Hundreds of volunteers in San Francisco have been busy spreading joy and hope this Thanksgiving holiday season, by giving back to those in need. The city's residents took part in a massive volunteer effort, with over 300 individuals participating in various charitable activities.
Volunteers at the Salvation Army were among them, with 200 donating their time to help those in need. Joey Nerad, one of the volunteers, said that "It feels good" to be giving back to the community. Major Matthew Madsen from the Salvation Army also stated that there are over 160 routes that will be driven by volunteers to deliver meals to homebound seniors.
In Chinatown's Lady Shaw Senior Center, another group of volunteers were busy supporting Asian seniors and local organization Self-Help For the Elderly with its annual meal delivery. Anni Chung, CEO of the organization, said that it is their 39th anniversary and that they started this tradition on Thanksgiving Day.
The volunteers were not just limited to those in need; officers from various departments also took part in delivering meals to community members. Commander Jack Hart with the San Francisco Police Department said that his department has been participating in this event for three decades, bringing together police chiefs, sheriffs, park rangers, and elected officials on their day off.
The GLIDE Memorial Church also hosted a Thanksgiving Celebration, distributing thousands of meals across the city. Naeemah Charles, Sr. Director of GLIDE Center for Social Justice, stated that they have seen an increase in families in need within the past month and a half, with many struggling to make ends meet.
While volunteers were busy giving back on this Thanksgiving Day, the organization also emphasized the importance of year-round volunteering. Charles said that there is always a huge need, but sometimes during the holiday season, the lull can be significant, making it crucial for volunteers to continue their support throughout the year.
With over 4,000 homebound seniors receiving meals and hundreds of community members benefiting from the event, this year's Thanksgiving celebration in San Francisco has been truly heartwarming.
Volunteers at the Salvation Army were among them, with 200 donating their time to help those in need. Joey Nerad, one of the volunteers, said that "It feels good" to be giving back to the community. Major Matthew Madsen from the Salvation Army also stated that there are over 160 routes that will be driven by volunteers to deliver meals to homebound seniors.
In Chinatown's Lady Shaw Senior Center, another group of volunteers were busy supporting Asian seniors and local organization Self-Help For the Elderly with its annual meal delivery. Anni Chung, CEO of the organization, said that it is their 39th anniversary and that they started this tradition on Thanksgiving Day.
The volunteers were not just limited to those in need; officers from various departments also took part in delivering meals to community members. Commander Jack Hart with the San Francisco Police Department said that his department has been participating in this event for three decades, bringing together police chiefs, sheriffs, park rangers, and elected officials on their day off.
The GLIDE Memorial Church also hosted a Thanksgiving Celebration, distributing thousands of meals across the city. Naeemah Charles, Sr. Director of GLIDE Center for Social Justice, stated that they have seen an increase in families in need within the past month and a half, with many struggling to make ends meet.
While volunteers were busy giving back on this Thanksgiving Day, the organization also emphasized the importance of year-round volunteering. Charles said that there is always a huge need, but sometimes during the holiday season, the lull can be significant, making it crucial for volunteers to continue their support throughout the year.
With over 4,000 homebound seniors receiving meals and hundreds of community members benefiting from the event, this year's Thanksgiving celebration in San Francisco has been truly heartwarming.
it's amazing to see a whole city like San Francisco just giving back to their community for one day, but also making sure they keep going all year round... I mean, who needs a break when you've got so much work to do helping others? 
and it's not just the ones in need who are being helped either, our first responders, police officers, sheriffs etc. are out there serving too 
. It's amazing to see officers from the police department taking time off to help out, too 
. I wish more ppl would follow their lead! The stats are mind-blowing - 4k seniors & hundreds of community members helped 
. Can't wait for next yr's event to be just as amazing 
... don't get me wrong, it's great that people are giving back to those in need, but can't we just give 'em a break from the constant pressure to do something good? I mean, think about it, if everyone volunteered every single day of the year, wouldn't that just be overwhelming for the organizations and the volunteers themselves? 
Just saying
! It's so cool that even police officers are taking a day off to help out. I'm sure it makes their job more rewarding knowing they're making a difference in people's lives 
. Year-round volunteering is so important, especially during the "slow" parts of the year when people think there's no one in need 
. It feels so good to see everyone giving back, even if it's just for a day. But what really got me thinking is, why stop at one day? I mean, we know there are always going to be people in need all year round, not just during the holidays 
. Let's make volunteering a bigger part of our lives, every single day 
especially during thanksgiving when we're supposed to be thinking about our own families and loved ones 
like, can't we all just give back 365 days a week? 
but seriously, it's awesome to see so many ppl coming together to help those in need 
the fact that even cops and other officers are participating is just another level of cool 
gotta respect the dedication from orgs like the Salvation Army and GLIDE Center for Social Justice 
. And let's not forget, this is just what SF does best - being a hub for kindness and generosity 
And GLIDE Memorial Church did an awesome job distributin' those meals across the city 
Just saw a report that says California is still dealing with its worst drought in 1,200 years 
40% less water than usual has hit the state. How are people gonna get their daily water supply if it keeps getting worse?
. And let's not forget about GLIDE Memorial Church, distributing thousands of meals across the city - that's some serious community love 
.
. The fact that organizations like GLIDE and Self-Help For the Elderly have seen an increase in families in need just reinforces how important this is 
.
! it's so inspiring to see people coming together to help those in need, especially on a day like Thanksgiving when most ppl are thinkin bout their own families 
. the fact that officers from different departments and even elected officials are gettin involved is just mind blown 
. its amazing to see police officers, park rangers, & elected officials taking a day off to help out too