Comfort & Joy 2025 | Hope For San Diego

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. 14th

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)

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

FULL- Thanksgiving Meal (San Diego Rescue Mission)

Where: Downtown

When: November 15th

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.

Thanksgiving Crafts (San Diego Refugee Tutoring)

Where: Ibarra Elementary School in City Heights

When: November 22nd from 1-3:30pm

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

Dinner Party in Escondido (We See You San Diego)

Where: Escondido

When: December 4th from 4:30-6:30pm

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.

Cookies and Books (San Diego Refugee Tutoring)

Where: December 9th from 4pm-7pm

When: Ibarra Elementary School in City Heights

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, and help students find their favorite book to read!

Cocoa and Gifts (San Diego Refugee Tutoring)

Where: December 11th from 4pm-7pm

When: Ibarra Elementary School in City Heights

Help San Diego Refugee Tutoring host an event to spread holiday joy. They need volunteers to help set up/tear down decor, provide hot cocoa supplies, and help students find a gift!

Dinner Party in Old Town (We See You San Diego)

Where: Old Town

When: December 16th from 4:30-7pm

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.

Young Adult Shopping Party and Backup Shoppers (Hope for San Diego)

Where: Covenant Church in North Park

When: December 16th at 6pm

You will receive a family or individual to shop for on Monday, December 15th and will bring all of your unwrapped gifts to Covenant Church for a Christmas wrapping party with pizza!

Christmas Meal Decorating (San Diego Rescue Mission)

Where: Downtown

When: December 20th from 9am-11am

San Diego Rescue Mission volunteers will be helping to make their Christmas Outreach Meal special by decorating the space and filling it with Christmas spirit.