the St. Bernard Project and am going to spend another two weeks down in Louisiana in a few weeks. The One Brick people are good, but I think that things could be better. More east bay activities, for one. So that's what One Brick does. It connects you to other organizations that need help, and with no ongoing commitment on your part. It's a great way to get started, or find something you really enjoy. read more

One Brick-Chicago is a solid organization that makes volunteering easy and fun. I found out about them through a joint event they held with Yelp. I have since volunteered for a few events and enjoyed every single one. Great people, great causes. It is non-committal volunteering at some of the coolest venues for some of the greatest organizations in Chicago. I have "rescued" food after the Taste of Chicago for the Chicago Food Depository. And I have packed goodie bags for the City Chase event benefitting the Special Olympics. I receive e-mails every so often of the volunteering opportunities around town and I go to the ones I choose. So give back Chicago and see what OneBrick.org has to offer. read more

I love volunteering for One Brick. I have lots of other demands to volunteer from friends in non-profit and health-care but sometimes I want to volunteer on something not work/friend/family/church related and One Brick is always there with the ideas! They even have stuff in the east & south bay which is more convenient since I live on the border of both in Fremont. read more

I volunteered for my first project this weekend at the SF Botanical Gardens. As mentioned by others, it's great to be able to sign up for things on a project by project basis. Also, I was looking for volunteer activities that would require me to be outdoors and One Brick has a lot of them. On Saturday, I was late because I grossly underestimated how long it would take me to find parking and then I had to leave early for a wedding in San Jose but the One Brick organizers were understanding. There were around 30 or so other volunteers and I met some cool people while weeding an area of the park on a gorgeous day. It was nice to be up and out that early on a weekend. I wasn't able to hang out with people afterwards but I definitely will next time. I hope the other projects I signed up for are as fun. read more

Yelp, you've done it again. I would have never known about this fantastic organization without your guidance! I had been meaning to volunteer. I know, you've heard it before... but One Brick makes it so easy and fun! Park clean-ups, habitat restoration, serving food to the homeless at Glide, assisting in Oktoberfest debauchery, marathons, food bank, wine country festivals... the variety of events is incredible! You get to choose what you want to do and at a time that's convenient for you! No commitment, but plenty to do if you're so inclined. And every event ends with a little social get-together... pizza, drinks, Indian food, cool people, good chatter. Do some good, have some fun, meet new people! Why hasn't this been done before? If you're ready to give a little back, One Brick is definitely the way to do it. read more

I started out as a volunteer with One Brick when I first moved to the Bay Area a few years ago. Now, I'm an event manager. What makes OB different is that all of the event managers and coordinators are volunteers -- we don't get paid. These are ONE TIME COMMITMENTS! Did you hear me? You only have to volunteer that one time. No one-year stints or hours of pre-service training One Brick is a great way for busy professionals to help out their local community. Despite it being a one-time deal, you really do make an impact. For example, I've managed the Second Harvest Food Bank numerous times. In one night we repacked and sorted 20,000 pounds of donated food. This food will be distributed to needy families, the elderly and the homeless. If you have a few hours to spare, please consider joining a volunteer event with One Brick and make a difference. It's super easy. Check out the calendar on the website. Compare it to your busy social life calendar (*smile*) and pick an event that interests you. Register right there online. An event manager will send you a reminder email a few days before the event. Something came up? No prob, just email the manager. There's usually a wait list of volunteers who can take your spot. Hope to see you at an upcoming OB event! read more

Volunteering for those who don't have the time or patience to seek out their own opportunities. What more could one ask for? Their sign-ups allow you several weeks up to a month beforehand to sign up, which is really nice, since that means if you're on top of it all, you should be able to sign up for the event of your choice. Move a little slow, and it may be full. I've yet to get to know the people who go, but it's a nice way to meet people too... especially if you're new to the city and what not. They usually go out afterwards for a bite or a drink. I really wish I had more time though. I've been to a few of their volunteering events, which left me feeling all warm and fuzzy inside for the good deed just done. Star #1: No commitment - well, just make sure you show up to your RSVPed event, but you aren't committed to return. You do what you can in your time? Star #2: Carpools can be set up through the site, if necessary. Star #3: The different types of events available. You can cheer on runners, stuff goodie bags, go to the foodbank, clean up a garden... Star #4 and #5: Warm fuzzy feeling afterwards. read more

