December will be filled with a month of community events.

The month starts with the 17th Annual Hayes Valley Merchants Block Party December 1st from 6-9pm featuring the 2nd Annual Giving Voice to the Season Community Sing Along at Patricia’s Green in Hayes Valley (Hayes and Octavia). All merchants on Hayes Street between Laguna and Franklin and side streets of Laguna, Octavia and Gough between Fell and Grove invite the community to come shop, enjoy food, drink, and music and participate in a silent auction to benefit HVCP. Once again this year, there will be a SFFD toy drop off for children in need located at Hayes & Octavia. HVNA members will be providing cookies and hot chocolate at the Green again this year.

In keeping with their traditional support for the neighborhood, many stores will also have silent auction items and/or donation boxes, with all proceeds going to Hayes Valley Community Partners.

This festive annual event brings out neighbors and others to see Holiday offerings in the shops, eat at local restaurants and participate in our sense of community. Other planned activities include a gospel choir strolling, carol singing at Patricia’s Green, cookies and hot chocolate at the Green, and the SFFD fire truck collecting donated toys.

Let’s all get out, have a good time, and support our merchants!

Fifth Annual Wreath and Card Making event by partner Hayes Valley Neighborhood Parks Group. The event will be located at the Hayes Valley South Community Room, 403 Rose St, on December 9th from 1-3pm. Come join community members as we come together for an afternoon of wreath and card making to distribute to community members. Food, drink and supplies will be provided. It’s a great chance to work with the kids as they make cards, and wreaths, for others in the community.

Fifth annual food giveaway on December 21st and 22nd to community members recommended by their peers for building a safe and caring community. Last year we delivered over 200 food boxes to families making a positive change in their community. Cards made by youth in the area will accompany each box.

Fifth annual Community Luncheon will take place at the Korean American Center located at 745 Buchanan (at Grove) on December 23 from 11 am-3pm. Come join us as we bring our community together for a celebratory lunch, feature inspirational speakers and showcase talent in the ’hood. A toy give-away will follow at the Hayes Valley Playground located at Hayes & Buchanan.