"Thanks so much for all your work! I am truly grateful for all your help in organizing so many wonderful Google employees! We love the work that HOBA does, on our behalf, because you are always so organized and always have a 'can-do' attitude! You think of all the little things so events always go smoothly!"
--- Mollie Tobias, volunteer coordinator, Recreation and Neighborhood Services, City of San Jose
This year, we've selected 17 nonprofits, parks and schools to host a total of 1,000+ volunteers. We're focusing on Hunger & Nutrition, Habitat Restoration, and Health. Here's how and where we're planning to be the change on October 1.
ALAMEDA COUNTY
CHAPARRAL HOUSE, BERKELEY
Help out at a gardening/clean-up day at this non-profit nursing facility in West Berkeley. Volunteers will be the change by doing the needful; gardening, landscaping and general sprucing up of the grounds. 40 volunteers
ALAMEDA POINT COLLABORATIVE, ALAMEDA
Be the change at Alameda Point Collaborative, an organization that provides supportive housing to 500 homeless individuals on an old naval base. Work in the APC community garden weeding, gardening and mulching. 50 volunteers
MEDSHARE, SAN LEANDRO
Help sort and organize medical supplies at MedShare's Western Distribution Center-- an organization that is working to improve the environment and healthcare through the efficient recovery and redistribution of surplus medical supplies and equipment to underserved health facilities in developing countries. The supplies will be distributed to developing nations to save lives in clinics around the world. 35 volunteers
THE GARDENS AT LAKE MERRITT, OAKLAND
Be the change at the Gardens at Lake Merritt. Help beautify the themed gardens at Lake Merritt by weeding, mulching and planting. 100 volunteers
MARIN COUNTY
MUIR WOODS, MARIN
Volunteers will join the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy’s Trails Forever Team at Muir Woods, home to some of the tallest and oldest trees in the world. Help repair, maintain and enhance trails, and protect sensitive habitat from human and natural invaders. 25 volunteers
SAN FRANCISCO
JUNE JORDAN SCHOOL FOR EQUITY EDUCATIONAL GARDEN, EXCELSIOR
Urban Sprouts supports under-served neighborhoods and low-resourced schools through garden-based education models. Support the mission of Urban Sprouts by working in one of their beautiful educational gardens. Volunteers will help with general garden maintenance, small building projects, planting and harvesting and a small art project. 35 volunteers
HARBOR HOUSE CHILDCARE CENTER, SOMA
Help the Salvation Army better serve children by making the playground area safe and fun. Volunteers will be the change by engaging in painting and facilities maintenance projects in the high-traffic playground area. 50 volunteers
SAN FRANCISCO FOOD BANK, POTRERO HILL
Volunteers will provide critical support by sorting food donations, stocking pantry shelves, labeling cans, cleaning produce, or packing food boxes that feed thousands of needy individuals throughout the Bay Area. 50 volunteers
MARSHALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, MISSION DISTRICT
Help Marshall in its effort to turn an under-utilized concrete play yard into an outdoor science classroom. Volunteers will be the change by helping with planting, painting, building small planting structures like raised beds, trellises and benches and potentially some tile and mosaic work. 40 volunteers
JUMPSTART, SOMA
Volunteers will assist in creating activity kits that will be given to families of preschoolers. These toolkits consist of a book and materials to facilitate learning activities in the home. The goal is to link the curriculum that preschoolers learn in the classroom to their home life and support and empower families to bring literacy into their homes. Materials in each toolkit will vary depending on the story and the accompanying activities. 50 volunteers
OCEAN BEACH, OUTER SUNSET
Ocean Beach is a beautiful 3 mile stretch of coastline popular with local residents and visitors alike to enjoy a range of recreational activities. Due to its popularity, wildlife is being harmed by things that do not belong on the beach. Please come out and help preserve and protect this treasured destination. Help keep our beaches beautiful, clean, and safe for all of us to enjoy. 100 volunteers
SAN MATEO COUNTY
RAVENSWOOD FAMILY HEALTH CENTER AND COLLECTIVE ROOTS, EAST PALO ALTO
Ravenswood Family Health Center’s mission is providing primary medical care and prevention services to underserved and uninsured individuals and families. Volunteers will be building garden beds, planting trees, vegetables, herbs and flowers, constructing a sitting area, weeding and mulching, painting, and completing other garden tasks. Volunteers will also help Ravenswood assemble charts for new patients-- the center uses over 300 each month! 50 volunteers
HALF MOON BAY STATE BEACH, HALF MOON BAY
Volunteers will work on revitalizing and beautifying the native plant landscaping areas around the entrance station and Visitor Center of Francis Beach. Volunteers will do this by removing any non-native invasive weeds by hand or using short or long handled tools followed by planting the newly cleared areas with native plants. 100 volunteers
SANTA CLARA COUNTY
HIDDEN VILLA, LOS ALTOS
Hidden Villa is committed to teach and provide opportunities to learn about the environment and social justice. Volunteers will help out by weeding, mulching, transplanting, landscape rehabilitation, and working with native plants. Volunteers will also have an opportunity to help with trail maintenance and restoration work on the historic greenhouse. 40 volunteers
FULL CIRCLE FARM, SUNNYVALE
Help Full Circle Farm advance the movement toward a food system that nourishes our bodies, the land, and the generations yet to come. Volunteers will be doing the needful by harvesting, spreading mulch, weeding and doing the needful around this beautiful 11-acre sustainable farm. 50 volunteers
SACRED HEART COMMUNITY SERVICES, SAN JOSE
Join Sacred Heart in their efforts to ensure all people are free from poverty. Volunteers will accept and sort donated goods, prepare grocery boxes and organize the clothes closet. 25 volunteers
GUADALUPE RIVER TRAIL, PARK AND GARDEN, SAN JOSE
Throughout the downtown area, the Guadalupe River Trail serves as the link of choice for bikers, hikers and others moving between the northern and southern areas of the city. Volunteers will help with trail brush trimming, litter pick-up, weeding and over-all trail maintenance that are needed before the winter rains once again flood the area. 125 volunteers
RESOURCE AREA FOR TEACHING, SUNNYVALE
Volunteers will assemble creative learning kits by turning industry materials that were destined for the garbage dump into fun, inexpensive, hands-on lessons for thousands of Bay Area students. 65 volunteers
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