SAN DIEGO – As the number of families experiencing homelessness and seeking a safe space to stay continues to rise, a proposal to launch a Safe Parking Program at the site of the former Central Elementary School in City Heights is moving forward. The San Diego Unified School District Board of Trustees voted Tuesday night to approve a license agreement with the San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) to operate the proposed program at the site. On November 7, the SDHC Board of Commissioners (Board) will consider the contract with Jewish Family Service of San Diego to operate the program.

Note for Media: To maintain safety and dignity, the JFS campus is closed to media during these food distributions. If you are interested in doing

Jewish Family Service of San Diego (JFS) is assisting families with loved ones who were victims of violent crime or domestic violence as part of the new Dr. Ben Harouni’s Hope and Healing Fund. The fund, created in honor of Dr. Ben Harouni, a young dentist murdered in his El Cajon office in February 2024, is powered by a nonprofit his friends and family started shortly after his death called Hearts Over Hate.

“Ben’s death rocked the very foundation of our family. For us, grief counseling was vital as we worked to come to terms with our unimaginable loss. We know that many do not have access to that level of support,” said Hilda Harouni, Ben Harouni’s mother.

Governor Gavin Newsom and the California legislature have allocated $14.5 million to California’s Holocaust Survivor Assistance Program (HSAP), helping to sustain essential services for more than 2,000 Holocaust survivors throughout the state. Jewish Family Service of San Diego (JFSSD) alongside six other Jewish Family Service agencies statewide, the Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California (JPAC) and the Jewish Caucus advocated for the funding that will be distributed this fiscal year. Aging into their late 80s and 90s, Holocaust survivors are among the most vulnerable members of our community and are increasingly in need of support and care.

Jewish Family Service of San Diego held its first Joan Jacobs Signature Brunch recently at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine. More than 400 guests listened to Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning actress Julianna Margulies — best known for her roles in “ER” and “The Good Wife” — speak about her career, upbringing, resilience and work with the Holocaust Educator School Partnership, an education program managed by the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York City.

The brunch celebrated the life of the late Joan Jacobs, community leader, philanthropist and lifelong supporter of Jewish Family Service.

Elaine Galinson was also honored with the inaugural Pauline Foster Leadership in Action Award. The event was chaired by Elissa Davis, Daryl Gelender and Sally Shaps.

December Nights returns to Balboa Park with hundreds of thousands expected to enjoy free museum access, live entertainment, and festive activities. Jewish Family Service of San Diego will play a key role through a special partnership with SDG&E to collect socks and underwear for people staying in JFS’s Safe Parking lots, supporting our community members during the holidays.

NBC 7 spotlights the ongoing impact of GivingTuesday donations and how it fuel essential programs across San Diego. The story highlights how Jewish Family Service is combating nutrition insecurity in San Diego, where 1 in 4 residents are food insecure. JFS delivers a critical lifeline by providing 900,000 meals every year to community members who might otherwise go without.

Jewish Family Service combatting hunger in the region. Elizabeth Alvarez stopped by Lieber`s Corner Market at Jewish Family Service’s Joan & Irwin Jacobs Campus in Kearny Mesa to see how the agency is serving the community.