St Vincent de Paul Society

Incredibly well-​run organization that doesn’t just serve meals, but helps people find jobs /​get clean /​get centered. Anjali is the volunteer coordinator here and she is amazing — warm, sweet, organized, caring, helpful, etc. :) It’s a wonderful experience to volunteer here and I highly encourage anyone to do so. Even if you don’t want to work in the kitchen you can fold laundry or work at the women’s center (must be female though!) You have to attend a 2 hour orientation before you start volunteering, which is a great idea so you don’t feel super lost and confused on your first day.

I had the opportunity to chaperone a group of ten college students to volunteer with the St. Vincent de Paul Society for 9 days in June this past summer. It was one of the most amazing experiences I’ve had in my life.
We had a very structured schedule everyday. Some of the time we were serving at the MSC South homeless shelter (kitchen duty, cleaning duty), & some of the time we were working at the St. Vincent de Paul Wellness Center. We were able to participate in a wide range of activities through the wellness center. These included: Tai Chi, Yoga, Meditation, NA/​AA Meetings, Nutrition classes, Journaling classes & so much more!
All of our contacts at SVdP were so caring & helpful, from the Director, Jean, to Sally, to our AMAZING liaison & new best bud — Anjali. We worked with some of the other volunteers at SVdP as well — & they were all so amazing & so inclusive.
We stayed at SVdP for the duration of our trip, and although our amenities were very simple, we were comfortable & had everything we needed. In addition — this was an added benefit — our goal was to try & live as simply as some of the people we were serving.
Not only did the staff & volunteers at SVdP allow us the opportunity to volunteer with a variety of organizations & roles within SVdP, but they made sure that we had adequate time for reflection. For many of us, this was a very intense experience, & everyone made sure that our group was getting the assistance & care that we needed.
I honestly cannot say enough about my experience in San Fran & with SVdP. I truly hope to be able to work with them again in the future.

I had a great experience volunteering here at St. Vincent de Paul Society. They run a tight ship and need people to help with serving, cleaning, and daily operations.
The people here are great and really care about the people in SF. I would encourage anyone to sign up and volunteer here. Do some good :)