Giving Tuesday: 5 SD nonprofits that show up
Photo courtesy of Jewish Family Service of San Diego
Extra groceries due to the government shutdown, home furnishings for formerly homeless families, and legal support for those who can’t afford it. Giving Tuesday (Tuesday, Dec. 2) is the perfect time to spotlight nonprofit organizations that know San Diego well and provide innovative and much needed resources for our neighbors.
Here are five of JWC’s nonprofit clients that are stepping up for the community and how you can help on Giving Tuesday and beyond:
City Heights Community Development Corporation
City Heights has launched an Emergency Food Pantry Hotline, on which San Diegans can request food assistance directly. City Heights CDC is doubling down on efforts to ensure families and individuals in City Heights and throughout San Diego County have reliable access to fresh, healthy food. The organization is expanding its existing food distribution program to include additional produce and dry goods to meet the growing need.
Through this hotline, the City Heights CDC team will connect households with available food resources, provide direct food or grocery gift cards when possible, and offer referrals to other food banks and pantries.
What is the need? Approximately 400,000 San Diegans rely on food stamps. Residents who need food assistance now, they can connect to the Emergency Food Assistance Pantry Hotline by emailing info@cityheightscdc.org or calling (619) 795-6618.
How to donate: Donate at cityheightscdc/donate
Jewish Family Service of San Diego (JFS)
JFS is dedicated to providing accessible food to those in need through the organization’s nutrition programs, including freshly made meals cooked for mobile food delivery and free senior group dining, a unique client-choice food pantry combined with financial coaching, and a community food pantry providing access to healthy food. JFS’s nutrition work also helps in times of crisis, like the government shutdown.
What is the need?
- More than 900,000 meals served in 2024
- In the six weeks of the government shutdown, JFS provided over 20,000 meals
- To get assistance visit jfssd.org/nutrition.
How to donate: Donate at JFSSD.org/GivingTuesday or call 858-637-3300. Plus: all donations will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $500,000 from now through Dec. 3, so donations go twice as far, thanks to the generosity of Evelyn & Ernest Rady.
Humble Design furnishes and decorates homes for people transitioning out of homelessness and into stable housing. With each home makeover, Humble Design San Diego provides household items that have been donated or upcycled, creating dignity that supports long-term stability. In August, the nonprofit tested a new model to design four homes per week, instead of three. Funds are needed to make this new model permanent.
What is the need?
- Nearly 10,000 people were homeless in San Diego County in January 2025, per to the Regional Task Force on Homelessness.
- Research shows this design-driven program helps break the cycle of homelessness. UC San Diego’s Homelessness Hub released a study that showed that 98% of the people Humble Design San Diego served remained housed after two years.
How to donate: Donate at humbledesign.harnessgiving.org/campaigns
Art FORM’s creative reuse store (a thrift store for arts and craft supplies) diverts 30 tons of reusable materials from the landfill. One-third of donations go towards free art workshops with schools, one-third to the creative reuse store for community shopping and one-third to outreach programs and partnership events. Donations fund its educational program with public school students and summer camp scholarships. But, items go fast! Help keep the store’s shelved stocked with art materials (yarn, beads, fabric and more).
What is the need?
- The organization instills art education and environmental stewardship to over 500 local students at San Diego Mid-City elementary schools
How to donate: To see the list of accepted materials and to make a drop-off appointment, visit the website. Monetary donations accepted here.
The creative reuse store is available for in-person shopping from 12-4 p.m. on Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.
California Western School of Law Community Law Project
California Western School of Law’s Community Law Project has provided life-changing legal support and advice to vulnerable San Diegans for 20 years. It’s a way to give back while providing students real-life experience and the opportunity to develop a commitment to public service. Students work one-on-one with clients and volunteer attorneys in a variety of legal issues — from tenant housing issues, immigration concerns, and employment disputes to bankruptcy and personal injury claims.
What is the need?
- Last year, about 65% of clients reported family incomes that fall below the Federal Poverty Level, and over 90% reported family incomes below $50,000.
- In 2024, over 3,800 volunteer hours were served, 148 free clinics were offered to the community and more than 1,100 people were served.
- For assistance, visit cwclp.org/.
How to donate: Donate and learn more on the Community Law Project website page.
