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Free holiday and Christmas assistance programs San Diego County.
Faith-Based Emergency Assistance
Families in San Diego County CA will receive help at Christmas including free toys or gifts, from non-profits, churches and charity organizations. While the main holiday program available is Toys for Tots, other resources provide kids with Xmas presents, clothing, meals, Thanksgiving or Christmas food boxes.
There is also Salvation Army Angel Tree in San Diego, as well as Adopt a Family Christmas help for low-income households. Find free Christmas assistance near you in San Diego County.
Programs for Seniors and Elderly
Most of the stuff is distributed around Christmas, however there are other programs at Thanksgiving. Children, infants, and teenagers from low income families as well as single mom or dad run homes are the primary targets of these programs, however seniors and others may benefit too.
All applications for holiday assistance are offered in Spanish as well as to immigrants. Free holiday meals, such as Turkeys and all of the toppings, may even be delivered around San Diego County as well. There are also free Xmas Trees, decorations and the elderly, and locate free Christmas Trees for low-income families To learn more on where to receive a free Christmas toy or gift for your child, call a center in San Diego below.
If a location is not near you or if you do not qualify, then they may provide referrals to other local resources in San Diego County. Charities that give free Christmas toys and gifts in San Diego: Heavens Windows: Address: 2820 Via Orange Way Ste. W, Spring Valley, CA 91978. Dial the agency at 619-303-7806 The non-profit offers free turkey, meals and other food distribution on a first come first serve basis to the needy and low income in San Diego County.
Small gifts, free Christmas tree decorations or toys may be passed out too. Alpine Community Center: Location is 1830 Alpine Boulevard, Alpine, California, 91901. Call 619-445-7330 for intake Volunteers and staff will offer a free, home delivered Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. It is an option for homebound senior citizens and other qualified adults in the Alpine region.
Catholic Charities Holiday Programs: Multiple churches in San Diego County help the poor, immigrants (documented or not) unemployed and others. They even have free ethnic holiday meals for Mexicans and immigrants. Everything from small Christmas gifts or toys to gift certificates for groceries, Thanksgiving food baskets, and more is offered.
Children from teen to infant can get free games, books, Christmas toys, food and more. More on San Diego County Catholic Charities Free Toys for Tots in San Diego County:
Faith-Based Emergency Assistance
One of the primary Christmas programs in San Diego is Toys for Tots. It is offered by the Salvation Army in partnership with local non-profits, the Marine Corps, churches, and other charities. The program is available at several different locations, as indicated below.
The sites tend to serve the immediate region around the office, but they may also provide referrals too. Free toys, gifts, food, video or board games, bicycles, Legos, and more may be distributed. The various locations of Toys for Tots are below, and there are two main information sites. In northern San Diego County , the services and more details and San Diego is here.
https://campen-4th-lar-ca.toysfortots.org/local-coordinator-sites/lco-sites/default.aspx?nPageID=100&nPreviewInd=200&nRedirectInd=3 Toys for Tots in the city of San Diego and balance of county, apply here. https://san-diego-ca.toysfortots.org/local-coordinator-sites/lco-sites/default.aspx?nPageID=100&nPreviewInd=200&nRedirectInd=3 Presbyterian Urban Ministries - New Day Ministries 2459 Market Street, San Diego, California, 92102.
Call 619-232-2753 The charity offers emergency food and minor gifts, once a year at Christmas time. Other referrals and assistance may be provided too.
Faith-Based Emergency Assistance
Salvation Army centers in San Diego: As noted, they are key partners in Toys for Tots. But they offer many other free holiday programs too, including toys from Angel Tree and Adopt a Family.
Many sites serve free Thanksgiving turkey dinners as well as meals to the low income, lonely, and immigrants. They also give out other Christmas gifts, toys, and even gift certificates too to everyone in need (as donations allow) and set up Angel Trees in the county. Additional financial assistance is offered to families around the Thanksgiving, and Christmas holidays.
More on
Faith-Based Emergency Assistance
holiday assistance from San Diego Salvation Army .. Familias En Accion: Main address is 1010 Crestview Road, Vista, CA 92081. Call (619) 787-5856: Free holiday programs, including culturally specific, are offered in San Diego County with applications in Spanish too.
