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!

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 members ($300), a family of 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

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.

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!

FULL- 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.

Thanksgiving Meal (Solutions for Change)

Where: Vista

When: November 23rd between 4:45-6pm

Volunteer with Solutions for Change to bring a food item and serve a hot meal to new members of the Solutions community who have previously lived on the streets.

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!

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!

Cookies and Cocoa (San Diego Refugee Tutoring)

Where: North County

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

Help San Diego Refugee Tutoring host a two-night event to spread holiday joy. They need volunteers on night 1 to help set up/tear down decor, provide and decorate cookies, and help students find their favorite book to read. Night 2 volunteers will set up/tear down decor, provide and make hot cocoa, and help students choose a gift of their liking.

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!

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.

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.

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.