Making the Holiday Season a Little Brighter
Each year through our Embrace-a-Family Program, individuals, families, and groups in the community help ensure families in need have a joyous holiday celebration. Many Embrace-a-Family recipients would not have Hanukkah or Christmas celebrations without this program.

How the Program Works
Embracers are matched with a family in need and provide toys, clothes, food, gift certificates and more for the holiday season. Embracers are provided with a description of the family, including gender and ages of children and their holiday wish lists. This is a great way for you, your family, group, and/or business to make the holiday season a little brighter for a family who is struggling to make ends meet.

Become an Embracer>>

 Donate Gifts or Gift Certificates
Even if you can’t embrace a family, you can still participate. Donate new, unused toys and/or other gifts, grocery scrip, or gift certificates. Cash donations are also greatly appreciated for last minute gift purchases. Donate Online>>

For more information or to become an Embracer, please contact Melinda Wilkes, Volunteer Services Manager, at (858) 637-3050 or email melindab@jfssd.org.

Confidentiality and Meeting the Families
JFS strives to give our clients the dignity and confidentiality they deserve. In order to best respect this confidentiality, we do not allow Embracers to meet the family(ies) and will not provide Embracers with names of family members.

We recognize the disconnect this can often cause between children and the families they are embracing. In order to keep the Embrace-a-Family Program meaningful for your children, we recommend going through the wish list(s) you receive upon becoming an embracer. Go through the ages and genders of the family members and ask your children to draw a picture of what the family looks like. This is a good opportunity to teach your children about the Jewish values of tikkun olam and tzedakah, while preserving the dignity of families in need.

Thank you for your support and respecting the privacy of our clients.

“In these difficult times, I never knew I could feel utter joy and relief. The beautiful gifts brought a smile to my face—which is hard to come by. When my kid’s face lit up I realized there is good in the world and things will work out.”