As the holiday season nears, 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\u2019ve assembled a list of these charitable events and ongoing drives. Help make everyone\u2019s holidays happy with our gift-giving guide below!<\/p>\n
\u201cGiving Tree\u201d at The Headquarters: <\/strong>For the second year, the USO San Diego is joining with The Headquarters at Seaport District for a three-week drive. The effort launched\u00a0in November\u00a0<\/strong>with a lighting of the 25-foot \u201cGiving Tree\u201d in the retail center\u2019s courtyard (789 W. Harbor Drive, Marina District).<\/p>\n Donate: <\/strong>The USO is looking for gifts, toys for all ages, gift cards and monetary donations.<\/p>\n Benefitting: <\/strong>Military families<\/p>\n Visitar: <\/strong>theheadquarters.com<\/a><\/p>\n International Rescue Committee\u2019s (IRC) Holiday Gift Drive: <\/strong>Through Friday, Dec. 12<\/strong>, the IRC will be collecting donations at their office (5348 University Ave., Suite 205, City Heights\/Rolando) from 8 a.m. \u2013 5 p.m. Monday \u2013 Friday or by mail.<\/p>\n Donate: <\/strong>Unwrapped gifts for children and parents. Gift ideas are listed online by age group.<\/p>\n Benefitting:<\/strong> Refugee children who have arrived in San Diego over the past year<\/p>\n Visitar:<\/strong> rescue.org\/us-program\/us-san-diego-ca<\/a><\/p>\n San Diego Regional Law Enforcement Teddy Bear Drive: <\/strong>Now in its 24th year this drive\u2019s drop-off locations include eight San Diego SmileCare locations, any Sheriff\u2019s station or substation and the county courthouse through Dec. 5<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Donate: <\/strong>New teddy bears and other stuffed animals with tags attached<\/p>\n Benefitting: <\/strong>Children undergoing treatment at Rady Children\u2019s Hospital<\/p>\n Visitar: <\/strong>facebook.com\/smilecaredentistry\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n Toys for Tots Program: <\/strong>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 Rd., Miramar).<\/p>\n Donate: <\/strong>New, unwrapped toys or make a monetary donation online<\/p>\n Benefitting: <\/strong>children of low-income families in San Diego<\/p>\n Visitar: <\/strong>san-diego-ca.toysfortots.org<\/a><\/p>\n Feeding America San Diego Holiday Campaign: <\/strong>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.<\/p>\n Donate: <\/strong>One-time and monthly monetary gifts, volunteer at distribution centers, or organize a food drive<\/p>\n Benefitting: <\/strong>Children, families and seniors facing hunger throughout the holidays<\/p>\n Visitar: <\/strong>feedamericasd.org<\/a><\/p>\n The Jacobs and Cushman San Diego Food Bank Holiday Food Drive: <\/strong>Support for this drive comes in a number of ways and events.<\/p>\n Donate: <\/strong>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.<\/p>\n Benefitting: <\/strong>Individuals and families in need<\/p>\n Visitar: <\/strong>sandiegofoodbank.org<\/a><\/p>\n San Diego Holiday Half Marathon Food Drive: <\/strong>The Joan Kroc Center\/Salvation Army will be collecting donations during bib pick up for the half marathon on Sunday, Dec. 28<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Donate: <\/strong>Nonperishable food items<\/p>\n Benefitting: <\/strong>Local homeless shelters<\/p>\n Visitar: <\/strong>sandiegoholidayhalf.com\/food-drive<\/a><\/p>\n Stuff the Bus Food Drive:<\/strong><\/p>\n For the seventh year, the Metropolitan Transit System, North County Transit District, Albertsons\/Lucky and local Girl Scouts are teaming up for drive from Dec. 1 \u2013 6<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Donate: <\/strong>Nonperishable food items at 39 Albertsons locations throughout the county Dec. 1 -5<\/strong>; on Dec. 6<\/strong>, 17 select locations (including La Mesa and San Carlos locations) will have \u201cStuff the Bus\u201d events from 9 a.m. \u2013 2 p.m.<\/p>\n Benefitting: <\/strong>Jacobs and Cushman San Diego Food Bank<\/p>\n Visitar: <\/strong>sdmts.com<\/a> y gonctd.com<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cMake Change Count\u201d Holiday Fundraising Drive: <\/strong>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<\/p>\n Donate: <\/strong>Monetary donations of coins or through credit card payments.<\/p>\n Benefitting: <\/strong>Downtown Partnership\u2019s Clean and Safe homeless outreach efforts.<\/p>\n Visitar: <\/strong>downtownsandiego.org\/clean-safe<\/a><\/p>\n Shoes with Heart: <\/strong>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<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Donate: <\/strong>Pairs of used shoes tied or rubber banded together (no tape); skates, golf shoes and single shoes not accepted.<\/p>\n Benefitting: <\/strong>Shoes are sent to developing nations; unusable shoes are recycled. Money raised will support the school<\/p>\n Visitar: <\/strong>bwpta.org<\/a><\/p>\n Taylor Factory Tours for toy and food drive: <\/strong>Through Dec. 17, <\/strong>tour visitors at Taylor Guitars Visitor Center (1980 Gillespie Way, El Cajon) are asked to bring donation items in exchange for a raffle tickets (one per item); prizes in the raffle include TaylorWare and a GS Mini guitar (the grand prize). Tours are Monday \u2013 Friday at 1 p.m. (excluding holidays).<\/p>\n Donate: <\/strong>Non-perishable food items and\/or unwrapped toys<\/p>\n Benefitting: <\/strong>The 39th Annual East County Toy and Food Drive<\/p>\n Visitar: <\/strong>taylorguitars.com<\/a> y salvationarmyelcajon.com<\/a><\/p>\n YWCA of San Diego Special Donation Drive: <\/strong>One of several annual YWCA drives, this year\u2019s recommended drop off date is Thursday, Dec. 11 <\/strong>at their main building (1012 C Street, Downtown).<\/p>\n Donate: <\/strong>Gift cards, new toys and gifts for children of all ages, new gifts for women and men, holiday decorations and holiday stockings<\/p>\nFood Drives<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Special Events<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n