Macy's Believe Campaign

Are you going to the mall do to some Holiday shopping? Macy’s is asking children and adults to bring a letter to Santa, stamped and addressed to “Santa at the North Pole” to the Santa Mail letterbox in any Macy’s store. Macy’s will donate $1 for each letter to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a charity that fulfills the wishes and dreams of children with life-threatening conditions such as cancer. It’ll only cost you 5 minutes and 44 cents to do some good today!

Accion San Diego

“Lending, supporting, inspiring” is Accion San Diego’s main purpose. Accion seeks to help San Diegans break out of the poverty level and into a better financial future, by assisting in job training and providing loans and business support to small businesses. Accion provides loans ranging from $300 to $35,000 so that San Diegans can start and maintain successful businesses. To donate your time or resources, visit http://accionsandiego.org/index.html or call (619) 795-7250.

Stepping Stone of San Diego

Stepping Stone of San Diego is a unique, non-profit, drug and alcohol treatment facility that welcomes all people and primarily services those in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community. They offer a comprehensive treatment approach based on the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous and also incorporate progressive healing of the mind, body and spirit. To learn about volunteering or to make a donation, please visit http://www.steppingstonesd.org/

The Burn Institute of San Diego

Since 1972, The Burn Institute of San Diego has been working to reduce the number of fire-related injuries and deaths in San Diego County. Some of their programs include survivor counseling, burn education and installing free smoke alarms in homes for the elderly. A few of the many great volunteer opportunities include installing smoke alarms, helping out at a camp for burn survivors who are children and attending fun monthly outings like movies and baseball games with burn victims. To make a donation, call (858) 541-2277 and to volunteer, visit http://burninstitute.org/volunteer/register-form.html

The San Diego Eye Bank

This unique non-profit corporation aids people in preserving and also restoring sight. Thus far, the San Diego Eye Bank has helped give sight back to 25,000 people who had lost their sight due to injury or disease. The San Diego Eye Bank offers laser surgeries, tissue distribution and other family services. They are eager to have volunteers to participate in health fairs and in the office. If you’re interested in volunteering, call (858) 694-0400.

The San Diego River Park Foundation

The San Diego River Park Foundation is an organization dedicated to keeping the 52-mile San Diego River clean, healthy and beneficial to San Diego residents. They promote education of environmental issues, help to keep the river clean and maintain the beautiful river park in Mission Valley. The San Diego River Park Foundation is looking for people to help volunteer by planting, weeding and watering on Sunday mornings. There are also other volunteer opportunities available, so contact Doug Taylor, at 619-297-7380 if you’re interested. You can even register your savings cards for grocery stores like Vons and Ralphs online so that each time you spend money on groceries; the store gives a percentage of what you’ve spent to the San Diego River Park Foundation. To register your savings card, visit http://sandiegoriver.org/escrip.php

Reading is Fundamental

Founded in 1966, Reading is Fundamental helps encourage children to read by working with children and their parents to read, especially in underserved communities. They believe that literacy is the key to helping children succeed. Reading is Fundamental (RIF) provides reading help in schools, community centers and homeless shelters across the United States, including locally in San Diego. RIF volunteers distribute free books to children and read with them. To find the closest RIF program to you in San Diego, visit www.RIF.org

The Special Olympics of Southern California,San Diego

The Special Olympics of Southern California, San Diego provides year-round athletic programs for people with intellectual disabilities. Their sports coaching and competitions instill confidence and self-esteem in the athletes, whether they win or lose. The Special Olympics of San Diego has sports opportunities as far south as San Ysidro and as far North as Oceanside. Volunteers are always needed. A few volunteer opportunities include coaching the sports teams, event planning, providing first aid at sports competitions and administrative office tasks. To find out more about volunteering or to make a tax-deductible donation, visit http://www.sosc.org/sandiego

San Diego Audubon Society

The San Diego Audubon Society promotes education about and conservation of birds and their natural habitats. They have educational programs for 2^nd through 6^th graders and also help increase natural conservation through several local wildlife sanctuaries. The San Diego Audubon Society is also having a bird walk at 8am on Saturday, November 27^th. Meet at the Tecolote Nature Center; 5180 Tecolote Road, San Diego CA 92110. They are always happy to accept volunteers and do not require previous training for volunteers. T-shirts, posters and other items which benefit the San Diego Audubon Society are for sale at http://sandiegoaudubon.org/ 

Expanding Your Horizons

Expanding Your Horizons (EYH) is an annual conference that encourages middle school and high school girls to explore science, math and technology by learning from some of San Diego’s best scientists. Each year, Expanding Your Horizons helps young women become more aware of the opportunities they have in science and math careers. This is accomplished through hands-on activities, instead of long lectures. As a non-profit, EYH is specifically looking for businesses to act as corporate sponsors for 2011’s conference. Please visit http://eyhsandiego.org/ for more information.

