Nestled in the heart of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, the AIDS Memorial Grove is a living testament to the losses of the last 40 years, since the first AIDS diagnoses in the United States.

It’s also a testament to the power of service and volunteering, without which the Grove wouldn’t exist. Since its conception by a group of San Francisco residents in 1988, the AIDS Memorial Grove has been a labor of love for those affected by AIDS and their neighbors and allies, from its design to the regular upkeep that makes it a welcoming space for visitors. Over the years, volunteers have contributed more than 225,000 hours of work to the beautification of this sacred space.

Now is a particularly meaningful time for the AIDS Memorial Grove. On June 5, the National AIDS Memorial marked 40 years since the first AIDS diagnoses in the United States.

As part of our work to connect LGBTQ+ people to volunteer opportunities. TurnOut regularly invites our network to volunteer at the Grove. Over the last few weeks, in advance of the 40th anniversary event, TurnOut volunteers gardened, weeded, and put down mulch in the Grove.

Connecting volunteers to the AIDS Memorial Grove continues its legacy of service and volunteering, and builds community to strengthen future generations. As one TurnOut volunteer put it, "As a TurnOut volunteer, I feel more connected to my LGBTQ+ community, and I truly feel like I get more than I give. Through TurnOut, I have found my community and my home.”