Donate Items

Many nonprofit organizations have ramped up operations considerably to meet the increased demand for their services. Consider making an in-kind donation to help restock their depleted supplies. 

• Auntie Helen's Community Thrift

  • Auntie Helen's feeds 338 families weekly with underlying health conditions so they need donations of canned goods, peanut butter, canned meats and/or any canned or dry food items. They also welcome donations of blankets and hygiene kits for the homeless individuals they support. Donations can be dropped off at their store during open hours at 4127 30th St, San Diego, CA 92104. For more information, contact ahstoremanager@gmail.com

• Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito

  • The Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito is looking for donations of supplies for their Summer Camps through their Amazon wishlist. With the current safety protocals, they can only serve 1/3 of the youth they normally would at this time, but are having to do so at 3x the cost. This is due to the increased number of supplies they need, from PPE and cleaning supplies, to individualized equipment and materials for various activities, since the kids can’t share items at this time.

• Brother Benno Foundation

  • Donate bagged lunch supplies so Brother Bennos' can continue providing daily meal services to low income communities. They're asking for items such as: bread, lunch meat, fruit cups, bottled water, and sandwich size baggies.  

• ElderHelp

  • While cash donations are preferred because it limits the amount of person-to-person contact, as recommended by the CDC, ElderHelp is accepting in-kind donations at their Kearny Mesa location. Items needed include: canned soups, chicken and vegetable broth, canned meats i.e. tuna and chicken, peanut butter, instant plain oatmeal, Ensure drinks, healthy cereals, Depends (mens and womens), paper towels, and Lysol wipes. Click here to learn more.

• Heaven's Windows

  • Heaven's Windows provides grab and go meals for children at 4 sites throughout San Diego County. They are seeking donations of whole grain crackers, animal crackers, pretzels, and fruit/veggie 4oz juice boxes (100% juice) to include in their meal packages. Contact Karen Fontenette at kedmonds@heavenswindows.org to donate. 

• Interfaith Community Services

  • With food donations stretched, they are in need of items to keep our pantry stocked, especially sack lunch materials. They are also in need of hygiene items as our shower and laundry facilities continue to be open to those in need, meeting a critical need for hygiene and cleanliness. Donations can be dropped off during business hours at their food pantry in Escondido. 

• Jewish Family Service

  • Support San Diegans in critical need who are accessing their no-touch drive-thru food distribution service by donating non-perishable food and hygiene items. Donation drop off hours are from 2:00pm to 4:00pm Monday-Friday at their Joan & Irwin Jacobs campus (8804 Balboa Ave).

• Living Coast Discovery Center

  • Living Coast Discovery Center is a nonprofit zoo & aquarium located in Chula Vista, (San Diego), Ca. Their mission is to inspire the community to connect with and care for our coastal environment. They provide home to a variety of animals including sea turtles, fish, sharks, rays, eagles, hawks, owls, snakes, and tortoises, and many more. Your purchase of items on their Amazon Wish List will help them continue to care for these animals year-around!

• North County Lifeline

  • While cash donations are preferred because it limits the amount of person-to-person contact, as recommended by the CDC, North County Lifeline is accepting in-kind donations at their Vista and Oceanside locations. Items needed include: infant/baby care supplies, household items, clothing, and gift cards. All donated items must be in new and unused condition. 

• Pacific Southwest Community Development Corporation

  • Pacific Southwest Community Development Corporation (PSCDC) is a non-profit organization that acts as a managing general partner of over 70 low and moderate income apartment properties and serve 6,000 individuals every month all throughout California. The residents at their low income family and senior properties in San Diego need donations of hygiene supplies, face masks, toilet paper, school supplies/educational activities, and food. Contact their Residential Services Coordinator Jelena Predojevic for more information to donate, pscdc.jelena@gmail.com or (619) 800-5708.

• PATH San Diego

  • PATH is seeking in-kind donations of donations of Care Kits and Welcome Home Kits. Care Kits include new travel-size hygiene items and non-perishable snacks. PATH street outreach teams distribute care kits to neighbors experiencing homelessness using them as a tool to form trust and build relationships. Welcome Home Kits include items for recently housed clients such as: plates, pots, pans, utensils, toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning products, sheets, pillowcases, pillows, and bath/kitchen towels. Please contact sigrids@epath.org for details. 

• Plant It Again

  • Plant It Again is seeking garden pots of all sizes, succulent and cactus soil, garden tools such as gloves and spades. When the public donates their succulent cuttings right from their yards, they will use the pots and soil to replant them in. They work alongside adults with disabilities and train/hire them to create plant arrangements. Contact Page Kries to donate, paigek@plantitagain.org.

• San Diego Food Bank

  • The San Diego Food Bank is hosting a virtual food drive. Scan the items you would like to donate at the virtual cash register and give your donation.

• San Diego Futures Foundation

  • San Diego Futures Foundation has an immediate need for computers to refurbish and distribute them to seniors, persons with disabilities, veterans, and at-risk youth. The demands far exceed their supply.

• San Diego Refugee Tutoring

  • San Diego Refugee tutoring is making "Home Libraries" for their students to enhance their education while their school practices distance learning. You can help out by donating items on their Amazon Wishlist such as books, headphones (for multiple online lessons going on in a single home), cleaning supplies, and non-perishable food items.

• Serving Seniors

  • Serving Seniors urgently needs donations of cloth masks for their senior clients. They're also asking for donations of cleaning/disinfecting supplies, toiletries, blankets, rain panchos, and more. 

• Somali Bantu Association of America

  • The Somali Bantu Association of America is collecting donations of food, water, and medical supplies, and is looking for help with translation and non-medical transportation. Please email Faisa.M@SBAOA.org for more information. 

• Support the Enlisted Project (STEP)

  • Help STEP address the immediate needs of our local military and Veteran community impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak by donating items such as: baby wipes, hand soap, toiletries, cleaning supplies, and gift cards. 

• Think Dignity

  • Join Think Dignity in providing access to basic hygiene for homeless individuals during this crisis by purchasing hygiene items through their Amazon Wishlist and/or donating $25 to sponsor 1 Dignity Kit! Dignity Kits will include a variety of toiletry items that require minimal to no water usage. Help them achieve their goal of distributing 1,000 Dignity Kits to folks throughout San Diego County.

• Words Alive

  • Words Alive is asking for book donations from their Amazon Wishlist to help fuel book deliveries in neighborhoods, at food distribution sites, and at Free Little Libraries across San Diego.