Donation Needs

CityTeam Oakland

Date/Time: Donation drop-off hours are 7 days a week, 8 a.m.–4 p.m.

Location: 722 Washington Street, Oakland,

Ages: Everyone can help.

Time Commitment: Varies.

CityTeam is founded on meeting immediate needs and providing lasting solutions. Our programs across the United States offer help and hope through hot meals, groceries, shelter, transitional housing, and restorative programs. CityTeam needs your help with donations year-round. These needed items will greatly help us serve more of our neighbors in need. All donated items must be in good working condition. Items in poor condition may be declined at our discretion.

• Clean clothing for men, women, and children.
• Hygiene items.
• Shelf-stable food.
• Blankets. 

You can also purchase items for CityTeam from our Amazon wishlist.

Contact: info@cityteam.org, 408.232.5600.

https://www.cityteam.org/giving/donation-needs#oakland

Mindful Littles

Date/Time: Monday, May 27, 10–11 a.m.

Location: Lamorinda Music, 81 Lafayette Cir, Lafayette. 

Ages: This event is for families with kids in elementary school. All children must be accompanied by a registered adult. 

Time Commitment: One hour.

Join us for a morning of Mindful Community Service to assemble Nourishment Kits for students in need. Summer is often a time when kids who regularly eat meals at school need additional support.

What participants will do:

• Learn about food insecurity in our local community.
• Assemble Nourishment Kits, including food and hygiene supplies.
• Learn research-based mindfulness practices to continue at home.
• Connect with other local families in the community.

Mindful Littles is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that combines mindfulness, social-emotional learning, and authentic service learning into a holistic model for all ages. With a staggering mental health crisis and the growing empathy deficit in our country, our innovative programs help youth and adults alike cultivate compassion and resiliency to better support themselves and their communities.

Contact: info@mindfullittles.org. Registration is available online.

https://mindfullittles.org

Hygiene Kit Assembly

Simply the Basics

Date/Time: Ongoing opportunity. Please note that we need at least 15 days from confirming your activity date so that we have time to ship Simply the Basics tote bags and help you acquire the necessary products.

Location: Host at your own location or schedule on-site in San Francisco. Contact Simply the Basics to order materials and for more information.

Ages: Everyone can participate. This activity is great for kids and can be customized for their age range!

Time Commitment: Varies.

The Mission of Simply the Basics is to provide for people, communities, and nonprofit organizations their most basic needs with dignity so they can focus on greater goals. Engage your family, friends, or community group in an activity that really impacts health and wellness - and saves nonprofit partners time and resources! By hosting a Simply the Basics Hygiene Bank Activity, you are helping ensure that people have their most basic needs met, plus it is a lot of fun! We will ship all supplies needed to your home and send over email the detailed instructions for your volunteer activity, which include:

• Discussion questions. 
• Video.
• Guidelines to ensure a successful day! 
• Once completed, you will double down on your impact by delivering the finished products to a Simply the Basics Receiving Site in your area (confirmed by Simply the Basics). 

Simply The Basics has had a profound impact on health and dignity because of the quality we put into every kit; we appreciate your help in adhering to these standards!

Contact: Admin@SimplytheBasics.org. Click here and scroll down to complete the Host a Simply the Basics Hygiene Bank Activity form.

https://www.simplythebasics.org

Parkinson's Moving Day San Francisco

Parkinson's Foundation, Inc.

Date/Time: Saturday, May 4. Activities begin at 9 a.m.

Location: Crissy Field, 119 E. Beach, San Francisco. Click here for a map.

Ages: Everyone can participate in the walk.

Time Commitment: Varies.

Moving Day is an inspiring and empowering annual fundraising walk event that unites people around the country living with Parkinson’s Disease (PD), their care partners, and loved ones to help beat PD. Moving Day proceeds help to bring quality care to more people with Parkinson’s and further Parkinson’s research, education, and outreach initiatives. Moving Day raises awareness of Parkinson’s both nationally and in the local community. Participants are invited to put on their Moving Day gear and join us in person at Moving Day San Francisco. This year’s event will put our community’s energy on full display as we celebrate movement together. Bring your friends and family to exercise, learn about Parkinson’s resources, take part in our signature We Move Ceremony, and, of course, enjoy the Moving Day Walk. Moving Day San Francisco will take place rain or shine. Learn more here.

