By Michael Bongiorni

When I first moved to San Francisco in the mid 90s, long before Google Maps, someone invited me to the “neighborhood night” at Goat Hill Pizza on Potrero Hill. Of course I got lost.

I wandered up and down steep lined hills. I even traveled around the manufacturing base of the hill and found a brewery. When I finally arrived to dinner I could not stop talking about how much the neighborhoods of Potrero Hill and Dogpatch reminded me of my childhood home town of Pittsburgh, PA.

Those memories recurred to me a when I recently drove up Potrero Hill to make a Goodwill presentation to the Potrero Dogpatch Merchants Association. These neighborhoods have deep working-class roots, even though they have many ties to the technology industry, the merchants have not lost that sense of dedication to community values.

The Potrero Dogpatch Merchants Association (PDMA) enthusiastically embraced the idea of having a community drive. They immediately organized a committee to make the event happen. The PDMA members said that they wanted donation event to be fun, involve children and not conflict with a Giants game! Here’s what we worked out:

Donate and Dine event
September 15th noon – 4:00 p.m. at
The SOMA Streatfood Park, 428 11th @ Bryant

A joint venture between PDMA (Potrero/Dogpatch Merchants Association), Goodwill and Scrap (the center that receives used items to be remade into works of art) will take place at the SOMA Street Food Park at 11th and Division Saturday, September 15th from Noon to 4:00PM. The event will be a celebration of Potrero Hill/Dogpatch businesses, community, schools and places of worship.

Bring your e-waste and clean, reusable materials and enjoy arts and crafts, face painting and family fun all surrounded by an eclectic variety of food trucks offering delicious eats. The event is intended to celebrate community while helping to provide jobs and job training via Goodwill’s efforts.

Bring your family and friends to Donate ‘N’ Dine.
• Responsibly recycle e-waste, electronics and televisions with Goodwill
• Donate clothing and small housewares to Goodwill
• Donate art supplies to SCRAP
• Watch your children bounce…bounce & bounce in the jumpy house
• Learn about the often hidden neighborhoods of San Francisco, Potrero Hill and Dogpatch
• Enjoy food and drink
• Get your face painted
• Create art with SCRAP

Even though Google Maps says Pittsburgh is 2,578 miles away and the Giants wear black & orange not black and gold, Potrero Hill and Dogpatch make me feel at home. If your neighborhood would like to host Goodwill community drive, contact me at (415)575-2116.