One Brick is a great organization... in theory. I know some of the devoted fans will not be happy with this review, but it is honest. One Brick is perfect for the person that is looking to feel good about themselves without having to do very much. I joined One Brick about 2 years ago. A friend of mine was out of work and was looking for something to say he was doing while he interviewed. I went to about 10 different events with him and alone. I would say that I accomplished very little at each event. The problem was they had too many people and not enough work or structure. Look at the review from Natalie that gave it 5 Stars: "We were helping clear out an area in the park and even though I think I pulled up five weeds and got in the way of at least three volunteers, I had a blast" What she is saying is she did next to nothing, but felt good about it because she was doing something good..... Don't get me wrong. They have their Heart in the right place. Out of the events I went to, most of my time was spent doing busy work... or work in a very inefficient manor. Several of my friends that joined he same time as me felt the same way. If you are able to seriously commit to a charity or a hospital there is a lot more you can do with your time to better serve the community. I volunteered in an ER for 3 years and know they are always desperate for people. That being said, if you can not commit to an organization and can only show up on random occasions, this is for you. I loved the idea and thought it would be perfect for me because I travel so much, but I was disappointed with how my time was spent. Because in Theory it is a good idea... I will give 3 stars. Keep in mind, I have not attended any events for a year. Maybe they have better organization and use of volunteers now. read more

A friend of mine recommended One Brick as a way to both give back to the community and also meet new, interesting people. It's definitely delivered on these promises and so much more. One Brick is dedicated to providing a way for people to volunteer to help various non-profits on a very casual basis. There's a great calendar of events that shows all the possibilities. Sign up for one. Show up. Have the fun helping with other like minded people. Afterward, go have more fun in a social setting (read: food) with people who wish to. I've volunteered at two different non-profits through One Brick. The first is the San Francisco Food Bank where I've helped sort donations and package them up for others. It's tremendously satisfying work without being too taxing thanks to the 2-hour shifts. I've also volunteered at a nonprofit called At the Crossroads which is a homeless youth outreach center. Through them, I've packed supplies for the people they're attempting to help. Again, lots of fun and satisfying. The other huge benefit of volunteering with One Brick is meeting new and interesting people. Last year, at my second volunteer event, I met a wonderful woman who has made me a very happy guy ever since. She has had a tremendously positive impact on my life. Through her, I have become even more involved in helping out the community. Also, I've been able to meet many more people who share the same commitment to doing well by doing good. So if you're looking to lend a hand and get involved (even for a short time) and have fun meeting new interesting people, I'd say check out One Brick. It's the best service volunteer nonprofit organization that the Bay Area has to offer. Plus, you might meet a special someone. read more

It's always hard to find volunteer events without a club that you can turn to after you graduate from college or some type of educational institution with a plethora of events that you can choose form to participate in, especially when you know that your friends and familiar faces will not be volunteering at the events beside you. I am so happy I found this wonderful organization. Their web site makes volunteering and signing up so easy. Plus, there are always new volunteers, so have no fear because you will not be the only one there that will not know anyone. Like Danny P. said, the One Brick coordinators are really friendly and make you feel welcomed. I spent last Saturday at the lovely Golden Gate Park stuffing goodie bags for the 5k run on Sunday. It was a sunny day, but we ended up in a shady area and it was freezing cold. In the end, it was worth it and I felt good knowing that I found a new organization with great people that I can volunteer with. P.S. Most events fill up rather quickly, so sign up immediately when you find something you like. read more

Easy peasy lemon squezzy. Pick an event from the calendar. RSVP. Show up. Sign away your body parts in case of accident. Do good. Maybe have food afterward. I did a habitat for humanity this last weekend and usually do the food bank sort with them. There could be more peninsula events, but then I should probably step up to be a manager and organize them. Am told their benefit mixers are good people-meeting. read more

