San Francisco Bay residents are known for their healthy and creative lifestyles. This is also evident in the many volunteer opportunities in the area. All types of non-profit and public organizations, from the libraries and parks to youth groups, need volunteers to assist staff with clerical,counseling and maintenance duties. Regardless of your area of expertise, there's an organization in San Francisco that needs your skills.
Parks
The national Volunteers in Parks program offers San Francisco residents a chance to give back to the community in many ways. San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park needs gardeners, construction help and sailing experts to run exhibits and maintain the grounds. The Golden Gates Park Conservancy has many positions for beach clean-up, trail maintenance and restoration of historic sites. The San Francisco Neighborhood Parks Council organizes volunteer opportunities in recreation, literacy and the arts in the city's 230 parks.
Bicycling
San Francisco locals ride bicycles to work, to run errands, and for exercise. The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition has several volunteer positions. Bicycle Ambassadors host events throughout the city and provide information about coalition projects. Volunteers also work as bike valets at the opera and other events, or help design Tube Times, the coalition's newsletter. Another local organization, the Bike Kitchen, needs volunteers to teach riders how to repair their bikes. Volunteers who help out with the youth program receive free bicycle parts to build their own bike.
Community Clinics
San Francisco residents with an interest in medicine can volunteer at a local clinic. The San Francisco Community Clinic Consortium offers positions working with the homeless, seniors and animals at various clinics throughout the Bay area. The clinics have volunteer openings for vets, vet technicians and licensed medical professionals, as well as clerical and administrative personnel.
Youth Organizations
Athletes can volunteer at youth organizations to teach San Francisco teens and children how to excel at sports. Girls on the Run San Francisco needs coaches and running buddies for their after-school programs. Trips for Kids in Marin County offers mountain biking for at-risk youth. The local chapter of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America needs instructors for dance, swimming, judo and other recreational activities.
Disease Prevention and Support
The Bay area is home to many non-profit organizations that offer information about chronic diseases. Volunteers record books and magazines for the blind at Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic. Office and counseling volunteers help patients and their families at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Northern Chapter, the Lupus Foundation of Northern California and several AIDS charities.
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