Teaching our kids about kindness and empathy through volunteering is always a good thing but sometimes that can be difficult with busy schedules. A great place to start is Volunteer Match which filters opportunities by zip code. We’ve also rounded up opportunities below for the entire family to get involved (with specific age restrictions included) so whether it’s a one off event or a longer commitment, everyone has the chance to help out and give back.
San Francisco
SF-Marin Foodbank
Nearly 50,000 households rely on the foodbank weekly through their food pantry network, home-delivered groceries and pop-up pantries.
How to help: Warehouse volunteers are needed at both their San Francisco and Marin sites with minimum ages of between eight to 13.
Golden Gate Audubon Society
Dedicated to the protection of wildlife and their natural habitat, this nonprofit connects Bay Area residents to the natural world through volunteer opportunities and education.
How to help: Check out habitat restoration projects like planting, weeding, trash pick up and garden maintenance available on their calendar. Minimum age not specified; under 18 requires parent waiver.
East Bay
Hands On Bay Area
With volunteer opportunities spread throughout the entire Bay Area, Hands On pairs volunteers with non profit organizations and schools in need.
How to help: Check out their volunteer calendar and add the filter for your family’s age requirement for opportunities (minimum age is five).
Doing Good Together, Oakland/East Bay
With the belief that practicing kindness and serving others matters, Doing Good Together aims to help families pass on the values of empathy, thoughtfulness and social responsibility through local volunteer opportunities.
How to help: Check out their calendar for monthly volunteer opportunities, age limit varies.
Fertile Groundworks
This nonprofit grows over 20,000 pounds of organic produce annually for the needy and homeless of Alameda county’s Tri-Valley region.
How to help: Their organic garden needs bug squashers, the perfect job for little fingers.
Photo by One on One Outreach
South Bay & Peninsula
Peninsula Food Runners
Completely run by volunteers who pick up excess food from restaurants and other grocers to deliver to the needy, you can volunteer with your family and even share a delivery route with friends.
How to help: Volunteer for regularly weekly food drops or occasional food runs by signing up here.
Grassroots ecology
Help with habitat restoration and improve local ecosystems through hands-on beautification projects in which kids learn about the natural world while making a difference.
How to help: Check out this calendar for opportunities to help with removing invasive plants and planting native plants. Kids 12 and under require an accompanying adult.
County of San Mateo Parks Department
Volunteers are an important part of the county’s park system park preservation plan so your family not only gets a healthy dose of Vitamin D but also invests in the future of the parks.
How to help: Become a volunteer steward (youth under 15 require accompanying adult)
Friends of Edgewood
This all-volunteer organization runs a number of programs dedicated to protecting and restoring Edgewood’s natural beauty.
How to help: Become a weed warrior and help contain invasive and non-native plants.
Photo by San Diego Farm Animal Rescue
Animal Assisted Happiness
With the vision to bring smiles to youth in need through barnyard animal interaction, Animal Assisted Happiness hosts youth on site and also through their farm mobile.
How to help: Help care for animals as a family, must be 5+.
City of San Jose
Whether you choose to volunteer either one-time or at a Sunday Series, there are plenty of opportunities to keep the family busy mulching, picking up litter, painting curbs and more!
How to help: Find and register for an opportunity, volunteers must be six and older.
Doing Good Together, Silicon Valley
With the belief that practicing kindness and serving others matters, Doing Good Together aims to help families pass on the values of empathy, thoughtfulness and social responsibility with volunteer opportunities within their communities.
How to help: Check out their calendar for monthly volunteer opportunities, age limit varies.
Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful
Coyote Creek (actually a river!) is the largest watershed in Santa Clara county with a diverse ecosystem that needs protecting and beautifying and Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful aims to do just that.
How to help: Sign up for events through Eventbrite, under 15 requires an accompanying adult
Marin
Marin County Parks
Marin county parks relies on the help of volunteers for beautification projects year-round.
How to help: Check out their event calendar for more on volunteer opportunities.
Homeward Bound of Marin
Homeward Bound operates emergency shelters for homeless families in Marin county with the goal of helping these families secure stable housing.
How to help: There are many opportunities to be involved; contact the organization directly for specifics.
—Christine Lai, Kate Loweth & Sonia Gandiaga
