The San Francisco VA Healthcare System depends on the goodwill of our supporters. You can make a difference when you help us serve our Veterans.

Become a volunteer

Volunteers contribute greatly to the enhanced level of care provided to both our inpatients and outpatients. Each volunteer’s interests and skills are matched with various needs resulting in an enhanced patient-centered care. Each volunteer’s talents are closely matched with one of our many assignments:

If you are interested in volunteering, please send email to vhasfcvolunteeronboarding@va.gov. Include in your email how you would like to help our Veterans, what special skills you want to use and the days/times of the week you are available to volunteer. Once a position is identified then we provide you the application and explain our process.

All volunteers must have current TB test and complete background checks prior to placement. Volunteers must be at least 14 years old.

Veteran Wish List

Please see the attached wish list for more ways you can help support our Veterans.

The post Volunteer Or Donate | VA San Francisco Well being Care appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

San Francisco is what it is because of all of the natural beauty and wonder that exist in it and around it. We’d be nothing without the Pacific Ocean, the San Francisco Bay, the redwoods, the beaches, and all of the parks and gardens that make living here so special. And though we’d like to think we appreciate all of that stuff on the daily, we’re not mad when Earth Month appears every April to give us a little kick in the butt and remind us that it’s our responsibility to help when and where we can in order to take care of our environment and the entire planet.

Whether you’re passionate about green spaces, water, wildlife, or teaching Zumba (yes, seriously), here are 25 local volunteer opportunities ranging from sustainability and environmental initiatives to youth and LGBTQ advocacy, and more.

Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy

For those with a green thumb

Alcatraz, the Marin Headlands, Stinson Beach, Fort Funston, Lands End, the Presidio … the list of parks that make up all 80,000 acres of the Golden Gate National Parks goes on and on and on. They’re home to ancient redwoods, rare and endangered species, historic landmarks, and a big reason they’re not only still around, but amazing to visit is because of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, a nonprofit membership organization that basically does anything and everything related to conservation, education, and just making visiting the parks a fun experience. Volunteers are needed to help with cleaning up beaches, restoring habitats, maintaining trails, cultivating historic gardens, and more.

In 1990, Garden for the Environment turned a vacant lot in the Inner Sunset into a garden that doubles as a classroom, where people can learn about soil, water, plants, creatures, and climate to be better stewards. They need volunteers on Wednesdays and Saturdays to get their hands dirty while learning about sustainable gardening. No experience needed.

The San Francisco Botanical Garden allows us to travel all over the world within its 55 acres of landscaped gardens and open spaces. (And it’s free for SF residents!) Its mission is to “connect people to plants, the planet, and each other,” and you can help with that by volunteering. Right now, they’re actively looking for teen volunteers, but have a few adult positions open as well.

Since 1981, Friends of the Urban Forest has planted more than 60,000 trees in San Francisco. They currently water over 500 trees a week, plant and care for 300 trees a month, and replace 10,000 square feet of concrete with soil every year. If you’ve seen a new tree pop up on your sidewalk lately, it’s very likely due to them. They need volunteers to help with all kinds of urban greening activities, including tree planting, pruning, and sidewalk gardening.

The Sierra Club San Francisco Bay chapter is working to build a sustainable future for the Bay Area in all aspects, including preserving wild places and watersheds, and ensuring everyone has access to clean air, water, and nature, no matter their race or socioeconomic status , and more. Volunteers are needed in all areas, from stuffing envelopes to joining local campaigns to leading outings.

Save The Bay (San Francisco)

For those who want to protect our ocean and Bay

The Bay Area is nothing without the Bay. Help defend its health and ours by volunteering at San Francisco Baykeeper, which patrols the water to investigate pollution and hold polluters accountable. They need volunteers with all kinds of skills, including skippers to lead boat patrols, students pursuing environmental action careers, and anyone willing to pick up trash and conduct cleanups.

