Charities to Give to for the Holidays (and beyond)

One of the most important parts of the holiday season is giving to those in need. Here in San Diego, there are thousands of underprivileged families, children, veterans and homeless that need your help to make it through another year. If you want to spread some holiday joy to those in need, contact one of San Diego’s many charity groups to sponsor, donate or volunteer your time and services. It’s only through the compassion and goodwill of local citizens that keep these organizations going strong, and helps put smiles on the faces of the less-fortunate.

Just In Time for Foster Youth

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Established in 2003, Just In Time, helps foster youth become capable, confident and connected and to break the cycle of foster care. They fill in the gaps for youth who don’t have family support; they've found that the biggest gap is caring connections and that’s what they build into every service they offer.

They serve over 600 youths per year ages 16-25. Support can be made in the following ways, Coroprate Sponsorship, Walk The Talk, College Bound, Pathways Conference, Champions For Youth, Legacy Society, and Stock Transfers. Visit their website for more information on how to donate.

Source: https://jitfosteryouth.org/

Promises 2 Kids

Promises2Kids annually provides over 3,000 current and former foster youth in San Diego County with the tools, opportunities, and guidance they need to address the circumstances that brought them into foster care, overcome the difficulties of their past, and grow into healthy, happy and successful adults. Promises2Kids supports these children through our four core programs: Polinsky Children's Center, Camp Connect, Guardian Scholars and Foster Funds.

Foster Children Statistics

• On any given day, there are 3,000 foster children in San Diego County.
• In the U.S., the median age of the children in foster care on September 30, 2015, was 7.8 years.
• Each year, approximately 200 foster children reach age 18 expected to transition to adulthood but lack the skills and resources to support this transition.

Click here to view the different programs to donate to, call (858)-278-4400, or email nfo@promises2kids.org

Source: http://promises2kids.org/

Children of the Nations

Children of the Nations® (COTN®) emphasizes holistic care for orphaned and destitute children, addressing physical, spiritual, social, and mental growth in all our children. We seek to create an environment that meets the child’s basic needs, encourages their individual desires and passions, and promotes excellence in achievement.

COTN currently serves children in the United States, Sierra Leone, Malawi, Uganda, Dominican Republic, and Haiti.

A great way to donate for the holiday is with their gift cataglog. You can provide a child with something as simple (but much needed) as a blanket for $10 or immunizations that are life or death for only $40.

Visit their website for more ways to donate.

Source: https://cotni.org/

Spirit of Sharing

Spirit of Sharing is a nonprofit organization that helps local active duty military families during the holidays. Their services begin every year right after Thanksgiving and last through the Christmas holiday and into the following year.

All donations to Spirit of Sharing go toward school supplies, clothes, toys, gift cards and food for military families in need. To donate, click here, call (760) 726-8100, or send an email to SpiritOfSharing@gmail.com. You can visit the website.

Source: http://spiritofsharing.org/

San Diego Food Bank

The San Diego Food Bank is once again hosting the annual Holiday Food Drive. The 2017 Holiday Food Drive will benefit thousands of families in need this Christmas.

You can donate by purchasing a $5 food bag from any San Diego Vons store, or you can donate online through the San Diego Food Bank website. You can even sign up to host your own food drive, or virtual food drive, online. San Diego Food Bank can provide 5 meals for hungry San Diegans for every $1 donated. Visit SanDiegoFoodBank.org to donate or find out more about hosting your own food drive.

Source: https://sandiegofoodbank.org/

It’s All About the Kids

Since 2004, It's All About The Kids® Foundation [IAATK] has done many things for over 16,000 children in San Diego and Baja Mexico. This includes collecting and distributing over 30,000 toys and educational materials, teaching life skills to hundreds of San Diego homeless youth, and provided essentials for hundreds of children in orphanages in Baja Mexico.

They’re always seeking sponsors, donations and volunteers to help them in their efforts. You can visit their website at ItsAllAboutTheKids.org.