Whether it’s in the form of helping out at the local soup kitchen, donating items to a charity, or putting in time at a senior center, it’s important to help others in your city, especially those in need. If you’re a resident of San Francisco, there are plenty of ways you can get involved in the community and fulfill your part as a citizen of the City by the Bay. We’ve rounded up a few neighborhoods where you can start doing volunteer work and become a more active member of the community. From the Tenderloin to Presidio, here’s where you can get involved in San Francisco.

Tenderloin

The Tenderloin neighborhood is a great place to get involved with the larger community

If you want to make a direct difference in improving the lives of San Francisco’s homeless population, consider volunteering at the St. Anthony Foundation. This organization’s Free Clothing Program strives to give homeless citizens clean, gently used clothing. There’s a curbside drop-off in front of the building where people can bring bags of clothing, shoes, books, and hygiene items that they’d like to donate. The organization also has a dining room that serves hot, nutritious meals to the homeless, a medical clinic that can treat patients, and a technology lab that provides computer access and education.

Van Ness-Civic Center

Community garden in the Van Ness-Civic Center neighborhood

Do you love reading and sharing that love with others? Not everyone can afford books of their own, but luckily, reading doesn’t have to cost anything. You can donate to the Friends of San Francisco Public Library to spread your love of books to those who can’t buy new ones for themselves. The donation center in Potrero Hill will take your generous donations and begin circulating them throughout the library for others to enjoy.

Presidio

The Presidio Forest is an urban escape that you can help preserve for your fellow neighbors

Some neighborhoods in San Francisco are quite green as far as metropolitan cities go, but that greenery must be protected. If you have a green thumb and love the great outdoors, you can volunteer with Friends of the Urban Forest. This nonprofit organization aims to plant more foliage along the city’s busy streets and conduct landscaping on the garden sidewalks. After all, trees provide oxygen and make the city nicer to look at, so everyone will benefit from your hard work as a volunteer.

Mission

The Mission neighborhood is a very lively and active community where you can get involved 

For animal lovers, volunteering with furry friends doesn’t feel like work at all. The San Francisco SPCA gets thousands of animals every year, and the organization counts on volunteers to provide care, love, and treatment to animals in need. You can do all kinds of work for the SPCA, from walking the dogs to cleaning the kennels to feeding the kittens, so whether you’re a cat or dog person, you’ll be sure to enjoy yourself while providing a valuable service to this nonprofit organization.