Rising sea levels are a serious threat to our communities, and Save the Bay is working hands-on to restore wetlands and advocate for climate-smart policies. They consistently need help with restoration projects, so if you’re not afraid of getting your hands dirty, this is a good one for you.

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History of

The History of the McRib

For those who enjoy breathing clean air

We must reduce the amount of C02 in our atmosphere if we want any chance of preserving our planet, and 350 Bay Area works hard to make that happen by shaping policy, educating people, empowering our youth, building coalitions, and mobilizing the masses to take action. You can get involved by joining one of several existing teams that do everything from making art for the climate movement, writing letters to the editor, creating events to impact change, helping with tech and web stuff, and more.

Project OpenHand

For the community advocate

The Free Farm Stand is a small, volunteer-run organization distributing locally grown food for free in the Mission neighborhood for the last 11 years. You can get involved by handing out pre-packaged food, but the organization is also in need of bags for produce, grocery bags, brown paper bags for bread, bio-bags for soft fruit, small plastic pots for seeding propagation, disposable gloves of any size, and organic fruit in case you grow some of your own and want to donate it to the cause.

Project Open Hand is seeking volunteers to pack and deliver meals and weekly groceries to the city’s critically ill and physically vulnerable residents. Check out their Volunteer Hot Spots page for regularly updated opportunities. You can also donate toiletries, birthday and holiday cards, or money.

Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly

For the people person

If you’re looking for a way to connect with others, Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly provides an opportunity to build friendships with the city’s 25,000 seniors who live alone. Regular volunteering opportunities include making holiday and birthday visits or escorting seniors for their hospital visits. You can also donate essential items like for their senior care kits toiletries.

Openhouse connects volunteers with LGBTQ+ seniors and adults with disabilities seeking housing, transportation, and medical services. They are currently looking for volunteers for essential errands, friendly visits and phone calls, car deliveries, and more.

If you’re available to run errands, like grocery shopping, dog walking, or medication pickup, and provide emotional support, Shanti Project needs support assisting residents living with terminal or disabling illnesses and conditions. Donate by using their organization link on eligible purchases whenever you shop on Amazon.

Musicians on Call

For the musically inclined

For anyone seeking a musical outlet, your talents are needed. Musicians On Call, which launched a San Francisco chapter in 2016, is looking for volunteer musicians and singers to participate in its Virtual Bedside Performance Program, which offers 30- to 60-minute live sessions to housebound adults, seniors, and children. (And will soon be looking for musicians to participate in the Beside Performance Program when that returns in 2022.) If you’re not musically gifted but still want to help, you can donate to help fund the chapter.

For lovers of wildlife on land and sea

If you are interested in the Bay Area’s wildlife, the San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society focuses specifically on stewardship of the San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, and conservation, preservation, and restoration of our wildlife habits. Friendly, outgoing volunteers are needed as field trip lecturers, weekend desk workers, and helping with outreach, and those who prefer to dig in quietly are needed for habitat restoration projects that include pulling invasive species so native plants can thrive.

Marine mammals are such an important part of the California coastline ecosystem, and the Marine Mammal Center is dedicated to responding to those that are in distress and caring for them until they’re able to be released back into the wild. (You can see a bunch of their patients here.) They need help with everything from animal care, rescue and response, education, and administrative support.

826 Valencia

For the youth advocate

Remember that one book in English class you actually looked forward to reading and writing about? Well, 826 Valencia is the perfect opportunity to pass along that excitement for learning. Help low-income students find their voice and honor their creative writing skills through tutoring. Monetary donations are also accepted to help keep programs free for underprivileged students in the city.

Anyone obsessed with food-competition shows or who has surprised themselves with their newly discovered culinary skills should check out Sprouts Cooking Club, which educates underprivileged youth about healthy cooking and eating habits through its programs. Volunteers can participate by teaching a class or assisting with questions during sessions. Kitchenware, produce, and office-supply donations are also needed to support various programs and students.

