Funding to 26 local nonprofit organizations aimed to support over 4,000 socially isolated seniors was granted by the San Diego Seniors Community Foundation (SDSCF) through their second annual No Senior Alone Matching Holiday Challenge.
The grant program will run until Nov. 30 and aims to reach $100,000. The Sahm Family Foundation will match every donation up to $50,000. A holiday grant campaign launched in 2020 awarded nearly $42,000 to organizations serving 2,000 seniors from Fallbrook to Chula Vista.
With donation options ranking up to $85,000, the goal is to assist senior centers and nonprofits create holiday-themed events and programming in order to reduce social isolation among seniors. According to SDSCF, social isolation among seniors was already a public health crisis prior to the pandemic as approximately 22 percent of people 65 years or older were considered as “Elder Orphans”.
Recipients serving the south bay include:
- Casa Familiar for a celebration for 250 seniors at four senior apartment sites in the South Bay / San Ysidro area.
- Chicano Federation – Drive-Thru Holiday Celebration, at which 90 seniors, as well as families and individuals, will receive groceries, gift cards, blankets and other essential items to brighten the holidays.
- Fourth District Senior Center (Southeastern San Diego) – A warm and festive holiday gala to brighten the season for 150 seniors.
A complete list of all grantees and further details surrounding donations may be found on the SDSCF Giving Tuesday webpage.
