Support Community Outreach at SFCCC This Giving Tuesday

For over 40 years, SFCCC has brought high quality, compassionate and non-judgmental health care to San Franciscans experiencing homelessness. By popular demand, in 2001 we expanded this service to include the companion animals of our clients. Today our devoted team of staff and volunteers serves over 1,000 humans and 500 pets per year. 

This Giving Tuesday, we're asking for your support to continue delivering these lifesaving services to our clients. Our clients' need for free and accessible care for themselves and their pets is as vital as it's ever been. We believe our impact is best understood through the stories of our clients, and the staff and volunteers who serve them. Read on to learn about how our community outreach programs have impacted Curtis, Dr. Katie Taylor, Maloa, Bella, July and Adrienne.

Curtis and Dr. Katie Taylor

Curtis and Dr. Katie

Curtis has received care from SFCCC’s SOS program, a mobile medical outreach program, for about 5 years, helping him manage medications, tending his wounds, providing preventive care, and connecting him to street-based social work for additional support. Curtis says, “The SOS program has been a tremendous asset, helping me cope with my chronic pain.” He remembers a time when he lived on the street and his legs were often severely swollen and uncomfortable; he says SOS cared for him without judgment and he felt so much better after their visits. He says, “I thank the whole SOS team- they always greet me with a smile and ask if I need anything.”

SOS volunteer, Dr. Katie Taylor, is a key part of the team-based care the program provides to Curtis. Curtis says, “Dr. Katie doesn’t see us as just unhoused people or drug users; she sees us as human beings. She prioritizes my health and is always there to help.” Dr. Katie says she admires Curtis’ caring and sociable nature, noting how he often asks the SOS team to check on other patients, always looking out for his neighbors. “That generosity of spirit is something I truly admire about Curtis”, she says. She notes that linking Curtis to stable housing has made a significant difference in his overall health and she is so glad he’s now able to live indoors.

Maloa, Bella and July

Maloa, Bella, July & Adrienne

Maloa met July, his beloved 12-year-old dog, about 11 years ago. This year Maloa added Bella, a 6-year-old Chihuahua mix to his family. Maloa first heard about SFCCC’s Vet SOS program, a mobile service that provides free veterinary care to the companion animals of San Franciscans experiencing homelessness, from a friend when he needed to get July vaccinated. Though he’s been coming to Vet SOS for less than a year, Maloa has become a regular at the program’s monthly pop-up clinics, saying the team “does a very good job taking care of Bella and July and give them everything they need…people who work (at Vet SOS clinics) love Bella and July…I got to make sure my two babies are fine. I love them more than anything.” 

Vet SOS volunteer veterinary assistant, Adrienne, is always impressed by Maloa’s commitment to his dogs. “When Maloa is around, he never stops asking about what he can do to make their lives better. He is a very special and caring owner to these two and they are all lucky to have each other.” Adrienne says that owners like Maloa are one of the reasons she keeps coming back to volunteer with Vet SOS. “I get to interact with people who genuinely care for their pets and will do anything to keep them happy and healthy”, adding, “I'm so lucky to work with pets as friendly as Bella and July.”

To donate to either of these programs or SFCCC ‘s mission overall, click here

To shop our Chewy wish list, click here

For InKind donations, please see suggestions for SOS or Vet SOS