'Tis the season for gifting...and giving back to folks in need.
So take a moment out from your cake baking and stocking stuffing to donate to these San Francisco nonprofits that are working to support and feed the more vulnerable members of our community this holiday season.
This holiday, Meals on Wheels volunteers are working hard to delivery meals to in-need seniors.(Courtesy of Meals on Wheels)
Support the Mission District Latinx residents.
Covid-19 has disproportionately affected Latinx communities, and many denizens of SF's Mission District are struggling with poverty and the loss of jobs. The neighborhood-based nonprofit Latino Task Force (LTF) assists residents in finding no-cost wellness and health checkups, food, education and employment opportunities, and grants for struggling artists and businesses. (LTF also helped organize SF's largest Covid-19 testing effort to date.) All donations go toward supporting LTF's numerous philanthropic efforts and are also tax-deductible. // Donate online at ltfrespuestalatina.com/donate.
Sign up for Shanti Project's Covid-19 Emergency Response Volunteer (CERV) program.
Born out of the UCSF Cancer Institute nearly 50 years ago, SF's Shanti Project helps homebound residents with chronic illness cope with isolation—all the more important now during a pandemic that is driving everyone deeper indoors. CERV volunteers can provide one-time or occasional support to older and vulnerable adults in the high-risk group for Covid by doing grocery shopping, dog walking, delivering pet food and medicine, and picking up mail. // Email helpnow@shanti.org to apply; for more information, go to shanti.org.
Bolster struggling LGBTQ+ nonprofits.
Horizons Foundation, the world's first LGBTQ+ community foundation, discovered that, during Covid-19, more than 80 percent of local LGBTQ+ nonprofits have suffered revenue losses and that nearly a third of them were forced to cut services and programs to stay afloat. "These results are not surprising given what we've seen across the community," said president Roger Doughty. "Individual donors, foundations, and the government must increase resources for Bay Area LGBTQ nonprofits, especially smaller ones and those focused on people of color." Horizons' grantees include the Bay Area Old Lesbians Organizing for Change (OLOC), Homeless Youth Alliance, the Oakland LGBTQ Community Center, and countless more. // Donate online at horizonsfoundation.org.
Mitigate regional food insecurity and support local restaurants at once.
As the pandemic rolls on, our local restaurant industry is reeling and, as more and more folks lose work, hunger is on the rise in the community. SF New Deal is taking a contemporary, win-win approach: They're raising funds ($13.6 million to date) and then disbursing them to local restaurants (more than 100 so far) in order to keep employing staff who can, in turn, help make meals for food-insecure San Franciscans. The program has served more than one million meals since the spring...help keep it going. // Donate online at sfnewdeal.org.
Donate to Meals on Wheels' holiday meals campaign.
This holiday season, Meals on Wheels is seeking monetary donations to help feed homebound seniors. A donation of $60 provides at least 10 meals for those in need; some funds will also utilized to provide seniors with wellness checks. // Donate online at mowsf.salsalabs.org, and sign up for their newsletter for updates on future volunteer opportunities.
