Non-Profit Spotlight: Jewish Family Service of San Diego
Since its founding 100 years ago, Jewish Family Service of San Diego has provided food for the hungry of all faiths and backgrounds.
Last year alone, individuals and families facing food insecurity received food equivalent to more than 313,000 meals through community food distributions and JFS’s Corner Market – a unique, client-choice food pantry that allows clients to “shop” for the food and hygiene items that best meet their family’s needs for free. JFS’s state-of-the-art, 1,800-square-foot industrial Loonin Family Kitchen cooks more than 80,000 hot kosher meals annually for low-income and elderly San Diegans. Older adults received over 20,400 hot, kosher lunches served at JFS’s four Social & Wellness Centers across San Diego. And Foodmobile clients received more than 60,000 hot, home-delivered meals and wellness checks from caring volunteers.
In partnership with Starbucks and Feeding San Diego, Jewish Family Service rescues food products from local Starbucks locations countywide and distributes the food in the Corner Market as part of the first Starbucks FoodShare Program in the nation. The Hand Up Youth Food Pantry, which is run by teens, holds food drives, builds holiday supplemental bags, monthly distributions throughout San Diego, with a focus on older adults and military families.
The organization has many volunteer opportunties, including Volunteering to Help Older Adults, Volunteering to Help Adults & Families, teenager Volunteering with the Hand Up Food Pantry, Mentoring Opportunities, Volunteer with Refugee & Immigration Services, Internships, and Other Opportunities.
Find out more about how to get involved by visiting the JFSSD website.