Volunteer Opportunities in San Francisco in 2011

Volunteering is something that everyone should do at least once in their life. By volunteering you're helping out in your or someone else's community. Many non profit organizations could not function without loyal volunteers who come in to help from time to time.

Not only does volunteering mean that you're helping out others, it also gives you the chance to meet new people and to spruce up a resume. This article will detail a few of the best places to volunteer in San Francisco California during 2011.

#1: San Francisco Botanical Garden

Do you enjoy being outdoors and/or working around plants? Then the San Francisco Botanical Garden may be the place for you to spend your free hours volunteering. Volunteers can sign up to help with the nursery or you can even help lead elementary school groups that come to the Garden on a field trip. There are also other programs that you can assist with. If you'd like to volunteer, call (415) 661-1316, ext. 412. You can also apply online here. They would like to commit you to at least six months of volunteering since they take the time to train you. San Francisco Botanical Garden is located at 9th Avenue at Lincoln Way San Francisco, CA 94122.

#2: San Francisco Food Bank

A food bank helps feed the hungry. You can volunteer at the San Francisco Food Bank. Over 22,000 people come to the facility for food assistance. That's a lot of people and there is a high demand for volunteers. As a volunteer at the San Francisco Food Bank, you'll have the chance to help package, sort and give out food. If you want to make it a family volunteer event, children as young as 8 can volunteer (only on weekends). Any children volunteers need an adult with them. To start the volunteering process, you must first make a reservation with the food bank as they are often to busy to take drop in volunteers. Visit this link to find out what shift schedules for volunteers are available. This is also the link where you can sign up to make your reservation to volunteer. San Francisco Food Bank is located at 900 Pennsylvania Ave San Francisco, CA 94107 and their phone number is (415) 282-1900.

#3: Zoo

The San Francisco Zoo is another great place to volunteer, especially if you love animals! There are volunteer opportunities for both adults and teenagers. Some of the volunteer opportunities are working to renew the zoo (by working in the gardens), special events during the year, in the children's zoo, animal resource center and more. Before volunteering, you must attend an orientation. Click here for a list of adult orientation sessions. Adult volunteers must be at least 18 years old, fill out an application and pass a background check. The background check is $25 dollars but if you're looking forward to volunteering at the zoo, the fee will be worth it. Ages for teen volunteers vary depending on what volunteer position you're looking for but some positions are for kids as young as 11! San Francisco Zoo is located at 1 Zoo Road San Francisco, CA 94132-1098 and their phone number is (415) 753-7080.

#4: San Francisco Film Society

Interested in film? The San Francisco Film Society needs volunteers for various projects. They have year round opportunities. One of their biggest events is the San Francisco International Film Festival and they especially need plenty of volunteers for that. There are volunteer positions for everyone, from students to those that are retired. To start the volunteer process, you need to fill out a volunteer application which you can do here. They will then review it and contact you to see if you can fill a spot at the society. San Francisco Film Society is located at 39 Mesa Street, Suite 110 The Presidio San Francisco CA 94129-1025. Their phone number is (415) 561-5000.

#5: YMCA

As a volunteer for the YMCA you could make a difference in the life of San Francisco youth. Some of their volunteer opportunities include tutoring, junior counselor, swim coach, fitness instructor and more. The time requirements vary but for tutoring you need to commit one hour a week for six months. Click here for a detailed list of volunteer opportunities that you can apply for online. For a list of YMCA locations, visit this link as there are several in the San Francisco area. To find out more on volunteering, call (415) 777-9622.