Volunteer Opportunities Provide Aid for Those Less Fortunate
Summer is a time for relaxation and fun. It can also be a time to help out the people around you and your community. Do your part to help out the less-fortunate by looking into volunteer opportunities. The opportunities are vast and there promises to be something that interests you.
The San Francisco Food Bank has various volunteer opportunities for youth this summer. Their service day will take place on June 20 from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. The minimum age requirement is ten years old with an adult and sixteen years old without a chaperon. Ages sixteen to seventeen must have a signed parent or guardian consent form to participate. According to handsonbayarea.org, the 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.”
The organization recommends that participants wear close-toed shoes, warm layers, and be ready to have fun.
Another opportunity in San Francisco also includes food preparation. The name of the organization is Martin de Porres House of Hospitality. The minimum age requirement is fourteen years old. The same precautions need to be taken for minors who want to apply to ensure their safety. The event will take place on June 2 from 11:30 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. Martin de Porres describes itself as “a free restaurant” that is dedicated to preserving the dignity of the people they serve. According to the organization, volunteers will “prepare and serve a simple and delicious meal of soup and bread for Martin’s guests that will warm their hearts as well as fill their stomachs.”
An opportunity to work with kids will take place on July 8 from 1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. Kids Enjoy Exercise Now (KEEN) is a unique organization that pairs volunteers up with disabled children. This includes children with autism, cerebral palsy, down syndrome, and other various intellectual and developmental disabilities. KEEN describes the coach’s role as “to help athletes take part in different sports activities and to have a good time.” Before the athletes arrive, the volunteers, or coaches, will receive a profile of the athlete that they will be paired up with. The profile will include the disabilities of the athlete and particular tips to help the volunteers properly coach the athletes.
Another opportunity to work with people directly will present itself on June 16 from 10:30 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. The minimum age for this event is eighteen years old. Volunteers will work with seniors at the Canon Kip Senior Center which is a part of the the Episcopal Church.
The activity will be celebrating the birthdays of the seniors at the center. This will be done by making birthday cards and serving hot meals to the seniors. Canon Kip Senior Center can proudly say that they provide meals 365 days a year to low-income and homeless elders sixty years and older.
Later on in the summer, on July 8, Urban Tilth is hosting a volunteer event. The agricultural organization has teamed up with Crestmont Parent Co-op and Adams Middle School to create the AdamsCrest Urban Farm. The farm is located on an unused corner of the open field at Adams Middle School. The event will take place from 10:00 to 2:00 P.M. Volunteers will spend a day at the farm pulling weeds, harvesting, and digging paths. The minimum age requirement is low, at four years old. This is an unique family-friendly opportunity.
A unique opportunity will be had on June 16, from 8:30 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. The Oakland Zoo will be holding a volunteer event with a wide range of activities. Possible tasks include refurbishing or planting gardens and exhibits, for example the children’s zoo areas and Knowland Park.
Other possible tasks are helping in and around the animal habitats removing debris, cleaning up animal remains, or working in somewhat muddy areas.
The majority of the work will be to help out the animals but there is a possibility that volunteers can interact or at least see some of the animals in their habitats. Most of the projects will require strenuous physical labor so volunteers should be prepared. It is recommended that they wear close-toed shoes and clothes that they do not mind getting dirty.
This age range is vast; the minimum requirement for volunteers is twelve years old. Volunteers should arrive no later than 8:25 A.M. to attend an important 8:30 A.M. orientation.
So this summer, get off the couch, put the junk food away, and help others in your community. It promises to be a rewarding experience. The summer is a time to take a break from school and the hard work associated with it, while volunteering to improve college applications.
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