… to give to the less fortunate and many San Diegans wish to give as much as they can. In order to help those who wish to help others this holiday season, San Diego Downtown News has compiled a list of food and toy drives going around the county.

Food Drives

The Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank 2015 Holiday Food Drive

This food drive can be supported in a variety of ways through Dec. 22:

• Attend an event: On Friday, Dec. 4, Star 94.1 “Star Night” Holiday Concert at San Diego Civic Theatre — bit.ly/1HL86jI will benefit the Food Bank.
• Donate a pre-filled bag of food: When shopping at Vons supermarket stores throughout the holiday season you can pay for a $7 pre-filled bag of food at checkout and then place it in the red food drive barrels at the front of the store. Every San Diego County Vons location is participating.
• Online: Every donation counts. For $1, the Food Bank can provide five meals to families in need. Donate in your own name or as a holiday gift for a loved one and they will receive a letter of acknowledgement from the Food Bank. Donate at tinyurl.com/nglhknd.
• Virtual food drive: Online options include paying for food items you wish to donate using a debit or credit card. Visit the virtual food drive page at tinyurl.com/jh68ue7.
• Host a food drive: Schools, businesses, civic groups and faith-based organizations can host their own food drive on behalf of the Food Bank. Register your food drive at tinyurl.com/hovuorc.
• Shopping: Local businesses have chosen to donate based on shoppers’ purchases and one participant is Jer’s Chocolates. $5 from the sale of each holiday gift box this season will go to the Food Bank. Purchase them here: jers.com/prod_detail_list/27.

Visit sandiegofoodbank.org/holiday for more information and updated event information.

Feeding America San Diego holiday campaign

A few ideas of how to support Feeding America San Diego (FASD) include:

• Donate: Four meals can be provided for every $1 donated. You can make a one-time gift or monthly donation online.
• Volunteer: FASD relies on volunteers to help sort and distribute products to partners and clients. Sign up to volunteer on your own or with a group at the distribution center (9455 Waples St., Sorrento Valley).
• Organize a food drive with your company or at your office.

Visit feedingamericasd.org/events-campaigns/holiday-campaign for more information and to contribute. 

Toy Drives

Salvation Army Toy Drive

• Salvation Army centers throughout San Diego will be collecting toys via their Angel Giving Trees, which contain “angel” tags that correspond to a child in need. The paper “angel” will have the child’s first name, age and sex. Shoppers can select an angel, buy gift(s) accordingly and return them to the angel tree. See locations at bit.ly/1PqOWaO.
• All 27 Massage Envy Spa locations throughout San Diego will be collecting toys for the Salvation Army through Dec. 16.
• Businesses, schools, churches, service groups, and others can sign up for an Angel Giving Tree at bit.ly/1ksxt5c.

The Giving Tree

Through Dec. 18 The Headquarters at Seaport (849 W. Harbor Drive, Downtown) will have its beautiful Giving Tree on display in the central courtyard. Community members are invited to drop off gifts for children up to 18 years of age and monetary donations for the USO San Diego at the Giving Tree or at Geppetto’s Toys (located at The Headquarters).

Visit bit.ly/1MTjo6T for more information.

Toys for Tots

The Marines and sailors of the 4th Tank Battalion and 4th Medical Battalion at the Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Center are asking for support of their annual campaign. They request that all toys be dropped off at their headquarters, located at 9955 Pomerado Rd., San Diego, 92131, east of MCAS Miramar. For more information, email them at [email protected].

Other drives

Supporting Becky’s House. Join Assembly Speaker Toni G. Atkins and Assembly members Shirley Weber and Lorena Gonzalez when they host their “Holiday Gift-raiser” to benefit Becky’s House, from 5 – 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 16 in the Eshleman Auditorium in the State Building, 1350 Front St., San Diego.

Becky’s House is a housing program for survivors of domestic violence, and Bridges Teen Recovery, a part of Vista Hill Recovery, which supports at-risk youth.

Items needed:

* New (twin only) comforters, blankets and bed linens; bath towels; pots and pans, silverware and kitchen utensils; blenders, fans, vacuum cleaners and clocks; double and single baby strollers; new children’s toys, and unused coloring books and developmental/learning toys.

* Popular items for girls include those with a “Frozen” theme, Barbies and art supplies. Boys favor balls, Marvel action figures and Legos.

