Ways to Give Back this Holiday Season

Ways to Give Back this Holiday Season

There are three ways to help the more than 3,000 San Diego foster children who are without families — make a donation, purchase a gift card, or become a volunteer or mentor with Promises2Kids. For more than 30 years, the organization has been helping create a brighter future for our youth via the Polinsky Children’s Center; Camp Connect, which has reunited hundreds of brothers and sisters; and Guardian Scholars, which assists foster youth achieve their dreams of higher education. (www.promises2kids.org)

Through December 31, Feeding America San Diego hopes to raise one million meals for local families in need, bringing us closer to a hunger-free and healthy San Diego. The Month of a Million Meals campaign is a partnership with ABC10, Azteca, and Live Well San Diego. Consider a financial donation — every $1 donated can provide six meals. Or start a holiday food drive with your neighborhood, family, or company. Most-needed items include peanut butter, canned tuna, canned chicken, canned fruits in natural juices, and canned, low-sodium soups. Or give your time — FASD relies on the support of volunteers during the holiday season to sort product and distribute it to the community. Volunteers can sign up online for an individual shift or attend a holiday open house on December 13. (www.feedingamericasd.org)

The Children’s Holiday Magic Project is celebrating 12 years of providing the gift of songs and stories to children who are hospitalized during the holiday season. On Sunday, December 14, An Evening of Holiday Magic takes place at Martinis Above Fourth to raise funds to help produce and ship 10,000 CDs around the world. Enjoy a three-course dinner, silent auction, and live entertainment by Ashley Fox Linton, Jennifer Knight, Lele Rose, Jordan Lamoureux, and Jeff Davis, with Jeff Gelder serving as emcee. Reserved seating is available at the VIP level for $85; general admission is $65. (619.795.1740, www.holidaymagiccd.org)

Visitors to the Taylor Guitars Factory Tour can experience each process as a guitar evolves from raw wood into a finished instrument, while also helping to make a difference for nearly 10,000 families in East County this holiday season. Through December 17, tour visitors are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item or an unwrapped toy, and for each item donated, guests will receive a raffle ticket and be entered for a chance to win one of many TaylorWare prizes, or the grand prize, a GS Mini guitar. All donated food and toys will benefit the 39th Annual East County Toy and Food Drive. (www.taylorguitars.com)