Pathfinders of San Diego

If you’ve ever known anyone with struggling with an addiction to alcohol, you know that getting and staying sober cannot be done alone. Pathfinders of San Diego was founded in 1950, by a group of men looking for a sober living environment. Today, Pathfinders has several recovery houses for men, on Dale Street and Cedar Street in San Diego, which can each accommodate up to 40 men. Residents live in the recovery houses for an average of 3 to 9 months, where they attend daily AA meetings and participate in volunteer activities. You can make a tax-deductible donation by calling 619-260-1605 or visiting http://www.pathfindersrecovery.org .

 

Run/Walk for Foodmobile

Are you a runner? Looking to burn off some extra calories before the big Thanksgiving meal? On Thursday, November 25^th at 7:10am, you can participate in a 10k or 5k run/walk through Petco Park and the Gaslamp district to help fight hunger. Proceeds go to fund Foodmobile, a service provided by Jewish Family Services and the San Diego Food Bank. Foodmobile delivers almost 2,000 hot meals to the elderly in San Diego each month and provides the only kosher food delivery service. Today, November 19^th is the last day to pre-register for the race for only $25! For more information, visit http://www.kathyloperevents.com/hungry/

Empty Cradle

Empty Cradle provides emotional support and education to parents who have lost a baby, whether before or after birth. The organization started small in 1982 but today, they hold monthly meetings in San Diego, have telephone support and additional programs. Since Empty Cradle is a non-profit organization, it’s services are run entirely by volunteers. If you have a heart meant for volunteering to help parents who have suffered from a pregnancy loss or infant death, call (619) 595-3887 or email volunteer@emptycradle.org. You can also donate online at www.EmptyCradle.org 

The San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research

If you love visiting the zoo and seeing all of the amazing animals, why not volunteer? The San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research needs people 18 and older to be service assistant volunteers. Research assistant volunteer positions are also available, but require a science-related degree. Another great opportunity: have your school, Girl Scout troop or family collect as many recyclable cans as possible from now until Earth Day, April 21, 2011. Then, recycle the cans and donate the proceeds to Cans for Critters. You’ll also have an opportunity to win prizes! For more information, email cansforcritters@sandiegozoo.org or visit http://www.sandiegozoo.org/donate/

The San Diego Sports Medicine Foundation

The San Diego Sports Medicine Foundation was founded in 2002, in order to help children with sports-related injuries bounce back, despite medical insurance barriers or lack of insurance. They host free injury clinics on Saturday mornings and help children and teenagers in need of MRIs, surgeries and treatments after surgery. To see the stories of children who’ve been successfully treated by the San Diego Sports Medicine Foundation or to make a donation online, visit http://sdsmf.com/ .

HEART of Chula Vista

HEART of Chula Vista stands for Help and Education for Animal Responsibility Team. This non-profit organization helps encourage responsible pet ownership throughout San Diego, especially in Chula Vista, National City, Lemon Grove and Imperial Beach. HEART of Chula Vista helps nurture over 9,000 abandoned animals each year, as they enter the Chula Vista Animal Care Facility. They provide the animals with medications, vaccinations and also pay for animals to be spayed and neutered in order to reduce the number of homeless pets. Monetary donations can be made online at http://www.heart-of-cvacf.org/contribute.html. Another way to help: adopt a homeless pet rather than buying one from a pet store or breeding.

Goodwill Industries of San Diego

Do you have clothes cluttering up your closet that you haven’t worn in over a year? It’s time to donate them for a good cause. Goodwill Industries of San Diego helps disabled people and others with barriers to employment gain valuable work experience that they can use in the real world. When you donate your unwanted clothes and accessories to Goodwill of San Diego, they sell them and use the earned money to provide job training and employment to Americans in need. To find your closest donation center where you can drop off goods, visit http://www.sdgoodwill.org/donationcenters.shtml 

Kactis 4 Kancer

Kactis 4 Kancer is a non-profit organization which sells cacti and other drought-tolerant succulent plants, with the proceeds going towards cancer research. Today, November 13, 2010 from 9am to 3pm, Kactis 4 Kancer is having their big open house sale at 4216 Cielo Ave. in Oceanside. The sale will feature not only cacti and succulents but also holiday-themed gifts and T-shirts with their special logo. They will be providing free hot dogs from 11am to 1pm as well. In addition to purchasing plants, you can also donate reusable pots, garden supplies or soil to Kactis 4 Kancer. Call (760) 845-8055 or visit http://www.kactis4kancer.org/ for more information.

Rebuilding Together San Diego

Rebuilding Together San Diego seeks to improve the various communities within San Diego County by helping out homeowners in need of improvements. Their programs target low-income elderly and disabled homeowners with free services such as adding in security lighting, grab bars and raised toilets as well as making repairs on minor electrical and plumbing problems. These programs not only help to keep people safer but also boost morale within the communities. Rebuilding Together San Diego is looking for volunteers, especially those with skilled trade experience such as landscapers, electricians, plumbers and carpenters. They also accept monetary donations of money, building materials or tools. For more information, visit http://www.rebuildingtogethersd.org/ .

