Over the past few days, Rahim Sarabi watched as neighbors and friends and people he didn’t even know posted offers of help for those hardest hit by the coronavirus. San Franciscans offered money or trips to the grocery store or calls and video chats to help push back against loneliness.

They were kind offers, but they were offers with nowhere to go. So, Sarabi got on Nextdoor, the neighborhood social network, and suggested something more centralized, a matchmaking service to connect people who wanted to help with people in need. Madeline Su was thinking the same thing and got in touch with Sarabi.

Two days ago, the two launched a questionnaire, where people could offer assistance — a grocery run, a video chat, tech support. Already more than 100 people have volunteered.

Now they’re waiting for the anticipated crush of requests as the Monday order to shelter in place in six Bay Area counties takes its toll on local communities and people figure out where and how to ask for help.

“We’re currently getting our ducks in a row,” Su said.

“My worry is there are folks right now that are probably aware enough not to go outside, but also unsure how to get their needs met,” said Sarabi.

All across the Bay Area people have been working to figure out how to help one another during these unprecedented times. A lot of the organizing has happened online. There are other forms like Sarabi and Su’s and spreadsheets full of people listing needs such as groceries or help with rent or sanitizing products.

People have pitched in through traditional routes, too. Volunteers continued to turn out for San Francisco’s Meals on Wheels program, says executive director Ashley McCumber. The organization serves 3,600 active clients weekly, most of whom are over 60 and receive meals, and coordinates 500 weekly grocery deliveries as well.

“We’ve certainly had a larger request for people to volunteer,” McCumber said. “People are just stepping up.”

However, he wondered if Monday’s order to shelter in place would impact that response. The edict allows people to “obtain necessary services or supplies for themselves and their family or household members, or to deliver those services or supplies to others,” but McCumber wondered if the directive might affect the general notion of volunteering if it meant leaving the house when we’ve been instructed to stay home.

Sarabi said some sort of regular communication between the city and grassroots organizers would be helpful. There’s no sense in losing out on an obvious wellspring of goodwill.

“It would be amazing,” Sarabi said, if there were “an open-door meeting for people trying to help.” Of course, it would probably have to be virtual.

Ryan Kost is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rkost@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @RyanKost