On Sunday, December 7, North Beach residents of all ages ventured out for a festive afternoon of holiday fun, kicking off the season with the inaugural “Elf on the Shelf” scavenger hunt.
Families picked up maps and punch cards at Goorin Bros. Hat Store on Stockton Street and spent the next three hours exploring participating neighborhood businesses to find hidden elves displayed in windows and storefronts.

The response was wonderful. San Francisco children and parents moved through the community together, discovering local shops they might not have visited otherwise, while the elves hidden throughout the neighborhood created a sense of playful discovery that brought genuine smiles.
This event reflects exactly what the San Francisco Police Community Foundation works to create: moments when community members connect with the officers who serve them.
“The holidays are about joy and inclusion,” said Executive Director Ixchel Acosta. “When we bring families together around shared celebration, we strengthen the bonds that make our neighborhoods safer and more resilient. These aren’t just prizes, they’re opportunities to remind each other that we belong to a community that cares.”
Every family that completed the scavenger hunt earned prizes, and those who found all the elves were entered into a raffle for a grand prize. But the real prize was simpler: neighbors reconnecting, kids laughing, and a neighborhood energized by shared experience.
We’re grateful to North Beach Neighbors and the San Francisco Central Police Station for partnering on this event. Together, we’re building a community where everyone feels the warmth of belonging.
Want to help build a safer San Francisco? The San Francisco Police Community Foundation brings together local businesses, nonprofits, and neighbors to support our police officers and strengthen community safety.
Through private donations from San Franciscans like you, we provide officers with better tools and resources while building trust between police and the communities they serve. Learn more today!



Comments are closed.