Comfort & Joy for the City

Help Families Celebrate Christmas

Whether they’ve experienced a medical emergency, a housing crisis, or a lost job during the year, many of our neighbors can’t afford a Christmas celebration for their households this winter.

We’re changing that, one gift at a time.

Hope for San Diego acts as the bridge between you and families most in need this holiday season.

We’ll collect the specific gift items from each family, and send you a list of their top requests so you can shop for the items they truly want.

Last year, hundreds of you shopped for more than 250 families at Christmas — gifting not just clothes, soccer balls, and barbies, but hope as well.

Join us this year as we gift hope to families on the margins!

Shop. Sponsor. Serve.

Partner with us by…

Shopping

Our affiliates compile a specific list of needs from the most vulnerable families in their programs. You’ll receive this wishlist so you’re able to shop more effectively.

This is a great group activity — shop with your kids, partner, or community group!

Final drop off date will be Sunday, Dec. 8th

Sponsoring

Can’t shop this year but still want to help a family in need? No worries! Let us shop for you.

Choose to sponsor the entire Christmas celebration for a family of 2-3 ($300), 4-6 ($600), or 2 families ($1,000)

Family Sponsor

Survivor Sponsor

Neighbor Sponsor

Serving

Join our affiliates as they shower families in their programs with holiday meals, gift distribution parties, and even surprise home makeovers!

Check out all the volunteer opportunities below

Serve

COMPLETE- Dinner Party (We See You San Diego)

Where: Pacific Beach

When: November 12th, 4:30pm-7pm

Cook a meal, serve food, or hand out clothes at We See You’s weekly dinner for those experiencing homelessness. You & your group can serve once or continue weekly! All ages are welcome.

COMPLETE- Succulent Making for We Wednesday (San Diego Rescue Mission)

Where: Oceanside Navigation Center

When: Wednesday, November 13th 6:30-8pm

Help make fun succulents and decorate pots with guests during this Wednesday evening festivity!

COMPLETE- Ukrainian Christmas Wrapping (Slavic Refugee and Immigrant Service Organization)

Where: Clairemont

When: Saturday, November 23rd 10am-11am

Help to wrap gifts that will be handed out at the Christmas celebration for the Ukrainian community on December 17th!

COMPLETE- Thanksgiving Meal (San Diego Rescue Mission)

Where: Downtown

When: November 23rd between 12-4pm

*Need to be at least 15 years old

San Diego Rescue Mission volunteers will be helping to make our Thanksgiving Outreach Meal special by either plating meals from the hot line, serving food directly to our guests, or giving special giveaway items to those waiting in line.

COMPLETE- Thanksgiving Crafts (San Diego Refugee Tutoring)

Where: City Heights

When: November 23rd between 12:30-3:30pm

Volunteer with San Diego Refugee Tutoring to help bring supplies and facilitate a craft for refugee and immigrant students as a Thanksgiving celebration!

COMPLETE- Blanket Wrapping (Hope for San Diego)

Where: North Park

When: December 3rd from 3-5:30pm

Help us to wrap blankets with festive wrapping paper to give to students at San Diego Refugee Tutoring at their holiday party!

COMPLETE- Prepare a Meal (Solutions For Change)

Where: Vista

When: December 8th, 4:45-6pm

Serve a meal to families who have recently left homelessness and are newly joining the Solutions community this holiday season!

FULL- Cookies and Cocoa (San Diego Refugee Tutoring)

Where: City Heights

When: December 10th and 12th from 4:30-7pm

Help San Diego Refugee Tutoring host an event to spread holiday joy. They need volunteers to help set up/tear down decor, provide and decorate cookies or cocoa, and help students find their favorite book to read or a gift!

FULL- Christmas Party (Alabaster Jar Project)

Where: North County

When: December 13th from 5-8:30pm

Decorate, serve food, and help run a Christmas themed activity/adult craft at Alabaster Jar Project’s Christmas party!

FULL- Handmade Christmas Gifts Event (Clairemont Emmanuel)

Where: Mission Bay

When: Saturday, December 14th from 9am-1pm

Clairemont Emmanuel Church will be hosting a Handmade Christmas Gifts event for children to get the opportunity to make and give a gift to someone. Volunteers will need to come at 9am for set up and the event will start at 10am.

FULL- Deliver Gifts (Hope For San Diego)

Where: County-wide

When: Week of December 8th-13th

We need volunteers to pick up gifts from our affiliates and drop them off at our partners’ locations across San Diego so they can give the gifts to their families.

FULL- Back-Up Shoppers (Hope For San Diego)

Where: County-wide

When: December 1st

We need volunteers to shop for remaining gift items that have not yet been fulfilled for the families receiving gifts.

FULL- Christmas Celebration for the Ukrainian Community (Slavic Refugee and Immigrant Service Organization)

Where: Coronado

When: December 17th shifts between 3:30pm-7:30pm

Volunteers are needed to help set up the Santa Zone and lead a kids craft between 3:30-5:30pm or to help to run the Santa Meet & Greet and a kids activity/craft from 5:30-7:30pm. Volunteers are welcome to bring the craft or activity.

FULL- Christmas Outreach Meal Decorators (San Diego Rescue Mission)

Where: Downtown San Diego

When: Saturday, December 21st, 9am-11am

San Diego Rescue Mission needs volunteers to help decorate the multi-purpose room before they start their Christmas Outreach Meal for people experiencing homelessness.

FULL- Resident Christmas Party (Solutions for Change)

Where: North County

When: Saturday, December 21st from 10am-1:30pm

Every year, Solutions for Change holds a Christmas party for their families. They are looking for volunteers to set up tables of activities. Examples include: cookie decorating, Christmas crafts, games, and more!