AIDS WALK

Every year, Shanti participates in San Francisco’s annual AIDS Walk. We walk together as a team to demonstrate our commitment to this cause. Since 1987, AIDS Walk San Francisco has raised more than $90 million for HIV programs and services in the Bay Area and has grown into the largest and most visible AIDS Fundraising event in Northern California.

In 2017, thousands of participants, many of whom were members of hundreds of corporate and community teams, raised more than $1.8 million for Project Open Hand, Positive Resource Center, Ward 86 at San Francisco General Hospital and HIV/AIDS programs and services throughout the Bay Area., including our very own HIV Services Program.

This year, we are called to continue our show of support for this great cause by signing up as (actual or virtual) walkers for The Shanti Project Team! ! 

Here at Shanti, we all share a dedication to ease the burdens and improve the well-being of people in difficult life situations. Standing on the front lines of the HIV/AIDS epidemic is built into the foundation of this organization, and as long as the lives of our clients and community are still impacted by HIV/AIDS, our work is far from done.

I invite you to join me in continuing that work by joining Team Shanti!

At this critical time, your support is more important than ever. We hope to see you out there on Sunday, July 15th!

As always, thank you for your support!

Please Visit sf.aidswalk.net for more information about this event.  

My volunteer is a very important part of my life and a tremendous help. It is hard to quantify how significant he is and I can't imagine what my life would be like without him." - Shanti client

For 44 years, Shanti peer support volunteers have been providing emotional and practical support to people living with life-threatening illness, as well as LGBT isolated seniors and adults with disabilities, much like you would support a friend or family member in need. If you would like to tangibly enhance the life of someone who needs it the most, we encourage you to contact us and learn more about this truly unique opportunity.

As a peer support volunteer, you will:

--Go through the internationally-recognized Shanti Model of Peer Support training

--Be matched 1-on-1 with a client to whom you will provide companionship, a non-judgmental ear and light practical assistance

--Join a community of thoughtful, supportive volunteers and staff

For this program, we ask for a commitment of 2 to 6 hours a week for at least 6 months. We also organize support groups once a month, and ask all volunteers to attend. The 2-6 hours can be done according to volunteer's schedules--a lot of our volunteers visit their clients on weekends or evenings--so it's definitely flexible.

If you decide to enroll in the Peer Support Program there is a mandatory volunteer training. Each interested volunteer must attend ALL of the training dates listed below.

Upcoming Trainings: 

Friday, July 6th from 6:00-9:00 pm

Saturday, July 7th from 9:00-6:00 pm

Sunday, July 8th from 9:00-6:00 pm

Wednesday, July 11th from 6:00-9:00 pm

The purpose of this training is to prepare volunteers to work with individuals who are isolated, or living with life-threatening illnesses and other disabilities. The training will supply information about challenges our clients face as well as teach communication and listening skills through a variety of interactive exercise. The training is pretty intensive, but our volunteers typically find it to be an enriching, community-building experience.

You can make an invaluable difference to someone who needs it the most - and have your life changed in the process.

Shanti was founded in 1974. Since its inception, Shanti has trained more than 18,000 individuals in the Bay Area and 600 organizations around the world in compassionately providing emotional and practical support to clients grappling with life-threatening illnesses, social isolation, other disabilities and poverty. Recognized as the first community-based AIDS Organization in the world, Shanti serves over 2,000 of San Francisco’s most vulnerable residents, annually.

To learn more about how to get involved, please contact Volunteer Services at 415-674-4751 or email volunteerservices@shanti.org

Since 1974, Shanti's Peer Support Volunteers have been offering up their time to provide practical and emotional support to our clients living with life threatening illnesses. The Volunteers of the Peer Support Program spend time with clients who are living with breast cancer or HIV/AIDS and make it possible for them to continue to live independently. This may include doing chores, running errands, or providing companionship. It’s a mix of practical and emotional support.

For this program, we ask for a commitment of 2 to 6 hours a week for at least 6 months. We also ask all volunteers to attend a support group once a month. The 2-6 hours can be done according to volunteer’s schedules—a lot of our volunteers visit their clients on weekends or evenings—so it’s definitely flexible.

If you decide to enroll in the Peer Support Program there is a mandatory volunteer training. Each interested volunteer must attend ALL of the training dates listed below…

    Friday, January 27^th
                6 - 9:30pm
    Saturday, January 28^th
               9am - 5:30pm
    Sunday, January 29^th
                9am - 5:30pm
    Wednesday, February 1^st
                 6 - 9:30pm

The purpose of this training is to prepare volunteers to work with individuals living with a life-threatening illness. The training will supply information about breast cancer and HIV/AIDS as well as teach communication and listening skills through a variety of interactive exercises.

Pet Food Bank Delivery Drivers Needed

The Food Bank provides PAWS clients with a supplemental allotment of pet food, litter and a variety of pet supplies (e.g., toys, treats, collars, leashes, carriers/crates, etc.) every month. This basic but essential service can often mean the difference between our clients meeting their own nutritional needs and sacrificing their needs to feed their animal companions, or being able to keep their pets in their lives at all.

Many of our clients are unable to come to the Pet Food Bank, located at the PAWS office, due to their disability. We rely on the generosity and commitment of volunteers to deliver food and supplies to all of our homebound clients. Can you spare 3 hours on a Saturday morning to help keep these critter companions fed?

WHO & WHAT:

Food Bank Driver

Nature of the Position

• Working with a volunteer Rider, deliver bags of pet food to 8-10 clients
• Rider reads map and navigates driver to clients’ homes.
• If a volunteer would like to be paired with a friend, spouse, partner, family member, etc., he/she can notify PAWS Staff.

Requirements:

• Minimum age of 18
• Must have your own vehicle, current driver’s license, and proof of insurance. Vehicle must have sufficient space for one passenger and up to 20 grocery bags of pet food and supplies.
• Able to lift up to 15 lbs. to assist with loading vehicle
• Comfortable driving to any/all neighborhoods in SF

Food Bank Rider

Nature of the Position:

• Working with a volunteer Driver to deliver bags of pet food and supplies to 8-10 clients throughout SF
• Rider is responsible for navigation (with map & directions provided) and carrying food and supplies into clients’ homes

Requirements:

• Must be at least 18 years old, or 13 years or older when accompanied by parent or guardian
• Complete an orientation
• Must be able to lift and carry up to 40 lbs
• Must be able to walk up and down stairs and/or use elevators
• Comfortable going into clients’ homes in various neighborhoods and types of housing/buildings/residences
• Comfortable engaging with clients and, possibly, their pets

WHEN: Saturdays 10AM - 1PM. Volunteers can elect to be on on-call status or commit to one Saturday per month.

WHERE: Starting at the PAWS office in the Mission District and going to clients’ homes in various neighborhoods in SF.

HOW: For more information or to apply, please contact the Volunteer Services Manager at jkipnis@pawssf.org.

Other ways to support the PAWS Pet Food Bank?

Donate much needed items* including: dry & canned cat food (especially Fancy Feast), dry & canned dog food (especially Cesar’s), treats (especially cat treats), poop bags, clumping cat litter, leashes, toys and clothing (especially for small dogs.)

*We accept food in its original packaging that has not passed its expiration or 'Best by’ date, and new or clean, gently used clothing and supplies.