San Diego Armed Services YMCA

The San Diego Armed Services YMCA provides free services to military personnel and their family throughout San Diego, such as counseling, after-school programs, moms and tots groups, cooking classes and emergency food assistance. They are looking for volunteers in good health to help run programs, assisting military families. Volunteers must be willing to be fingerprinted prior to serving. You can also donate online at http://militaryymca.com/.

Many people have heard of MADD San Diego, but not everyone is aware of their accomplishments. MADD San Diego works not only to educate the public about the dangers of drunk driving, but also to prevent underage drinking and support the victims of drunk-driving related crimes. MADD San Diego is looking for people to take their online pledge to eliminate drunk driving as well as send emails to state and federal lawmakers, two actions which are entirely free. The pledge and email format are available at http://www.maddsandiego.org/ 

 

The San Diego chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Information helps to educate San Diego families affected by juvenile diabetes. They also work to raise money for diabetes research so that life will be easier for diabetic children in the future. The biggest fundraiser of the year is coming up, this Saturday, November 13, 2010, the Walk to Cure Diabetes. The walk will be held in Balboa Park, beginning at 7:30am, with registration opening at 6:30am. For more information, visit http://www.jdrfsd.org/ .

United Through Reading

The goal of United Through Reading is to increase family bonding despite separation, through reading. Children sometimes experience a difficult separation from a parent due to military deployment, incarceration or medical treatments. United Through Reading helps children feel close to their parents by taping the parent reading a book to the child, and sending it to the child on a DVD. They also capture the child’s emotions and reactions to the stories and send the DVD to the parent, providing much-needed encouragement. United Through Reading needs donations, which can be made online at http://www.unitedthroughreading.org/ or by mail to 11555 Sorrento Valley Rd, Suite 203, San Diego, CA 92121. They are also looking for volunteers in organization and administration to help keep the program going strong.

Mama's Kitchen

Mama’s Kitchen was founded in 1990 as a way to get nutritious meals to AIDS patients, with increased nutritional needs and limited access to healthy foods. Over the years, Mama’s Kitchen widened their purpose and size, yet is still entirely volunteer-run. Today, Mama’s Kitchen supplies daily hot meals to hundreds of me...n, women and children with AIDS, cancer or other chronic illnesses, throughout San Diego County. They are looking for volunteers to help cook and deliver meals as well as organize food drives. You can also donate online, at http://www.mamaskitchen.org/waystogive/waystogive.php . For more information, call 619-233-6262. Mama's Kitchen is currently doing their annual Mama's Pie sale as well. You can buy a pie for $20, which benefits Mama's Kitchen. For more information, visit http://www.mamaspies.org/ .

AJ's Kid's Crane

Today is a unique opportunity. AJ Machado from Star 94.1 is currently in a crane, 60 feet up in the parking lot of IKEA in Mission Valley (2149 Fenton Parkway, San Diego, CA 92108). He won’t come down until he’s collected 102,000 toys for the sick kids at Rady Children’s Hospital. Their wish list includes board games, electronics, journals, hot wheels, plastic animals and craft supplies. With the exception of electronics, all toys must be new, in order to protect the kids from getting germs. You can drop off your toys, as soon as possible, at AJ’s kids crane or visit http://www.star941sandiego.com/pages/aj-kids-crane-2010.html?_show for more information.

Escondido Humane Society

The Escondido Humane Society sheltered over 7,000 animals, including dogs, cats, birds and even horses, in the past year. They rescue animals, provide medical attention when necessary, care for animals and get them adopted into loving homes. What the Escondido Humane Society really needs are financial donations, cat fo...od, dog food, towels, leashes, collars and stuffed toys. They also happily accept donations of stock and vehicles and would love to have people donate their time in caring for the animals. To donate money or find out more information about how to volunteer, please visit http://www.escondidohumanesociety.org/ or call (760) 888-2275.

365 Days of Good in San Diego: Stand Up for Kids San Diego

365 Days of Good in San Diego: Stand Up for Kids San Diego: "Stand Up for Kids San Diego helps homeless kids and teens through outreach, transitional living, counseling, apartment support, hot meals an..."

Stand Up for Kids San Diego

Stand Up for Kids San Diego helps homeless kids and teens through outreach, transitional living, counseling, apartment support, hot meals and job assistance. They also work to prevent homelessness among at-risk youth.

Stand Up for Kids San Diego needs hoodies, backpacks, blankets, sleeping bags and gift certificates such as Subway, Target, etc.

They would also greatly appreciate volunteers. For more information, email sandiego@standupforkids.org or visit http://www.standupforkids.org/san%20diego/ .

Welcome to 365 Days of Good in San Diego!

Welcome! My name is Sarah Davis and this is 365 Days of Good in San Diego. The purpose of this blog and the facebook page is to spread awareness of non-profit organizations in San Diego, the good that they do for the community and what their needs are. This is not a blog about asking for money. Some organizations need volunteers, some need donated items that you may have lying around in your garage, others need prayer.

Each day, a new organization will be spotlighted, along with their purpose, contact information and needs. I realize that no one can do everything. But my hope is that you might feel a personal connection and feel called to help out with just one organization, and that you might spread the word. Thank you!

2 Corinthians 9:6-9