2023 Holiday Giving Challenge
6th Annual Holiday Giving Challenge
From Wednesday, November 15 through Friday, December 22, our colleagues collaborated with others to contribute time and/or resources to worthy causes throughout our community. Please find our Holiday Giving Challenge Report here.
Giving Opportunities
- Animals
Foster an animal over the holidays:
- Bring home a pup for a few weeks of foster via Second Chance Dog Rescue
- Cats, kittens, or bunny fostering through Martin's Home in Escondido
- Open your home to dogs or cats through San Diego Humane Society
- Provide some time away from the shelter for a dog at The Barking Lot
LYFF - Love Your Feral Felines
LYFF is a 501(c)3 non-profit animal rescue group. LYFF mainly focuses on educating about and managing feral cat populations, fostering adoptable cats, and offering no/low-cost spaying and neutering of pets to north SD county residents. Our very own Amanda Umphrey has been volunteering with them for nearly 4 years! Amanda is happy to answer any questions!
Check out the LYFF volunteer opportunities.
Frosted Faces Foundation
Senior Animal Advocates
- Help socialize senior dogs onsite in Ramona
- Join the Frosted Fakers Hike on Sundays in Ramona area
- Foster a senior dog for two weeks on a Frosted Fling
Last Chance at Life Dog Rescue
- Donate items from the LCAL Wishlist
- Walk dogs in Oceanside from 11:30-1:30pm
Rescue Dog Transport or Fostering for Amazing Strays
- Help get dogs to and from important vet appointments
Snuggles Project
- Crochet, knit or quilt blankets for shelter animals
- Donations & Fundraising
OHR's Angel Tree
The Office of Human Resources has partnered with a local afterschool program to provide gifts during the holiday season to elementary students in need. Every child deserves a speck of joy during the holidays. The organization we have selected, offers free tuition to a safe and enriching after-school program for eligible families. Some of these families struggle with food, housing and/or financial insecurity. Let’s us be a child’s reason to smile this season.
Beginning November 29th, you can stop by the Office of Human Resources, Administrative 1200, and select an ornament. Each ornament will contain the profile of a child which includes their clothing size, shoe size and general likes – we do not require that each item on the list be obtained, and gifts should be valued at no more than $25. Wrapped gifts are due back to the Office of Human Resources no later than Thursday, December 15th at 2:00pm.
If you are not onsite to pick up a child’s ornament, please email hr@csusm.edu and we can provide a profile.
Brother Benno's
- Donate lunch goods that Brother Benno's uses during their weekly lunch distributions OR new children's pjs and stocking stuffers for their Children's Christmas giveaway
Care Packages
- assemble care packages to hand out as a random act of kindness
CSUSM Sick & Vacation Time Donation
- Donate sick and/or vacation time to a CSUSM staff/faculty member who may be in need of a catastrophic leave donation
Feeding San Diego
- Donate funds to help provide meals to families and children in San Diego
Salvation Army Kettle & Bell - Virtual Fundraiser
- Host an online Red Kettle drive
Wishlist Giving:
- Food & Clothing Drives
Alpha Project Donation Drive
Virtual
- Organize donation drives for items like: hygiene items (shampoo, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, etc...), pillows, pillowcases, twin sheets, undergarments, socks, shoes, blankets and bottled water for distribution to homeless populations
Blanket Drive
- Help PATH (People Assisting the Homeless) reach their goal of providing fleece blankets for local homeless populations.
Holiday Basket Drive
- Host a virtual or contactless drive through donation drive to provide coats, food, and blanket to North County families in need
Mother Bear Project
- Knit homemade teddy bears for children affected by HIV/AIDS in developing countries
North County Food Bank
- Host a food drive or donate a $5 Hunger Bag at check-out during your next trip to Albertson's or Vons
SD County Food Bank
- Online shopping to donate via a SD Food Bank-hosted site
SD County Food Bank
Food 4 Kids Backpack Virtual Drive
- Donate food to elementary school children living in poverty
- Volunteer Work
Brother Benno's
- Pick up grocery donations from local stores, sort through donations, assist with donation distribution
HandsOn San Diego
- Find opportunities to sort children's books, arrange donations for military families, make no-sew fleece blanets, or help with a virtual Turkey Trot through this volunteer database
Happy Mail for Arc of San Diego Clients
- Write letters or send postcards to adults and children with developmental disabilities
Holiday Cards for Hospitalized Children
- Spread holiday cheer to children in hospital via Cards for Hospitalized Kids (CFHK)
Meals On Wheels
- Drop off warm meals to local seniors in need
Operation Gratitude
- Write letters or make holiday cards to send to service members serving overseas
Salvation Army Kettle & Bell
- Adopt-a-day to ring the Salvation Army Bell and raise money for those in need
Women's Resource Center Thrift Store
- Sort donations, help customers, and ring sales at the WRC thrift store
Write a Letter to an Elder
- Send homemade cards or letters of encouragement to senior community residents via Serving Seniors