If this is an emergency please dial 911 for all non-emergency related inquires please call (858) 216-1666
Kindness Initiative is the only non-profit organization exclusively dedicated to assisting the
15,000 Jewish San Diegans in need.
Rooted in the Jewish tradition of “Gemilut Chasadim” acts of loving kindness, Kindness Initiative was built on a simple belief: that showing up and supporting one another is the most powerful thing a community can do. Through kindnessG’MACH, our online furniture program, and personalized concierge-style case management, we provide essential household goods, furniture, financial budgeting and literacy coaching, housing navigation, and employment guidance at no cost to those we serve.
It is our deepest hope that every Member and family we walk alongside finds not just support, but dignity, stability, and a place where they truly belong. It means that when a family is struggling to keep the lights on, we sit with them, listen, and help them find a path forward. It means stocking our kindnessG’MACH with care so that a parent can choose clothing for their child with dignity. It means showing up on a Friday to volunteer, not because it’s convenient, but because someone needs us. Kindness isn’t just what we do, it’s who we become together.”
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, uncertain, or unsure where to turn, you’re not alone — and you’ve come to the right place. Our Concierge Case Management team is here to walk alongside you with compassion, dignity, and personalized support. We take the time to understand your unique situation, help you navigate immediate challenges, and guide you step by step toward greater stability, confidence, and long-term self-sufficiency.
Kindness Initiative invites you to do a mitzvah and help us ensure as many Jewish families as possible have the essential items they need to make a Seder dinner this Passover.
Items We Need:
Drop-off your donation of new, unopened Kosher for Passover items to kindnessG’MACH throughout the month. We warmly encourage synagogues and community groups to join us in helping meet the growing need.
If you’d prefer to sponsor a Passover meal, click here:
If you or a Jewish family you know is in need, starting March 23rd please come shop at kindnessG’MACH. All items are available at no cost. You will always be welcomed with love, dignity, and respect. Chag Sameach.
In observance of Passover, kindnessG’MACH will close at 2pm on April 1 and be closed April 2–3 and 8–9.
Holiday hours may vary.
Appointments (day or evening) available upon request.
Drop-offs take place at the back of the building, where a team member will meet you at your car to receive your donated items. After your donation is complete, you will receive a donation receipt via email.
Please do not drop off items after hours or on weekends
To ensure donations align with current needs, this list is updated regularly. Please check back before donating.
To honor the dignity of every community member we serve, we only accept clothing and items that are new or gently used, clean, complete, and in good condition.
Click here to see the full list of items we accept.
Can’t drop by?
Shop Our Amazon Wish List
Current Volunteers
Visit kindnessG'MACH any Friday 10 AM - 2 PM. Just show up for a few hours to volunteer and build community. Help us spread the word and start the weekend with a mitzvah.
Interested In Becoming A Volunteer?
Volunteers at kindnessG'MACH assist shoppers, help sort donations, and build community.
Current Volunteers
We need volunteers from 10 AM - 12 PM Monday through Friday to help with the amount of families shopping and donating. For shifts and availability, and to sign up, please contact us at [email protected].
Interested In Becoming A Volunteer?
Volunteers at kindnessG'MACH assist shoppers, help sort donations, and build community.
Join us May 7th for an unforgettable night out — 8 rounds of Bingo plus 2 grand finale rounds that’ll have the whole room on the edge of their seats, incredible prizes, refreshments, and all the laughter you can handle. Bring your crew — girls’ night, guys’ night, couples’ night, you decide — fill a table of ten and may the best table win! It’s a night of pure joy with real purpose, every single card played supports San Diego’s Jewish families who need our community most.
“Many people say they’re one paycheck away from homelessness, for me, that was my reality. When another service organization fell through, everything I was holding together began to collapse.
The fear wasn’t just losing my home, but losing my dignity. That’s when Kindness Initiative stepped in. They treated me with respect, listened, and reminded me that I mattered. Because of them, I didn’t just keep a roof over my head,I kept my sense of self.”
