Mayor Edwin M. Lee in celebration of his inauguration as the Mayor of San Francisco for a second-term announced the launch of the Mayor’s Day of Service on Saturday, January 9, 2016, which will kick off at 9 a.m. at the Ella Hill Hutch Community Center at 1050 McAllister Street in the Western Addition, and encouraged the public to participate. Neighbors and volunteers from across the City will join Mayor Lee, Public Works, Rec and Park and the Housing Authority to clean, green, serve and beautify San Francisco together. Projects will include Buchanan Street Mall, Rosa Parks Senior Center and Public Housing and Ella Hill Hutch Community Center.

Saturday, January 9, 2016
Time: 9am – 12pm
Site: Buchanan Street Mall
Meeting Location: Ella Hill Hutch Community Center Plaza (Parking Lot) at 1050 McAllister Street
Description: Volunteers will participate in planting, playground cleaning-up and litter pick-up in support of the renovation of the six-block landscaped greenway and linear park, dotted with play structures and benches. Buchanan Street Mall borders Rosa Parks Senior Center and Ella Hill Hutch Community Center. For more information and to sign up to volunteer, email volunteer@sfdpw.org or call 415-641-2600.

Other volunteer events throughout the month of January:

Thursday January 7, 2016
Time: 9:30am – 12:00pm
Site: Alemany Farm
Meeting Location: Entrance at 700 Alemany Boulevard
Description: Activities will focus on the regular care and maintenance of food beds; and the mulching of pathways between fruit trees. The workparty will also include a tour of the farm and a tasting of fresh produce harvested from the farm. Alemany Farm at St. Mary’s Playground is a 3.5-acre site that is managed under the Recreation and Park Department’s Community Gardens Program. Alemany Farm combines growing fruits and vegetables in an urban setting with native plant restoration. Recreational gardening programs at Alemany Farm have received recognition for promoting urban agriculture, and also supporting allied gardening activities such as education, training.

Saturday, January 9, 2016
Time: 9am- 12pm
Site: Adams Rogers Park
Meeting Location: Ingalls Street & Oakdale Avenue
Friends Group: Habitat for Humanity Greater SF
Description: Volunteers will participate in cleaning-up a playground and sheet-mulching. Tucked away in the Bayview District, this leafy gem is home to a beloved community garden. The basketball court, playground and BBQ area are all time-honored gathering spots for friends and neighbors. Expansive views of the Bay and Candlestick Park.

Saturday, January 16, 2016
Time: 9am- 12pm
Site: Bayview Playground
Meeting Location: 3rd Street & Armstrong Avenue
Friends Group: Habitat for Humanity Greater SF
Description: Volunteers will participate in cleaning-up a playground in observance of the MLK Holiday. This park includes a playground, softball field and spacious lawn in addition to a 75-square foot pool and a separate children’s wading pool.

Saturday, January 16, 2016
Time: 9am- 12pm
Site: Buena Vista Park
Meeting Location: Children’s playground on Buena Vista West at Waller Street
Friends Group: Buena Vista Neighborhood Association
Description: Volunteers will participate in park beautification, planting and weeding. Buena Vista Park, located in the center of the city, is named for the spectacular views from its upper slopes. The oldest park in San Francisco, it features secluded, winding trails and one of the city’s few remaining coast live oak groves. Buena Vista’s natural area is on the park’s northern side.

Saturday, January 16, 2016
Time: 9am- 12pm
Site: Golden Gate Park-Camelia Garden
Meeting Location: Conservatory Drive East
Friends Group: Camellia Garden Volunteers
Description: Volunteers will participate in habitat restoration, weeding and litter pick-up. The Camellia Garden is one of numerous gardens featuring beautiful flowering plants within the larger Golden Gate Park recreation area.

Monday, January 18, 2016
Time: 9am-12pm
Site: Ocean Beach
Meeting Location: Judah Street Restrooms
Description: Volunteers will participate in beach-clean-up in collaboration with the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in observance of the MLK Holiday. Become a park steward while enjoying a day at the beach and help improve wildlife habitat both locally and globally. This program is an easy team-building project that takes only a few hours and contributes to your community. Help keep our beaches beautiful!

Saturday, January 23, 2016
Time: 9am- 12:30pm
Site: Boeddeker Park and MacCauley and Turk & Hyde Mini-Parks
Meeting Location: Father Alfred E. Boeddeker Park, 295 Eddy Street
Group: Community Clean Team
Description: Kicking off the 2016 Community Clean Team volunteer events, starting with District 6 for a cleanup/beautification day. The Community Clean Team program is dedicated to bettering the City of San Francisco through improving physical conditions in public spaces and increasing community partnerships.

Wednesday, January 27, 2016
Time: 12pm- 3pm
Site: Glen Canyon Park
Meeting Location: 52 Turquoise Way
Friends Group: California Native Plant Society
Description: Volunteers will participate in habitat restoration and weeding. Beyond Glen Canyon Park’s recreation center, ball field, and tennis courts lies a large urban canyon that has incredible spring wildflower displays, dramatic rock (chert) formations, and Islais Creek, one of the few remaining free-flowing creeks in San Francisco. This 60 acres of wilderness, formerly referred to as the San Miguel Hills, not only provides critical habitat for a wide array of wildlife, but serves as a relaxing sanctuary from the city’s urban bustle. An extensive network of hiking trails leads through a variety of habitats.

Saturday, January 30, 2016
Time: 9am- 12pm
Site: Juri Commons Park
Meeting Location: Guerrero Street and 26th Street
Friends Group: Juri Commoners
Description: Volunteers will participate in playground clean-up, litter pick-up and weeding. Juri Commons was once the site of a railroad track for the San Francisco-San Jose Railroad, one of California’s first intercity rail links. Small play areas are tucked along this tree-lined walkway, which cuts through an entire city block. The beautiful planting beds are the creation of an active local community that organizes regular work parties and gardening events.

For more information on these volunteer opportunities and to sign up to volunteer, email recparkvolunteer@sfgov.org or call 415-831-6330

Mayor Lee is also encouraging volunteerism to support organizations that help San Franciscans throughout the year. Residents and businesses are encouraged to give back to their own communities by supporting organizations that are providing warm meals, a place to stay and other essential services to the people of San Francisco. These non-profit partners are already providing to our neediest communities and it is more important now than ever for the public to support these collective efforts to provide for those most in need.

Mayor Lee highlighted several organizations to give back to:
• Glide Memorial Church
• La Casa de las Madres
• Project Homeless Connect
• Salvation Army
• San Francisco Interfaith Council
• Self Help for the Elderly
• St. Anthony’s Foundation
• United Way of the Bay Area