For advocates of safer streets

For reasons that make zero sense, not everyone wants to keep JFK Drive in Golden Gate Park car-free. Walk San Francisco works to help with causes like that and to make our streets safe and more accessible, a thing that is definitely not happening right now (an average of three people are hit every day while walking around SF). Getting involved is as simple as sending emails to city leaders, but there are also other projects that need help. Can’t commit to a long project? Don’t worry—they’ll take your help even if you only have a few hours to give.

For those who can teach Zumba, plant seeds, tutor kids, and just want to help

The San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department oversees SF’s more than 220 parks and recreation facilities, which, in our humble opinion, are a huge part of what makes this city not only so beautiful but so amazing to live in. (Did you know that SF is the first city in the United States to have a park within a ten-minute walk of every single residence?) Volunteers are crucial to the program, and all kinds of skills and abilities are needed. Help plant seeds, teach a Zumba class, tutor kids, do arts and crafts—whatever your skill, there’s a volunteer position.

Pomeroy Recreation & Rehabilitation Center

For helping the disenfranchised

The Pomeroy Recreation & Rehabilitation Center provides educational and recreational spaces where people with disabilities and trauma can safely participate. Classes offered include yoga & meditation sessions, cooking classes, and storytime segments, as well as art therapy, dance, and science classes for adults ages 20-90 or children and teens ages 5-19.

If you’re passionate about women’s rights, San Francisco Women Against Rape (SFWAR) is a woman-of-color-led organization fighting for survivors of sexual violence through support and legal assistance. They are currently looking for volunteers interested in becoming Sexual Assault Counselors, as well as people who can help with events, fundraising, and administrative tasks. SFWAR is open to all volunteers, especially self-identifying LBGTQ+, immigrant, and formerly incarcerated women, and offers state-certified sexual assault counselor training for volunteers interested in working directly with survivors.

If you have a legal background and can offer pro bono representation and/or counseling, legal assistance to the Elderly needs your help working with San Francisco’s elderly and disabled. They’re seeking lawyers, paralegals, and law students to help with evictions and medical bills, as well as elder abuse, healthcare, and debt defense. Volunteers with experience in digital marketing and IT are also needed to aid in building the organization’s digital presence.
The LGBTQ+ volunteer-led Rainbow World Fund is focused on changing the international perception of the LGBTQ+ community by providing essential medicine, food, and supplies to people affected by natural disasters, poverty, and oppression—no matter their sexual orientation. Volunteers are needed for administrative work and helping with humanitarian trips. Monetary donations and wishlist contributions are also accepted.

Want more thrillers? Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat.

Thelma Annan is a contributor to Thrillist.Daisy Barringer is a freelance writer who grew up in San Francisco and appreciates everyone who does their part to make this city so amazing. Tell her about more volunteer opportunities on Twitter @daisy.

The post 25 Methods to Volunteer in San Francisco Proper Now appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

The San Francisco VA Healthcare System depends on the goodwill of our supporters. You can make a difference when you help us serve our Veterans.

Become a volunteer

Volunteers contribute greatly to the enhanced level of care provided to both our inpatients and outpatients. Each volunteer’s interests and skills are matched with various needs resulting in an enhanced patient-centered care. Each volunteer’s talents are closely matched with one of our many assignments:

If you are interested in volunteering, please send email to vhasfcvolunteeronboarding@va.gov. Include in your email how you would like to help our Veterans, what special skills you want to use and the days/times of the week you are available to volunteer. Once a position is identified then we provide you the application and explain our process.

All volunteers must have current TB test and complete background checks prior to placement. Volunteers must be at least 14 years old.

Veteran Wish List

Please see the attached wish list for more ways you can help support our Veterans.

The post Volunteer Or Donate | VA San Francisco Well being Care appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

SANTA ROSA (KPIX 5) – When two North Bay veterinarians volunteer, they save two lives: the person’s life and the life of their pet.

The veterinarians Dr. Kate Kuzminski and Dr. Sarah Reidenbach converted an ambulance into a free veterinary clinic on wheels.