I love One Brick's concept: make volunteering easy and the people will come - and they sure did! This is great for One Brick and those they serve, but not so much for some of their once dedicated volunteers such as myself. I started volunteering for One Brick almost after they first started. I loved it because I could sign up for events at the last minute, and there were plenty of a variety events to choose from. Sadly, with One Brick's popularity increasing it seems the number of events has decreased as well as the ease of signing up (too many volunteers = events filling up/closing quickly). Even when I am able to sign up for an event, when I get there I find that the number of volunteers out ways the number of things needing to be done. As one other Yelper so accurately observed, at there is mostly busy work to do. But I'd also add that you can hustle your way assertively into the "prime" jobs if you get there early, before the start time, and it helps to know the event coordinator. And as final nail in the coffin for my feelings about One Brick, I thought that with the popularity of One Brick spreading that they would be able to have more and a larger variety of events in the East Bay, but I haven't really seen a significant increase. But I suppose there's still hope. I will keep a watch on One Brick's web site for now. read more

I joined One Brick about 2-3 months back. The registration was a cinch and they have so many options for volunteering. I am a pretty busy person and it's hard for me to volunteer for something on a consistent basis so it's nice that with One Brick, you can just choose events as you go along and your commitment is at your own pace. Another thing that's nice about One Brick is the social aspect. They always try to organize a little something afterward so you can get to know the other local volunteers. read more

If you are looking to give back to the community (as I am always taking from the community) this is an easy way to do it. I enjoy the gardening in the park bit. Enjoy the after project social meal. Best way to do the beer festival. read more

I got started with one brick because I had heard about them through a social group I belong too. I thought it was a great concept and wanted to check it out.I had always loved volunteering through school and church activities..and while my sister was involved in Jr. league..i didn't have the time nor monetary commitment that I could give. Additionally I was co-chairing my own event, a Lobster Feed (www.lobsterfestbenefit.org), and since many of the events they volunteered at were events like this, I wanted to see how they acted at such events. I had so much fun, I volunteered at a few other events. I've never had a problem of not having enough work to do..the only issue I've encountered is other volunteers maybe not liking the task they were assigned compared to others available at the event. I'm only giving them 4 stars because last year when I did ask them to volunteer my event, the event happened to be the same day as their anniversary so they weren't staffing any events. Their anniversary party was in golden gate park..in April..and it ended up raining that day. I think they should have given event options to have the one brick volunteers without a manager.After all we were on the peninsula and the event was in the city. We did have them for our set up event the night before and wow! what usually took us until 10-11..we finished by 8pm. We'll definitely be coordinating for this years event with setup..the day of event..and the next day for cleanup! read more

I found this organization through craigslist. I was looking for an organization like this after I graduated from school. This was exactly what I was looking for. There's a huge variety of volunteer events you can choose from and the sign up process is as simple as you can have it. The One Brick coordinators are very friendly and make you feel welcome. The events do fill up pretty quickly. I have to sign up about 2-3 weeks before an event to get a spot. read more

I've been a One Brick member for a year now. I'm not an avid volunteer (I don't go all the time and I've only been to one fundraiser). However, I did take the "volunteer plunge" and went with One Brick to New Orleans in May. It was life changing. We worked in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity, slept in bunk beds in a run down school house, and drank lots of FEMA water. In one week, we worked on 3 houses, met all of the residents and came away changed people. We didn't go on this trip because we "wanted to feel good about ourselves" -- we went down to NOLA because, simply put, it was the right thing to do. There's another trip coming up in July 07. You should go. New Orleans needs you and One Brick keeps the same motto when in the South... "helping should be fun" . Volunteer for a gardening project, a food bank or a reading program. Heck, you could even go to NOLA. Whatever you choose, ....It's the right thing to do. read more

This organization makes it easy to volunteer! You just check out the calendar, pick out something you'd like to do, sign up, and presto - you are registered and ready to go. Next step, show up and have fun! My hon of hons husband and I spent yesterday afternoon decorating Mercy Retirement Care Center in Oakland for Christmas. We had a crew of about 30 volunteers, and the work went smoothly and quickly. We will definitely volunteer with One Brick again! read more

One Brick provides easy and convenient volunteering opportunities for the busy people of Silicon Valley who every now and again feel like giving back to their community, people like me! You can get as much involved into the event as you want to - things from pouring wine/beer at an event to all day, manual label. One Brick offers a ton of really fun stuff to volunteer at (just be sure to sign up early as these good events do fill up quickly!) One Brickers also typically get together after events so it's a great way to meet new people if you're new to the area. Registering and signing up for projects is simple (and free!) just check out their website, join their mailing lists, and let the good karma flow! read more