Get books, sneakers, educational or video games and other free toys. First Congregational United Church of Christ Escondido: Location is 1800 N Broadway, Escondido, CA 92026. For details, dial (760) 745-3320
Free Vehicle Programs
Based on donations to the church, they give out free Christmas gifts to kids under the age of 17. Free gift cards, Thanksgiving turkey dinners and gift cards to buy groceries and other help is provided too.
Shiloh Church of God In Christ 1517 Dubuque St, Oceanside, CA 92058. Main number is (760) 967-9733 They focus on free holiday programs in the northern San Diego County area and around Oceanside.
Free Christmas presents for children or teens, Toys for Tots applications and other support. The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego - Second Chances Bread of Life 2083 Sunset Cliffs Boulevard, San Diego, California, 92107. Main number – (619) 291-5947 or 619-886-4275 A free Thanksgiving day meal is provided to all qualified individuals and families hosted by Second Chances/ Bread of Life.
Meals-On-Wheels
211 Information and Referral Services
2254 San Diego Ave, San Diego, CA 92110. Dial (619) 260-6110 The agency runs the Home Delivered Meals program for the homebound, elderly and senior citizens. This can include free frozen meals or food baskets for the elderly in San Diego at the holidays, including both Christmas and Thanksgiving. Churches: Free Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas assistance is provided by local churches in San Diego County.
The less fortunate, regardless of religion, immigrants (legal or not) and others can usually get help. Hot meals, toys or stocking stuffers for kids, money, Christmas gifts. clothes or food ingredients and more is provided. More on San Diego County churches Toys for Joy at Rock Church: The address is 2277 Rosecrans St., San Diego, CA 92106.
Telephone - 619-226-7625
Free Vehicle Programs
They offer Christmas assistance based on donations and partnerships. Feeding America, churches, companies and individuals donate. Children from ages 0 to around 15, from low income families in San Diego County, can get free clothes, Christmas gifts, basic needs, educational games, gift cards and more.
St. Vincent de Paul - SVDP Village: Address is 1501 Imperial Ave, San Diego, CA 92101. Call (619) 233-8500: A variety of free basic needs are offered. They try to ramp up during the Thanksgiving and Christmas season. Free clothes, household supplies, small Christmas toys or birthday gifts for kids, meals (including for the homeless) and more.
Jewish Family Service of San Diego: Address is 8804 and 8788 Balboa Avenue, San Diego, CA 92123. Call (858) 637-3210 They help single adults with kids, including moms or dads, as well as struggling residents in San Diego County.
The holiday Embrace-A-Family program gives out everything from decorations to toys, food and other items. The non-profit helps people of all faiths at the holidays. YMCA of San Diego: The main site is at 3708 Ruffin Road, San Diego, CA 92123. Call (619) 281-8313: There are multiple sites that give out free Christmas toys, presents, vouchers and more.
Get video games, tablets, barbie dolls or clothes, and other gifts for kids in the community. Programs are offered in the area including at Jackie Robinson Family YMCA as well as other centers. Roca Fuerte/Solid Rock Apostolic Church - Westminster Presbyterian Church: The location is 1500 S Juniper St, Escondido, CA 92025.
Call 559-375-5507 or (760) 745-3225 They have programs that help low-income families as well as immigrants, including at Christmas. Free food baskets, stocking stuffers, gender specific Xmas toys for kids and other stuff is offered. Shiloh Church of God In Christ: Main address is 1517 Dubuque St, Oceanside, CA 92058.
Telephone - (760) 967-9733 A major focus of the holiday programs is on helping families of veterans in San Diego County provide gifts and presents for their kids. Other low-income families, seniors and disabled people can apply too. Operation Help a Hero - Military Members and Veterans in San Diego County: The military community is large in the region.
Non-profits focus on spreading holiday joy to service members, their spouses, children, and veterans too. Free food baskets, games, books, Christmas toys for boys and girls, and more is offered from Operation Help a Hero. Find more details here. https://www.operationhelpahero.org/
Food Assistance and Food Banks
San Diego Food Bank: Location is 9850 Distribution Avenue, San Diego, CA 92121-2320. Call 1-858-527-1419 They are the main San Diego County hunger fighting agency. Free groceries and holiday food boxes, turkey dinners at Thanksgiving, bread, toppings and more items. They also help seniors and kids at Christmas.
Other Christmas programs in San Diego area: Several other churches, government community centers and other locations help the less fortunate, including homeless and migrants at the holidays.
There are applications to Toys for Tots, holiday events, Xmas gift giveaways and more. Adams Recreation Center is at 3491 A
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