Volunteer with EVNA

We’d love to have you volunteer!

We no longer have monthly members-only meetings. Instead, we focus on public events which everyone can attend. The best way to get involved with EVNA is to attend one of our upcoming events. Below are our top volunteer needs and open opportunities.

VOLUNTEER at the CASTRO CLEANUP EVERY SATURDAY

Our most popular event is the Castro Cleanup every Saturday starting and ending at HiTops at 2247 Market St.  At 10am, we provide the equipment and instructions for a 1-hour cleanup shift. At 11am, you return to HiTops to drop off your equipment and trash bags. Then we treat you to a delicious free lunch with the group. Have fun. Meet neighbors. Bring your friends.

  • Sign up is not required, but you’ll get reminders. Just show up!

VOLUNTEER to ADDRESS HUNGER

We raise awareness of how many people are hungry in our neighborhood and how to help. We work in collaboration with great local programs and nonprofits, such as Project Open Hand, SF-Marin Food Bank, San Francisco Human Services free food locator, San Francisco Public Schools nutrition services, and more. We recommend you donate and volunteer directly with them.

  • If you want to be part of EVNA’s effort to promote these opportunities, email our board to join our communications team.

VOLUNTEER to ADDRESS CULTURAL HISTORY, HOUSING & ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY (CHHESS)

Have you read the Castro LGBTQ Cultural District’s Cultural History, Housing, and Economic Sustainability Strategies (CHHESS) report? Download the CHHESS report as a PDF. This is an invitation for us all to craft a more equitable future together. The report contains +30 recommendations is six policy areas: 1) Heritage Recognition and Preservation; 2) Arts & Culture; 3) Cultural Humility & Cultural Competence; 4) Economic & Workforce Development; 5) Place-keeping & Placemaking; and 6) Tenant Protections / Housing.

LOCAL SCHOOLS

We are looking for staff, parents, graduates and other supporters of Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy, Sanchez Elementary School, Everett Middle School, and Mission High School to help us collaborate more. Volunteer with us! We are regularly in conversation with the HMCRA and Everett Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) but would love to have local parents, guardians or teachers join our committees or board.

BIKING, ROLLING, PEDESTRIAN, & OVERALL STREET SAFETY

We are regularly hosting events virtually and in person about the SF Biking and Rolling Plan, Vision Zero and the Vision Zero SF Coalition (which we joined in 2025), Slow Streets, WalkSF, and other local areas of concern.

PUBLIC ART

We love that so much public art is happening in the neighborhood! If you’re knowledgeable or simply a fan of local art, you can be part of creating it. Email our board to express interest.

Here are some of the current projects we love and ways to get involved:

  • Mural on private property at 4122 18th Street (on the wall above the Walgreens parking lot near the Serge Gay Jr. “Circle of Change” mural) with the working title of "Living Lesbian Legends” to be painted by Tanya Wischerath. Show your support by making an unrestricted donation to the Castro LGBTQ Cultural District.

  • Mural on Jane Warner Plaza of the Intersex Progress Pride Flag. Symbolizing the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion of the Castro LGBTQA+ Community, this mural is scheduled to be painted in time for PRIDE 2025. This mural shows the world that the Castro, the center for LGBTQA+ pride, is pushing forward on the rights for all and is not backing down! Contact the Castro Community Benefit District for more information.

  • We have proposed restoration of the Time After Time mural on the south facing side of the Eureka Valley Recreation Center with artist Betsie Miller-Kusz. This is one of the few murals in San Francisco dedicated to a local woman. Claire Anderson was a popular Director at the center for more than three decades. We are just starting this proposal, so please email our board with support, questions, and feedback.

GARDENING

Do you have a local gardening group you’d like us to feature? Let us know! Here are invitations from local groups you should contact directly, or email our board about joining our communications and promotion efforts:

  • Dolores Park has a monthly volunteer gardening party there. Email Dave Swanson to be added to his volunteer list.

  • Kite Hill improvements, planting and weeding is organized by the Kite Hillbillies.

  • 20th and Noe Streets Community Garden would love your help. Just email Dave Dea, lead gardener, to get involved.

  • Friends of the Urban Forest is a new partner for us. We aren’t sure if we’ll do a tree walk, educational session, tree planting, tree care, sidewalk garden, or something else – let us know what you’d like us to host.

PIT STOPS

We are passionate about 24-hour access to toilets, a place to dispose of dog waste, and safe needle disposal. We support Pit Stops city-wide and advocate for our local one at the corner of Market and Castro Streets.

GOOD NEIGHBOR WEEK

We were a founding participating in 2025 and have joined the Good Neighbor Lab Advisory Board and will be promoting Good Neighbor Week for 2026. Block parties? Good neighbor awards? A booth at the Castro Street Fair?

EUREKA VALLEY (COLLINGWOOD) DOG PARK

We helped found the Eureka Valley Dog Owners Group to renovate the Eureka Valley Dog Play Area (also known as the Collingwood Dog Park). Several years of community discussions have reached consensus on the rough plan. The City is coming up with significant funding, and the group will begin individual fundraising soon.

Other Local Opportunities

Adopt a Drain

Adopt one or more of San Francisco's 25,000+ storm drains (also called catch basins). By pledging to keep your drain free of leaves and debris, you are joining your neighbors in helping to protect the environment, manage stormwater, and minimize flooding. Visit adoptadrain for more info.

Gaffiti Removal 

Join Graffiti Watch and get the supplies and training needed to help fight graffiti vandalism in your neighborhood. Graffiti Watch is a partnership between the City and its residents to keep graffiti off our streets and sidewalks. Graffiti Watch empowers individuals or groups to take ownership of a heavily-tagged four-block area in their neighborhood and remove graffiti from public property such as utility poles, mailboxes, trash receptacles and other street furniture. In return, we the city provides training and tools.

Adopt-a-Street

The Adopt-a-Street Program is a partnership between the City and its merchants and residents. Groups or individuals agree to adopt an area and take responsibility for keeping the street, sidewalk, and storm drain clean. In return, the city provides free street cleaning supplies, and litter and compostable leaf bag pickup.