Calendar: December 19

As the holiday season arrives, many of us look for ways to give to our community, as well as our loved ones. Toy drives, food drives and special events give myriad opportunities for San Diegans to contribute to those in need. We’ve assembled a list of these charitable events and ongoing drives in and around the Mission Times’ coverage areas. Help make everyone’s holidays happy with our gift-giving guide below!

GIFT AND TOY DRIVES

“Giving Tree” at The Headquarters: For the second year, the USO San Diego is joining with The Headquarters at Seaport District for a drive through Dec. 24. The effort launched in November with a lighting of the 25-foot “Giving Tree” in the retail center’s courtyard (789 W. Harbor Drive, Marina District).

Donate: The USO is looking for gifts, toys for all ages, gift cards and monetary donations.

Benefitting: Military families

Visit: theheadquarters.com

Toys for Tots Program: The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve annual program collects toys and distributes them as Christmas Gifts. Drop-off locations are all over San Diego including their headquarters at the Marine Corps Reserve Center (9955 Pomerado Road, Miramar).

Donate: New, unwrapped toys or make a monetary donation online

Benefitting: children of low-income families in San Diego

Visit: san-diego-ca.toysfortots.org

FOOD DRIVES

Food For Live Grooves: On Dec. 19, 20 and 21 from 5 – 9 p.m. each night The Hideout (3519 El Cajon Blvd., Normal Heights) will collect nonperishable food items. In exchange for donations, attendees will receive $1 off drinks. Friday’s lineup includes Hip Hop Roots, Saturday will feature Erik Canzona and The Narrows, Gloomsday and Second Cousins and Sunday will be a literary event followed by karaoke.

Donate: Nonperishable food items

Benefitting: Mama’s Kitchen

Visit: soundsinsandiego.com

Feeding America San Diego Holiday Campaign: The organization is asking for support during the holiday season noting that 1 in 6 people, including 1 in 4 children, struggle with hunger in San Diego County.

Donate: One-time and monthly monetary gifts, volunteer at distribution centers, or organize a food drive

Benefitting: Children, families and seniors facing hunger throughout the holidays

Visit: feedingamericasd.org

The Jacobs and Cushman San Diego Food Bank Holiday Food Drive: Support for this drive comes in a number of ways and events.

Donate: A $10 pre-filled bag of food at San Diego Vons locations, monetary donations can be made online on behalf of a loved one or yourself, or you can host a virtual or actual food drive.

Benefitting: Individuals and families in need

Visit: sandiegofoodbank.org

San Diego Holiday Half Marathon Food Drive: The Joan Kroc Center/Salvation Army will be collecting donations during bib pick up for the half marathon on Sunday, Dec. 28.

Donate: Nonperishable food items

Benefitting: Local homeless shelters

Visit: sandiegoholidayhalf.com/food-drive

SPECIAL EVENTS

Kiwanis Christmas Tree Lot: For the 27th year the Grantville-Allied Gardens Kiwanis Club is selling Christmas trees. Their lot is on Zion Avenue next to the Benjamin Branch Library (5188 Zion Ave., Allied Gardens). It is open every day of the week, from 1 – 8 p.m. Monday – Friday and from 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

Donate: Purchase a tree! They will also be collecting unwrapped toys and gift cards through Dec. 21.

Benefitting: Proceeds from tree sales will help the GAG Kiwanis’ community and youth service projects. Donated toys and gift cards will go to kids in the Kaiser Pediatric Oncology Unity, children of Entra Casa residents and Voices for Children foster kids.

Visit: alliedgardenskiwanis.org

“Make Change Count” Holiday Fundraising Drive: For the second year, this fundraising effort asks individuals to make donations of coins (or by credit card) at stations throughout Downtown and online through Classy.org

Donate: Monetary donations of coins or through credit card payments

Benefitting: Downtown Partnership’s Clean and Safe homeless outreach efforts

Visit: downtownsandiego.org/clean-safe

Shoes with Heart: The Benchley Weinberger Foundation is collecting shoes, which the organization, Shoes with Heart, will pay for by the pound. Donated shoes will be collected at Benchley Weinberger (6269 Twin Lake, San Carlos) through Jan. 20.

Donate: Pairs of used shoes tied or rubber banded together (no tape); skates, golf shoes and single shoes not accepted.

Benefitting: Shoes are sent to developing nations; unusable shoes are recycled. Money raised will support the school.

Visit: bwpta.org

RECURRING EVENTS

Mondays:

Brilliant Babies Storytime: 10:30 a.m., recommended for pre-walkers. Allied Gardens/Benjamin Branch Library, 5188 Zion Ave., Allied Gardens.

Tuesdays:

Chair Yoga: 2:30 – 3:30 p.m., free class where yoga stretches are performed sitting on a chair. No mats needed. San Carlos Branch Library, 7265 Jackson Drive, San Carlos. Sancarlosfriendsofthelibrary.org.

Wednesdays:

Guided Nature Walks: 9:30 – 11 a.m., free nature walk with trail guide on one of three trails starting at the visitor center. Walks cancelled if raining. Mission Trails Regional Park, 1 Father Junipero Serra Trail, San Carlos. Mtrp.org.

College Avenue Farmers Market: 2 – 6 p.m., hosted by the College Avenue Baptist church, this market has certified locally grown produce and handmade arts and crafts. 62nd Street and El Cajon Boulevard, College Area/Rolando. CABC.org.

Locals Night: 3 – 8 p.m., residents of 92120, 92115, 92116, 92123 and 92108 are eligible for $2 pours of the brewery’s “beer of the day.” Benchmark Brewing, 6190 Fairmount Ave. Suite G, Grantville. Benchmarkbrewing.com.

Thursdays:

Game Night: 6 – 9 p.m., bring your own or play what’s available while enjoying traditional and vegan donuts. Donut Panic, 6171 Mission Gorge Road #113, Grantville. Facebook.com/DonutpanicSD.

Karaoke: 9 p.m., hosted by Erica at your favorite neighborhood haunt. Pal Joey’s, 5147 Waring Road, Allied Gardens. Paljoeysonline.com.

Fridays:

Curbside Bites: 5 – 9 p.m., gathering of gourmet food trucks at Westfield mall, 1640 Camino Del Rio N., Mission Valley. Curbsidebites.com.

Rock Out Karaoke: 9:30 p.m. on the third Friday of the month, karaoke with a dynamic live band. JT’s Pub, 5821 Mission Gorge Road, Grantville. Rockoutkaraoke.com.

Saturdays:

Used book sale: 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. on the first Saturday of the month. Wide selection of books and other items are available for all ages. San Carlos Branch Library, 7265 Jackson Drive, San Carlos. Sancarlosfriendsofthelibrary.org.

Sundays:

Karaoke: 9 p.m., karaoke to close out your weekend. Camel’s Breath Inn, 10330 Friars Road Suite 106, Grantville. Camelsbreathinnsd.com.

—Email calendar items to [email protected].