This story was reported for San Diego News Network on December 11, 2009.
When I was eight, my mother took me to a jewelry store and let me choose out a charm. I chose an 18-karat heart with the Goddess of Compassion in the middle. The Goddess of Compassion was an emblem I was familiar having grown up in a home with Buddhist parents and a mother who is the very definition of the word kind. The charm – which I still wear – and my mother’s presence remind me compassion is one of the most important gifts each person can offer another human being.
We may be in a recession with no end in sight, but let’s take a tip from my sweet, Chinese mommy: there are a number of charities around town that don’t just solely need cash. Rather, some need compassionate people and helping hands. With budget cuts hitting state and local agencies hard, giving back is so hot right now — it’s hotter than new Padres GM Jed Hoyer.
Here are just eight great San Diego charities to consider helping this holiday season. I know there are hundreds more local nonprofits seeking assistance. Throw a little compassion into our comments section by telling us what they are with links to more information.
EMBRACE: Help the homeless this holiday season with the San Diego nonprofit EMBRACE.
EMBRACE was created by Sean Sheppard after he spent years walking the streets of San Diego passing out food. He wanted to get college students and young locals involved too. Most recently, Sheppard and other community leaders hosted “EMBRACE the Streets,” where volunteers passed out clothes, food and blankets to homeless people in the East Village.
The organization can always use volunteers at its weekly dinners. Twice a week, EMBRACE hosts nearly 200 people for full meals. Sheppard hopes one day EMBRACE will be able to provide dinners to more San Diegans every single day.
With more than 4,000 San Diegans on the streets and more people losing their jobs every day, it just may be the perfect time to EMBRACE the homeless.
San Diego Youth Services: Since 1970, San Diego Youth Services has “stabilized the lives of over 500,000 homeless, abused and at-risk youth” in the region. Now, it provides services to more than 9,000 young people and their families via 15 locations throughout the county.
From adoption services to foster care to independent living, SDYS lives up to its mission “building futures for at-risk youth.” The organization happily welcomes volunteers to assist with adoption services, mentor children, work at teen centers or help teach independent living skills.
If you have the time this holiday season, share good will with young San Diegans who need it.
Stepping Stone of San Diego: Go the extra mile this season by volunteering with Stepping Stone of San Diego.
Stepping Stone of San Diego is an agency that focuses on alcohol and drug recovery in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.
Since 1976, the organization has developed nine programs catered to those looking to revitalize themselves. Its programs include residential facilities, outpatient treatment services, sober living assistance and harm reduction, among others.
At the moment, Stepping Stone of San Diego has several volunteer positions available to meet the organization’s needs. Check out its Web site to find out how you can make a difference in the life of someone who wants to change.
Local schools: Join your neighborhood public school as a volunteer to help combat California’s unprecedented budget crisis.
California schools have seen a major cut this budget cycle because of the state’s financial crisis and it’s only expected to get worst. This year alone, the state government cut $6 billion to 10,000 public schools and the San Diego Unified School District is facing a deficit of about $100 million. This means older teachers are being forced into retirement and others are forced into furloughs.
But volunteers are welcomed. At the moment, SDUSD has about 28,000 volunteers but when the next budget cycle hits, it’ll certainly need more. Volunteers either tutor students, offer classroom assistance to teachers or organize clubs, among other tasks.
All schools have a site volunteer – all you have to do is drop by and let them know you’re there to help.
Senior Community Centers: Did you know the average monthly income for a senior citizen in San Diego is $800? That’s a major concern, considering people who meet federal poverty level guidelines make about $2,000 each month.
Senior Community Centers in San Diego is working to help the senior citizens struggling to get through the day.
SCC offers several services to the county’s elderly, including nutrition and health education programs, physical and mental health care services and activities and socialization opportunities. But the organization does more than that. It also works to ease “the isolation” the seniors live in.
Take some time off from your holiday shopping this year to serve meals, organize a social activity or participate in the adopt-a-senior program. Check out the organization, for more info.
San Diego Humane Society: SDNN Health Editor Jennifer Reed reported on some distressing news Monday – neglected animals throughout our region are lacking health care.
But that’s not all — the San Diego Animal Welfare Coalition took in 48,872 pets last fiscal year with about 3,273 at the San Diego Humane Society.
Show some affection to our furry friends by volunteering for the Humane Society, which provides more than 15 programs. After just one four-hour training per month, you work with spunky dogs in the canine programs or educate San Diegans about the sweet animals at our local schools, or even find a new friend by providing a temporary home to an abandoned animal.
Learn more on the Humane Society’s Web site.
Invisible Children: Thousands of miles away, the longest war in Africa’s history is being played out, leaving thousands of children homeless, or forced to fight.
Their story doesn’t end there, though. A team of San Diegans formed Invisible Children, a project that encourages the utilization of new media to educate the world on the war in an effort to the end the war.
The organization offers several ways for San Diegans to make monetary donations but it also offers tips on what you can do, without cash, to end violence in our world and ensure children are no longer invisible.
There are simple things like showing the organization’s documentaries in your home or telling the stories to friends and family or even writing a letter to President Barack Obama asking him to take a stand and call for an end to the violence.
More ideas are available on Invisible Children’s Web site.
AJA Project: San Diego is one of 15 resettlement cities in the nation for refugees, bringing in thousands of refugees. From 1980 to 2004 alone, 33,976 refugees settled in California.
Numerous organizations throughout the county are doing their part by helping our new residents settle into America’s Finest City. But one project, the AJA Project, is focusing on our city’s young refugees.
AJA, which is an acronym for “supporting self-sufficiency,” in Spanish, “autosuficiencia juntada con apoyo,” has three programs focused on kids. The programs offer multimedia and vocational education guidance to the children and allow them to utilize creativity.
AJA has several volunteer opportunities available from creative designer work to grant administration work. Check the group out while extending welcomes to our new residents.
Hoa Quach is the political editor for the San Diego News Network and it took a lot of energy for her not to mention Rolling Readers USA, a non-profit literacy organization she serves as a board member for. OK, that didn’t work.