From Sacramento and Your Neighborhood

Greetings Neighbors!

Citizen service is the very American idea that we meet our challenges not as isolated individuals but as members of a true community, with all of us working together. Our mission is nothing less than to spark a renewed sense of obligation, a new sense of duty, a new season of service…— President Bill Clinton

One of the many reasons I am so proud to be a San Franciscan is our long history of volunteerism to help others in our community. In fact, our City’s namesake, St. Francis of Assisi, was the patron saint of charity and compassion. We honor this legacy every time we devote our time and attention to worthy causes that benefit society as a whole. I would like to remind you of some of the many ways you can get involved with volunteer work in our community.

Whether it be helping keep our City parks clean and maintained; reading or running errands for the elderly, blind, or people with disabilities; restocking library shelves; coaching kids in sports and other after-school activities; or working with animals at the City Zoo, every effort counts. Volunteering allows you to put your skills and talents to good use and develop new ones as well.

The Volunteer Center is an organization that can match you up with volunteer opportunites that interest you, and has been serving San Francisco and San Mateo Counties for over 60 years. The Center offers a program that matches an individual’s volunteer interests and over 1,500 local nonprofits’ needs for assistance. Whether you’re looking to help in a soup kitchen or want to assist in an office, the Volunteer Center can help you find the perfect opportunity with a local non-profit organization. Also, if your company needs volunteer help, you can work with the Volunteer Center to find volunteers who can assist you. You can reach them through their website http://www.thevolunteercenter.net/ or by calling (415) 982-8999.

In addition, the California Service Corps, whose slogan is “Californians are Proud to Bear Responsibility for our State,” provides a similar matching program for volunteer needs throughout the State. It also has resource guides for young children and teens who wish to get more involved in their community. You can learn more about these programs by visiting their website http://www.csc.ca.gov or by calling toll-free 1-888-567-SERV.

One organization that utilizes volunteers to improve the lives of young people is San Francisco Court Appointed Special Advocates (SFCASA). As the keynote speaker of their annual luncheon last month, I was awed by the commitment of individuals from throughout the community who come to the aid of our City’s 2,300 foster youth. SFCASA finds advocates for them who are struggling through the Juvenile Dependency Court system and trains them to support our young people through the process. As Chair of the Assembly Public Safety Committee, I know that these types of volunteer service programs are essential to stronger communities and juvenile justice. You can learn more about the extraordinary work of SFCASA through their website http://www.sfcasa.org/ or by calling them at (415) 398-8001.

There are a vast array of worthy causes to support, and a lot of important work that needs to be done in our community. One cause that is near and dear to my heart is making sure foster youth are cared for and supported, so that they can grow to be responsible, productive adults. That’s why I am authoring two pieces of legislation in the California State Legislature to help foster youth achieve these goals. AB 2489 will provide foster youth with the academic preparation, financial assistance and the campus-based support they need to complete their college education. AB 2488 will develop a process to reconnect siblings who have been separated by adoption. Both of these measures are aimed at providing young people the support they need to succeed in life.

Booker T. Washington once said that “If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.” He knew that when you give, you also receive. I am truly inspired by the dedication and compasion of the thousands of volunteers in our great City. If you haven’t already, I encourage you to join the talented and dedicated groups of people who are truly making a difference, one person at a time.

To contact Assemblyman Mark Leno’s San Francisco District Office call (415) 557-3013 or e-mail him directly at Assemblymember.Leno@asm.ca.gov