Good Volunteer Opportunities in San Francisco?

August 20, 2006 2:17 PM

Please help me find a good organization to volunteer at in San Francisco! Preferably one in the Mission District and that serves underprivileged children.

I've just moved to San Francisco and I'd like to start volunteering weekly at a well-run NGO or community organization that works with under-privileged children. I live in the Mission District (18th and Potrero) and would prefer to volunteer somewhere close by. I speak Spanish, so a place that serves predominantely Spanish speaking kids wouldn't be a problem.

What I have in mind is volunteering once or twice a week for a few hours at a tutoring or after-school program, though I'm open to other kinds of organizations and activities.

posted by fdhidalgo to society & culture (6 comments total)

826 Valencia?
posted by kcm at 2:21 PM on August 20, 2006

826 Valencia is a tutoring center for kids right smack-dab in your (mission) hood. They do amazing things with the local community and have a fantastic pirate store in front just to make sure we adults dont take life too seriously. You can find them both at 826valencia.com and the obvious physical address. :)
posted by Meemer at 2:23 PM on August 20, 2006

The pirate supply store is an artifact of commercial (i.e. not-not-for-profit) zoning, and is totally awesome.
posted by kcm at 2:25 PM on August 20, 2006

I would reccomend the St. John's educational thresholds center, on 26th st at Valencia. Much more targeted to underserved youth than 826.
posted by YoungAmerican at 2:53 PM on August 20, 2006

Hands On Bay Area is kind of an umbrella organization for a bunch of charities. You go to a one-hour orientation, and then you can volunteer as much or as little as you like. I know they have a bunch of tutoring programs (which, unlike most of their other opportunities, do require a weekly commitment).
posted by occhiblu at 3:03 PM on August 20, 2006

You might also try looking for things at VolunteerMatch.org.
posted by chickletworks at 6:56 PM on August 20, 2006