Help garden and clean up at the AIDS Grove. 

About the day: 

There will be coffee and bagels to get you energized. When you arrive at the Grove, just turn in your release/registration form at the sign-in table so we know you are volunteering and pick up a nametag.  Anyone who is under age 18 must have the form pre-signed by their parent or guardian unless the parent or guardian is volunteering with them. You can download the required release forms on our web site athttp://www.aidsmemorial.org/volunteer/releases.htm

The Volunteer Day begins at 9:00 a.m. with a short introduction about the Grove and some safety tips, and then the volunteers will be assigned to various projects planned for that day. Typical workday projects include weeding, general pruning, and planting, and a team leader supervises each group.  Work gloves and tools are provided, but if you are welcome to bring your own glove if you wish.  

We will break at Noon for Circle Time when we bring the groups back together for general announcements.  This is followed by short ritual that is a time to remember and celebrate the lives of those lost to AIDS.  

Once Circle Time is over (about 12:20 p.m.) we break for lunch.  Several area merchants donate much of the meal that typically includes chicken, salads, fresh fruit, and cookies.  Water and soda is provided throughout the day.

After lunch we return to the projects we have been working on, gather tools and debris, and do general cleanup so we leave the Grove cleaner than we found it.  The Volunteer Day concludes around 2:00 p.m. People may come and go as they please, but we ask that everyone try to be there at 9:00 a.m. so they will know what the projects are and can be assigned to a group. On average we have about 150 volunteers every month and we look forward to you joining us.

Volunteer Days are a wonderful way to spend some time outdoors, meet some great people, and help preserve and maintain this important national memorial.  Many people who volunteer do so as a way of dealing with their own grief over a personal loss and find that working in the Grove is an important part of their healing process.  

The Grove is located at the corner of Middle Drive East and Bowling Green Drive (map - http://www.aidsmemorial.org/map.html ) in Golden Gate Park, right across the street from Sharon Meadow and the tennis courts.