Contact: Rachel Howsmon, 415.598.2890, rhowsmon@parkinson.org. Click here to register for the walk.

https://www.parkinson.org/California

San Francisco Great Strides

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

Date/Time: Saturday, May 11. Activities begin at 9 a.m.

Location: Little Marina Green Picnic Area, 3 Yacht Rd, San Francisco.

Ages: All ages are welcome to participate in the walk.

Time Commitment: Varies.

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) has raised and invested hundreds of millions of dollars to help develop CF drugs and therapies. Through their efforts, the life expectancy of a child with CF has doubled in the last 30 years, and research to find a cure is more promising than ever before. You and your family can participate in this year’s walk in one of two ways: 1) you can register to volunteer in person at the walk OR 2) you can register to participate in the walk virtually. Those who wish to participate in the walk will complete a 5K and help raise funds for those living with cystic fibrosis. Learn more here. 

Contact: northern-california@cff.org. Click here for walker registration. 

https://www.cff.org/chapters/northern-california-chapter

Help the Next Generation of Service Dogs as a Breeder Caretaker

Canine Companions

Date/Time: Ongoing opportunity.

Location: Santa Rosa. Volunteers must live in proximity to this location.

Ages: Please note: If you are under the age of 18, you must have a parent or legal guardian fill out the application and you can sign on as a co-applicant. 

Time Commitment: Long-term opportunity. Upon retirement, breeder dogs are spayed or neutered and can stay with the breeder caretaker as a loving pet. 

Open your heart and home to a breeder dog to help bring future service dogs into the world. You can make an impact on people with disabilities by becoming a volunteer breeder caretaker today! Breeder dogs and their puppies are the foundation of our organization. We carefully select and breed Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, and crosses of the two breeds after an intensive evaluation process. Our breeding program evaluates each dog’s health, genetics, temperament, behavior, physical attributes, littermate trends, and the success of the dam and sire lines- only the most appropriate candidates are selected as Canine Companions breeder dogs. This role could be supported as an individual or family unit, all of whom receive extensive support from Canine Companions staff, other breeding program volunteers, and the Breeder Caretaker Support Team. Many volunteer breeder caretakers report immense feelings of pride and satisfaction in seeing Canine Companions breeders produce puppies with a purpose. As a volunteer breeder caretaker, you must meet the following criteria:

• Live in proximity to Canine Companions Headquarters in Northern California.
• Work closely with Canine Companions veterinary, breeding, and canine care staff.
• Caretakers for male breeder dogs will bring the breeder to the national headquarters in Santa Rosa, California, for breeding dates and veterinary appointments, as requested.
• Caretakers for female breeder dogs bring the breeder to headquarters each heat cycle and have the option to assist with whelping and delivery per Canine Companions guidelines.
• Follow Canine Companions' early care protocols when whelping, rearing, and socializing puppies.
• Attend Canine Companions breeder educational seminars and meetings.

You can also learn more by visiting our Breeder Caretaker FAQ page:

https://canine.org/get-involved/ways-to-volunteer/become-a-volunteer-breeder-caretaker/

Contact: To learn more about this opportunity or to sign up for a virtual information session, please email breedingprogram@canine.org. 

canine.org

Share Your Surplus Garden Harvest

AmpleHarvest.org

Date/Time: Ongoing.

Location: Your own garden or find a community garden near you.

Ages: All ages can participate, depending on the garden or farm.

Time Commitment: Varies.

Do you like to garden? One out of six children in America lives in a food insecure home meaning their parents don't know where their next meal will come from. No matter where you live, there are people in your community that are experiencing hunger. Food pantries can help fill in the gaps but are continuously lacking in healthy, fresh produce to offer. Luckily, you can help alleviate this issue in your own neighborhood! By planting just a little extra to donate, you can improve the health of your community as well. When you donate your surplus garden bounty, you are helping to relieve hunger and making an impact on obesity and other food-related diseases. Consider planting an extra row or even a few additional plants to donate to a local food pantry. And if you find yourself with a runaway zucchini plant or another bountiful crop that gives you more than you can eat, don't let it go to waste! Even a small donation will help increase food security in your area. 