Recently, it offered services outside of The Living Room, a domestic violence sanctuary in Santa Rosa. Kuzminski says the mission is to break the cycle of abuse.

“We know that in households with domestic violence and child abuse, 80 percent also have animal abuse,” she said.

But Reidenbach adds that getting out is not easy.

“Domestic violence survivors – up to 50 percent – are not left at risk if they cannot bring their pets,” she said.

NOMINATE A JEFFERSON AWARD HERO

Pet-friendly shelters require pets to be fully vaccinated and healthy before they are admitted. That’s why the two founded Ruthless Kindness in 2017. The non-profit organization works with around a dozen animal shelters for victims of abuse and the homeless.

Reidenbach and Kuzminski will receive calls around the clock to help with veterinary care and vaccines so a pet can accompany its owner in an animal shelter in search of safety.

“A woman who leaves or tries an abusive situation shouldn’t depend on her dog to be vaccinated,” said Kuzminski.

To date, Ruthless Kindness has helped about 300 pets in Sonoma County, in part through free monthly medical clinics like Dogwood Animal Rescue, which have volunteers who do everything from cutting nails to distributing donations like pet food and beds.

Dogwood volunteer Beth Jackson is amazed at what Kuzminski and Reidenbach have created.

“Not only do you save lives, but you also help people in need they cannot afford,” said Jackson.

One recipient just adopted two kittens and they received free vaccinations and pet food at the mobile clinic before they were all returned to the shelter where she lives.

“I’m just overwhelmed that there are people who are kind enough to give them time,” said Jen, not wanting to use her last name. “It’s a relief because I didn’t know how to get their shots.”

LEARN MORE: Jefferson Awards for Public Service

The co-founders of Ruthless Kindness both have full-time jobs outside of the nonprofit. Reidenbach is the managing director of Sonoma CART, an animal disaster team. Kuzminski is the medical director of guide dogs for the blind.

Your charitable work is entirely voluntary and is supported by donations and a generous helping of compassion.

“I’m a domestic violence survivor too, so I was able to need help,” Reidenbach said. “Serving the community I belong to is beautiful. I love to be able to do that. “

“It feels rewarding, but it feels like we should,” added Kuzminski.

That’s why this week’s Jefferson Award in the Bay Area goes to Dr. Kate Kuzminski and Dr. Sarah Reidenbach for spreading “Ruthless Friendliness” to people at risk and their pets.

The post North Bay Veterinarians Saving Animal, Human Lives With Volunteer Cell Pet Clinic – CBS San Francisco appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

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The post Homeless-Support Volunteer Says San Jose Church Stabbing Will not Deter Him – CBS San Francisco appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

Anne Halsted’s 50 years in San Francisco began in a spectacularly inconspicuous way: They organized an action to rededicate a sewage treatment plant in their neighborhood. It worked.

After that success, she went for a higher goal by creating the Telegraph Hill Historic District to preserve the 19th century housing stock. It wasn’t long before every conservation and citizenship commission in San Francisco, the Bay Area, and all of California was calling.

Her awards included being named first woman on the San Francisco Port Commission and vice chair of the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission in planning and running the 2013 America’s Cup, the largest event ever held in the Bay.

“You won’t find many people more dedicated to public service than Anne Halsted,” said US Senator Dianne Feinstein. “She’s served on so many nonprofit boards, planning groups, and fundraisers that it’s hard to know where she found the time and energy.”

Halsted continued even after lymphomas and incessant chemotherapy treatments had depleted her tremendous energy. At her home near Coit Tower, so many agendas, reports, and legal documents for government and nonprofit meetings were arriving in packages that she had to add a second mailbox. She planned to attend a Metropolitan Transportation Commission committee meeting despite learning that chemotherapy had stopped working and an experimental drug study had failed. Halsted died on March 13 at her weekend home in Glen Ellen. She was 78 years old.

