We are currently looking for volunteers in three specific areas:
Photo: Shundo David Haye
1. Flower chidens. This is a small group of volunteers who, under the direction of Dawna Foreman, meet every Tuesday morning at 9:30 to create arrangements for the City Center altars. We are looking for people who can make a regular commitment and have an interest in learning Japanese-style flower arranging.
2. Food Offering: Every Thursday afternoon from about 1:15, volunteers assemble in the City Center kitchen to cook a meal for the residents of Richardson Apartments. This is a residence in the neighborhood for formerly homeless individuals who require some assistance to live independently. After cooking the meal, we bring the food to the Apartments and serve the residents. We are usually back, cleaned up and finished by 3:30-3:45. It is also possible to come for the cooking only.
Photo: Shundo David Haye
3. There is an ongoing need for volunteer penpals for Buddhist prisoners. You needn’t be a practitioner of long experience or a scholar. Anyone with a Buddhist practice, an open heart, about ½ hour a month and a 45-cent stamp is qualified. Your home address is not given out, and if you feel more comfortable using a pen name, that’s fine. We also have a fund which allows us to send Buddhist books to prisons at no cost to either the prisoner or the volunteer penpal.
If you are interested or would like to find out more about these opportunities, please contact Volunteer Coordinator Jeffrey Schneider at outreach@sfzc.org or 415-354-0379.
