Bay Area dwellers sure have a lot to be thankful for. While we're stressing over holiday shopping and stuffing our faces with delicious seasonal treats, let's make sure not to forget those less fortunate. Give back this holiday season by volunteering or donating at these local Bay Area organizations. 

VOLUNTEER

Distribute clean needle packages to help HIV prevention: San Francisco Aids Foundation// 1035 Market St., San Francisco, sfaf.org/volunteer

Play with animals at the Oakland Animal Shelter: Oakland Animal Services// 1101 29th Ave, Oakland, oaklandanimalservices.org

Drive an elder to and from a holiday party:Little Brothers - Friends of the Elderly San Francisco// 909 Hyde St, San Francisco, littlebrotherssf.org

Be a literacy tutor: Next Step Learning Center// 2222 Curtis St, Oakland, nextsteplc.org

Prepare an art instillation: Creativity Explored// 3245 16th St, San Francisco, creativityexplored.org

Design musical theatre costumes: Youth Musical Theater Company// 2925 & 2945 Bollvar Dr, Berkeley, ymtcberkeley.org

Transform parking spaces into parklets:Walk Oakland Bike Oakland// 436 14th St, Oakland, wobo.org

Be a Mission District mural docent: Precita Eyes Muralists of San Francisco// 2891 24th St, San Francisco, precitaeyes.org

Give someone a home: Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco// 500 Washington St, San Francisco, habitatgsf.org

Rock on the road: Bay Area Girls Rock Camp// 610 16th St, Oakland, bayareagirlsrockcamp.org

Serve Christmas dinner: St. Anthony's // 150 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco,stanthonysf.org

Sort and pack food: SF-Marin Food Bank// various locations, sfmfoodbank.org

DONATE

Drop off some art supplies: 826 Valencia// 826 Valencia St, San Francisco, 826valencia.org

Help shelter, feed, and support 410 homeless men and women:St. Vincent De Paulof San Francisco// 1237 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, svdp-sf.org

Sponsor an orphaned child: Half the Sky Foundation// 715 Hearst Ave #200, Berkeley, halfthesky.org

Join the Circle of Angels Program:Catholic Charities San Francisco // various locations, catholiccharitiessf.org

Nurture a budding brain: The Hidden Genius Project// 519 17th St, Oakland, hiddengeniusproject.org

Buy a gift at the FAMSF art store: Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco// shop.famsf.org

Stand with La Peña:La Peña Cultural Center// 3105 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, lapena.org

Host a catered event: Delancey Street Foundation// 600 Embarcadero, San Francisco, delanceystreetfoundation.org

Support homeless youth:At the Crossroads// 333 Valencia St, San Francisco, atthecrossroads.org

Lend some sound: Today's Future Sound// todaysfuturesound.org

Give the gift of sight: Seva Foundation// 1786 5th St, Berkeley, seva.org

VISIT

Check out one of the San Francisco Public Library's bookstores: Friends of the San Francisco Public Library// various locations, friendssfpl.org

Attend a Youth Speaks performance: Youth Speaks// 1663 Mission St, San Francisco, youthspeaks.org