* Other necessities include diapers and wipes; general personal care products and toiletries; gift cards; and tickets to movies, sporting events and theme parks.

La Mesa Chamber senior project

The La Mesa Chamber adopts 22 seniors each year during the holiday season and creates large gift baskets for them, which are delivered with a hot turkey dinner, complete with trimmings, by La Mesa RSVP members. This year’s delivery date is Friday, Dec. 18. Items will be collected through Friday, Dec. 11.

Items suggested: 22 canned soups; 22 canned vegetables; 22 canned fruits; 22 packets of crackers; 22 packets of pasta or macaroni and cheese; 22 pens and pads of paper; 18 slipper socks for women, 4 pairs of men’s socks; gift cards in any denomination to Target, Walmart or any grocery store; other items you think would make these seniors smile are welcome.

Please deliver donations to the La Mesa Chamber office: 8080 La Mesa Blvd., Suite 202.

Contact Mary England with questions at 619-251-7730 or [email protected].

The Salvation Army Kroc Center Toy ‘n’ Joy workshop

The Kroc Center (6845 University Ave., Rolando) has adopted 600 families to benefit this year and will be collecting donations through Dec. 16. Kroc Center shuts down its skate park for the whole month and transforms it into a toy store for pre-selected low-income parents to come and “shop” for Christmas presents in a dignified way. Each family also receives a food box and a gift card to a grocery store to ensure they can prepare a holiday meal. New toys should be appropriate for ages 0 – 12; there is a particular need for gifts for ages 0 – 2 and 10 – 12. Food and grocery store gift cards can also be donated at select locations. Current donation locations:

• Allied Plaza (7777 Alvarado Road, La Mesa) – toys.
• Cabrillo Credit Union (10075 Carroll Canyon Road, Scripps Ranch) – toys and food.
• Carrillo’s Auto Body (4680 Old Cliffs Road, Allied Gardens) – toys and food
• Kaiser Permanente (4647 Zion Ave., Grantville) – toys
• Rockin’ Jump (8190 Miralani Drive, Miramar) – toys
• Pacific Sotheby’s (8310 La Mesa Blvd., La Mesa) – toys
• Thrive Public School (4260 54th St., Mid-City) – toys and food
• US Bank (9918 Hibert St. Scripps Ranch) – toys
• Toy and food donations may also be made at any Kroc Center venue

For up-to-date information visit sd.kroccenter.org/give.html. 

13th annual Casa de Amparo holiday drive

Individuals, groups and companies are invited to donate to this drive in a variety of ways. The donations support over 1,000 Casa Kids during the holiday season. Learn more about Casa de Amparo at casadeamparo.org. Ways to give:

• Sponsor an individual Casa Kid’s wish list: You will receive the name, gender and a brief wish list for a Casa Kid ages newborn – 25 years old.
• Donate a gift from the general wish list: These gifts will support Casa Kids during the holidays and throughout the year.
• Sponsor a Casa Kid’s room: Choose from several rooms that help Casa Kids at various stages.
• Give a cash gift: These can be mailed or donated online at: bit.ly/1kB17VW.

The Casa de Amparo donation center is located at 200 E. Barham St., San Marcos. Donation dates and times are as follows:

Dec. 9 – 11 from 4 – 6 p.m.; Dec. 14 – 17 from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

For wish lists and more information contact Tania Paniagua at 760-566-3559 or [email protected].

‘Stuff a Stocking’ for San Diego seniors

St. Paul’s Senior Services will be collecting items through Dec. 18 for low-income seniors this holiday season. Suggested items for donations include:

• Food: dried food, canned food and soft food items
• Toiletries: toilet paper, shampoo, soaps and razor
• Linens: pillows, sheets and blankets
• Household items: cleaners and trash bags
• Clothing: bags, purses and undergarments
• Other items: stamps, envelopes, journals and notebooks

Donations can be dropped off at the lobby of St. Paul’s Senior Services (328 Maple St., Bankers Hill) and at St. Paul’s Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) locations:

PACE Downtown: 111 Elm St.

PACE Chula Vista: 630 L St.

St. Paul’s Plaza: 1420 E. Palomar St.

For more information go to stpaulseniors.org or call 619-239-6900.

Happy holidays from everyone at San Diego Downtown News!

—Compiled by Jen Van Tieghem. She can be reached at [email protected].