Ampleharvest.org is pleased to partner with Bonnie Plants “Grow More Feed More” initiative and Home Depot's “Donate Your Harvest” initiative. Bonnie Plants will donate 5% of online sales to Ampleharvest.org. Click here for more information on Grow More Feed More and to order your plants online. Home Depot supports Ampleharvest.org with its Donate Your Harvest initiative. Click here for links to gardening helpful hints, plants and supplies, and locations on harvest drop-off locations in your area.

Contact: You can find one of more than 8,000 food pantries in all 50 states (and on Native American reservations too!) eager for your help by clicking here.

www.ampleharvest.org

The Race4Every Kid 

Soles4Souls

Date/Time: May 1–31.

Location: Your own location.

Ages: All ages can participate.

Time Commitment: Varies.

Soles4Souls launched 4EveryKid with a mission to provide new athletic shoes to every child experiencing homelessness in the U.S., so they can stay healthy and fully participate in school. Join the Race 4EveryKid and become a champion for children overcoming homelessness. Whether you decide to walk, run, cycle, swim or hop, skip, and jump, every dollar you raise will provide joy and dignity to kids across the US. This year, our goal is to raise at least $350,000, ensuring that 17,500 kids step into the next school year with confidence. No child should have to feel embarrassed, discouraged, or left out simply because they lack something most of us take for granted. It’s super easy to make a big difference. Register for the race, either as an individual or as part of a team. It’s free to participate! Use your personal race page to collect pledges for every mile you run, walk, or cycle. All through May, log your miles and raise funds. Your supporters can donate right through your race page. Learn more here.

Contact: theresam@soles4souls.org. Click here for online registration.

https://soles4souls.org/

March for Babies: A Mother of a Movement

March of Dimes

Date/Time: Saturday, June 1 

• Registration at 8:30 a.m.
• Check-in starts at 8:30 a.m.
• Opening Ceremony starts at 9:30 a.m.
• Super Hero Sprint starts at 10:00 a.m.
• March starts promptly at 10:15 a.m.

Location: Mission Creek Park, 290 Channel St, San Francisco.

Ages: Everyone can walk. 

Time Commitment: Varies.

March of Dimes believes in a world where every mom and baby is healthy regardless of wealth, race, gender, or geography. The U.S. remains among the most dangerous developed nations for childbirth, especially for families of color. Through research, programs, and advocacy, our supporters enable us to be there for parents throughout their pregnancies. March for Babies is a campaign to rally millions of Americans in a collective effort to transform the health of all families. It is more than a march, it’s America’s larger call to action to ensure that all families get the healthy start they deserve! You’re lifting up communities for health equity, opening the door for all moms to have access to care, and protecting the health of families by pushing for their rights. You’re taking action for all families throughout their pregnancy journey by raising critical funds to help March of Dimes continue research, programs, support, and advocacy so families get the best possible start.

Contact: Krystie Scull at kscull@marchofdimes.org. Registration is available online.

https://www.marchforbabies.org

Feed The Hood 29

East Oakland Collective

Date/Time: Saturday, June 1, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.

Location: East Oakland Collective Office, 7800 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland.

Ages: The event is family-friendly; children of all ages are welcome to attend with their parent(s) or guardian.

Time Commitment: Four hours.

The East Oakland Collective supports residents of East Oakland, prioritizing Black residents, to navigate challenges and barriers to inequities through resource distribution and advocacy. We work towards racial and economic justice and equitable access. Our work includes homeless services and solutions, economic empowerment, and community action. Join us for Feed The Hood 29: Summer Readiness Edition. We are hosting a donation drive and recruiting volunteers to prepare and distribute bag lunches, water, snacks, and hygiene supply kits to our unhoused brothers and sisters across Oakland with a goal to distribute at least 1,500 of each. Additionally, we will be collecting specialty items to support our unhoused loved ones through the summer. Items such as sunscreen, sunglasses, hand-held solar fans, and more. We look forward to having your family join us to serve our unhoused brothers and sisters across Oakland.

Contact: feedthehood@eastoaklandcollective.com. Registration is required. Click here to fill out the volunteer registration form.

www.eastoaklandcollective.com