Everything she did was unpaid and often unnoticed, including her work for and the San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association (SPUR), which she served continuously since 1982, including two terms as president. The San Francisco Redevelopment Agency Commission, People for Open Space, the San Francisco Open Space Advisory Board, the Greenbelt Alliance, Friends of the Urban Forest – the list goes on for 20 organizations, many of which they looked after during their full-time jobs at a leasing agency.

“Anne is an example to all of us of how to live a life dedicated to improving your community and the lives of those around you,” Feinstein said via email.

Anne Watson Halsted was born on November 21, 1942 in Charleston, West Virginia. Her father was in the coal equipment business. She graduated from Duke University in 1964 with a degree in political science and came to San Francisco in 1969, where she accepted a position in the human resources department at United States Leasing International.

Living alone in an apartment in Nob Hill for the first time, Halsted had a revelation that prompted her to separate her legacy from coal mining and dedicate her life to public service for women, minorities, and the environment in San Francisco and the wider Bay Area.

“Anne was wealthy and had the opportunity to pursue any lifestyle she wanted,” said longtime friend Ken Maley.

In 1978 Halsted bought a simple 1870s Italian house on Montgomery Street, just down the hill from old Speedy’s Market on Union Street. Her home office overlooked Coit Tower and Alta Street, one of the original apartment blocks in San Francisco. After witnessing the destruction of several of these charming little Victorians in the name of development, Halsted decided to do whatever he could to prevent it from happening.

“As she moved on, her interest in historical preservation expanded from just Telegraph Hill to the entire city,” said Maley, who lives around the corner. “Anne could be hard love, but love prevailed.”

After 10 years of single life, Halsted Wells met Whitney, a scientist with Raychem Corp. and a trustee of the Buck Institute for Research on Aging. He moved into their house where they always stayed.

In 1990 Halsted retired after 20 years with US Leasing to fill her schedule with additional boards and committees. Her home office afterwards was full of reports and agendas being dragged up the hill on foot by Ed, the neighborhood postman.

“I would ask Wells, where is Anne?” Maley said and he said, “She’s on her appointments.” To get there, she took public transit and took the tiny 39-Coit bus to connect to the 30 Stockton or 45 Union overhead lines. If her appointment was in the East Bay, where the MTC is headquartered, she would take BART.

When she wasn’t on dates, she was on the court as a member of the San Francisco Tennis Club South of Market. She would take the bus there too. If she had no other exercise to burn off energy, she would walk up the hill to Pioneer Park, the plaza that surrounds Coit Tower.

On one of her walks she noticed that the stairs to the park on the west side were never completed when the tower was built in the early 1930s. So Halsted formed Friends of Pioneer Park to quit the job. It was completed in 2003 and now the Friends are funding tree maintenance and other improvements for visitors.

After many years of non-stop meetings and meetings, Halsted and Whitney bought modest weekend property in Glen Ellen so she could grow vegetables and roses. She did the hard work herself.

“She would be out there pulling weeds,” said Maley. “She grew cherry tomatoes, pumpkin, zucchini and beets. She hated wasting things so everyone who visited went home with a bag of products. “

In the summer of 2018, Halsted was visited by the Bancroft Library at UC Berkeley to tell the story of her volunteer life for the Bancroft Oral History Project. It took her 13 hours to go through it all. The recording will be made available to the public shortly.

“Anne Halsted was a force to be reckoned with,” said Shanna Farrell, who interviewed Halsted in 2019 while undergoing treatment. “To boot, she was especially nice and always made me feel welcome.”

In addition to her husband, a niece, Katy Lonergan from San Francisco, and a nephew, Jeff Lonergan from Seattle, Halsted survive. Services are suspended due to the pandemic.

Donations can be made to Friends of Pioneer Park, San Francisco Parks Alliance, 1074 Folsom St., San Francisco, CA 94103.

Sam Whiting is a contributor to the San Francisco Chronicle. Email: swhiting@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @samwhitingsf

The post Anne Halsted, tireless San Francisco volunteer and committee employee, dies at 78 appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.