“Kindness Initiative has helped me feel truly supported by the Jewish community during a time when I needed it most. Their monthly assistance through the kindnessFAMILIES (Adopt-A-Family) program helps cover essentials like food and my cell phone bill, easing the constant stress of making ends meet. It’s more than financial help, it’s the comfort of knowing someone cares. That support brings stability, dignity, and hope into my life, and I am deeply grateful for it.”
“I reached out to Kindness Initiative at a point in my life where I felt desperate and close to losing hope. After an emergency left me without reliable transportation, I didn’t know how I would continue living independently.
Kindness stepped in immediately with support that changed everything. Because of their help, I was able to get back on the road, care for myself, and regain my sense of stability.
That hopelessness has been replaced with relief, gratitude, and renewed hope. Kindness truly gave me my life back.”
“As a licensed therapist, giving back to my Jewish community is more than a professional service; it is a mitzvah that touches my heart. I am deeply passionate about supporting our people, especially those navigating the depths of emotional pain. Recently, I worked with a member struggling with grief, and seeing her find the strength to heal reminded me why this work is so necessary. Being part of her journey is a gift to me as both a therapist and a Jew.“
“Volunteering as the Women’s Committee Chair for Kindness Initiative is deeply meaningful to me because it brings compassionate women together to create real, lasting impact. Kindness Initiative has the power to uplift individuals, strengthen families and transform our community and it’s an honor to help lead that work. Serving in this role reminds me that when women unite with purpose and heart, meaningful change follows.”
“I used to think volunteering was about ‘helping,’ but kindnessG’MACH showed me it’s about solidarity. After helping a member find an interview outfit and offering some quiet encouragement, she returned months later with the news: ‘I got the job, your belief in me was the confidence I needed. That moment stayed with me. It’s a powerful reminder that while we provide essential goods, it’s the kindness that truly transforms lives. I’ve grown more through these connections than I ever imagined.“
“Many people say they’re one paycheck away from homelessness, for me, that was my reality. When another service organization fell through, everything I was holding together began to collapse.
The fear wasn’t just losing my home, but losing my dignity. That’s when Kindness Initiative stepped in. They treated me with respect, listened, and reminded me that I mattered. Because of them, I didn’t just keep a roof over my head,I kept my sense of self.”
“Kindness Initiative has helped me feel truly supported by the Jewish community during a time when I needed it most. Their monthly assistance through the kindnessFAMILIES (Adopt-A-Family) program helps cover essentials like food and my cell phone bill, easing the constant stress of making ends meet. It’s more than financial help, it’s the comfort of knowing someone cares. That support brings stability, dignity, and hope into my life, and I am deeply grateful for it.”
“I reached out to Kindness Initiative at a point in my life where I felt desperate and close to losing hope. After an emergency left me without reliable transportation, I didn’t know how I would continue living independently.
Kindness stepped in immediately with support that changed everything. Because of their help, I was able to get back on the road, care for myself, and regain my sense of stability.
That hopelessness has been replaced with relief, gratitude, and renewed hope. Kindness truly gave me my life back.”
“As a licensed therapist, giving back to my Jewish community is more than a professional service; it is a mitzvah that touches my heart. I am deeply passionate about supporting our people, especially those navigating the depths of emotional pain. Recently, I worked with a member struggling with grief, and seeing her find the strength to heal reminded me why this work is so necessary. Being part of her journey is a gift to me as both a therapist and a Jew.“
“Volunteering as the Women’s Committee Chair for Kindness Initiative is deeply meaningful to me because it brings compassionate women together to create real, lasting impact. Kindness Initiative has the power to uplift individuals, strengthen families and transform our community and it’s an honor to help lead that work. Serving in this role reminds me that when women unite with purpose and heart, meaningful change follows.”
“I used to think volunteering was about ‘helping,’ but kindnessG’MACH showed me it’s about solidarity. After helping a member find an interview outfit and offering some quiet encouragement, she returned months later with the news: ‘I got the job, your belief in me was the confidence I needed. That moment stayed with me. It’s a powerful reminder that while we provide essential goods, it’s the kindness that truly transforms lives. I’ve grown more through these connections than I ever imagined.“
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“Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry’s standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.”
