In a season when many of us are focused on shopping and gift giving, December is a good time to think about another kind of giving: donating. Here are a few ways for you to give back this holiday season and help make a difference in someone’s life.

Stock the Lava Mae Buses. Lava Mae delivers dignity for those experiencing homelessness, one mobile shower at a time. You can volunteer your time and/or donate items to stock the bus with hygiene products.

Project Homeless Connect. Volunteer at a PHC event, helping San Franciscans experiencing homelessness connect with the care they need. These services include dental care, eyeglasses, housing info, food, hygiene products, medical care, mental health services, voice mail accounts, employment counseling/job placement, wheelchair repair, and more.

Choose Your #RedKettleReason. Give the gifts of help, healing, and hope this season. Choose your community, your cause and invite friends to participate in a Red Kettle fundraiser that can change lives.

Make a Difference in a Dog’s Life. Adopt or foster a four-legged friend this season of giving. Rocket Dog Rescue saves homeless and abandoned dogs across the Bay Area from neglect, abuse or euthanasia by fostering them in homes where they can be socialized, vaccinated and treated for any ailments. You can also ask about donating blankets, pet food, and toys.

Become a Food Runner. Help alleviate hunger, prevent waste, and foster community by becoming a food runner. Food Runners picks up excess perishable and prepared food from businesses such as restaurants, caterers, bakeries, hospitals, event planners, corporate cafeterias, and hotels and delivers it directly to neighborhood food programs.

Get Involved with Glide. Brighten up your holidays by bringing light to others by donating your time, turkeys and toys to Glide this season. You can help fill and distribute 5,000 full grocery bags, sort and deliver toys to boys and girls in the community, serve meals, and much more.

Give Grub. Food and Fund Drives are a great, fun way to raise awareness about hunger and mobilize your community to provide food for neighbors in need. For every $1 you donate, the SF-Marin Food Bank can distribute $5 worth of food!

Clean Out Your Closets. Give a woman a new start with your gently-used clothing. Dress For Success provides support, professional attire and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.

Serve a Meal. Get involved by serving breakfast or dinner at a shelter, tutoring an adult GED student, assisting a senior citizen with a game, and more. Check out their current volunteer opportunities at Episcopal Community Services.

Clear Clutter. Donate possessions you no longer need to the Salvation Army. Items are sold and proceeds are used to fund Adult Rehabilitation Centers, where those in the grip of addiction find help, hope, and a second chance at life.

Give the Gift of Warmth. Donate your gently used winter hats, gloves, thick socks, coats and warm blankets to women’s and homeless shelters. One Warm Coat has drop-off centers around the region.

Donate Toys. The U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program collects new, unwrapped toys and distributes to less fortunate children.

Sincerely Yours
Jasper is a convergence. Of structure and imagination. Of the classic and the eclectic. Of art and life. This 400-foot high-rise apartment building crowns San Francisco’s fabled Rincon Hill and stands as an iconic addition to the city skyline. It is a statement about elegance in a place where elegance actually means something. Be sure to follow Jasper on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google+ and Instagram as we share news and updates about our exciting new community.  #rentjasper It’s a heck of a place to call home.