ONE BRICK IS AWESOME!!! I started volunteering with OneBrick in January of 2007. Now I'm an Event Manager. Come out and volunteer and you might just see me. It'll be L337. Be there! The Event Managers and Event Coordinaters are there to help the volunteers have fun and enjoy their volunteering experience. The people who volunteer range in age from 18-70+. Normally, 20-30 something professionals looking to help their community. There's always a social event with the volunteering. This is a great way to give back and meet other people who enjoy helping out as well! It's super fun, easy, efficient and completely volunteer run. OneBrick works with a myriad of different non-profits. There are numerous different kinds of volunteer opportunities from building houses, to digging ditches, to playing with kids, to sorting pipettes. There's just about every kind of volunteering that anyone would want to do. read more

I wanted to volunteer while I have all this free time (not working now) but I didn't know where exactly I wanted to volunteer 'til I discovered One Brick. One Brick makes volunteering easy and fun. There are a variety of projects to choose from and signing up for any of them is a breeze. You not only get to meet interesting kind-hearted people but you also give back to the community. What a perfect combo! They always have a get together after the end of the event (lunch, coffee, etc) which is optional (and extra $) and it's a great way to socialize after all that hard work you just did! The best thing is that there is no special commitment required. Other organizations require you to commit a certain amount of hours a week and, let's face it.. we have busy lives and it's hard to make that kind of commitment. With One Brick you volunteer as much or as little as you want. It's YOUR choice. And you get to pick your projects! Do it w/ a friend if you're shy to do it alone but either way just try it! You have NOTHING to lose and so much to gain. I recently volunteered to clean up/garden in Balboa Park and it was so much fun! I loved it! read more

Have worked on a variety of One Brick projects. Some have been fantastic and others not so much. it depends on the type of work you're doing and how the organization you're helping responds. The people in One Brick are a great bunch of caring, intelligent people. You can spend as much or as little time as you wish, which is nice because you can volunteer a lot or a little depending on your own personal schedule and commitments. If you want to volunteer in a wide range of places and meet some interesting people, look no further than One Brick! read more

I was looking for an organization for my company to volunteer for, but from the looks of it, it wasn't going to work just because of the scheduling and such. While I was looking, I figured that maybe I'd just volunteer on my own just for fun and not worry about making a huge commitment. I signed up to help garden in Golden Gate Park one morning for the SF Botanical Gardens. We met in front of the main gate to the gardens and were lead over to the area the group of us was going to work on. They had all the equipment we may possibly need and we all broke up in groups to help weed the area and help clear out and layout mulch. I have to say, everyone was friendly and by the end of the 3 hour shift, we accomplished a lot. Since the gardens are open at 10am, tourists were walking around and watching us clean which was sorta funny. Though one guy said we were doing a great job which was awesome. Someone's gotta do it, right? They supplied the group with water and snack bars. After we were done, we walked in the very drizzly rain and headed over to grab something to eat in the Inner Sunset. Over all, it was good experience and I'm definitely looking forward to doing more stuff with this organization. I was able to get my gardening fix which I so miss from living in a house ... Golden Gate Park is now my new place to garden :) read more

So easy to join and sign up for an event. Just an email and you can check out their calender for things to do in your area and no pressure to do more than your schedule allows. There's always fun unique stuff like beer / chocolate festivals. park / river cleanups, prepping / helping out at runs like kids triathalon at deanza. I was one of a few people that thought "bingo for the blind" would be a bizzare experience, until I realized that it only refers to the proceeds. Great gregarious guys and gals and everyone usually goes out to eat afterwards. read more

A top notch organization. Free-form volunteering at its finest. All the joy of giving back to the community without the long-term commitment. From sorting food at food banks, to planting and restoring parks, to volunteering at events like the SF Beer Festival, or races around the bay. Great way to meet new people. And after volunteering, people usually head out for beers/grub afterwards. check them out! read more

I got started with One Brick during the intial months it went public. They have some great events and the people are friendly and nice (both the organizations I volunteered for and the volunteers I worked with). I was lucky that they also have a chapter in Chicago because when I moved to the midwest, I was able to easily get plugged back into volunteering. read more