Covid 19 Response (edit) - San Francisco Village

Response to Covid-19

February 18, 2022

San Francisco Village continues to follow the San Francisco Department of Public Health gathering guidelines. We require that all members and volunteers attending in-person programs and volunteering in-person are fully vaccinated and wear secure fitting masks. Programs on Zoom will continue as usual.

Stay healthy and get that booster!

Building Community Resilience

When the shelter-in-place order went into effect in mid-March 2020, SFV responded immediately, migrating our in-person programs to an online format within days. For many program instructors, neighborhood circle leaders, and members this was their first experience in a video conferencing environment, and they adapted quickly. By May, members could choose from more than 40 online offerings including meditation, movement classes, technology training, discussion groups, storytelling, intergenerational experience exchanges, neighborhood circles and an online improvisation theater group.

San Francisco Village onboarded nearly 100 new volunteers in the early weeks of the pandemic, mostly young people in their 20’s and 30’s, motivated by empathy and civic love. In early April, a team of volunteers sprang into action, phoning each of our 395 members to ascertain their needs for meal delivery, grocery shopping, pharmacy pick-ups, technology support and companionship. In April and May alone, volunteers provided nearly 1500 hours of support, a 75% increase over the previous two months. You can read the full story in our Annual Report.

By early January 2021, older adults age 75 and up began receiving vaccines. The vaccine rollout was bumpy and available appointments were difficult to secure. SFV staff intervened and helped nearly 100 members and volunteers make appointments, and in some cases, provided transportation to the clinic.

Planning for a post-Covid world will include a combination of outdoor activities, small safely-distanced indoor events and a continuation of virtual programs utilizing Zoom. Stay up to date on our current offerings by checking out our monthly newsletter and online calendar and stay tuned as we evolve a new normal.