In 2025, I lost everything. Brother Benno's Food Bank is the…read morebest in San Diego -- not just because of the food, but because of the people. The breakfasts and sack lunches kept me going when I had nothing. Blankets and tents help people survive cold nights. That support carried me through the hardest days. Alex, Darryl, and Melyssa each played a meaningful role in helping me and my family. Alex treated me with dignity and patience when I was homeless after domestic violence and a fire, and helped me rebuild through housing navigation and rental assistance. Darryl was a huge part of the 2024 rental assistance that helped both me and my son's father both keep our homes, protecting our child during an unstable time. Melyssa at Alpha Project brought compassion and steady support when it mattered most. Homelessness has changed. I saw grandmas and grandpas out there --in fact the elderly are incredibly vulnerable and make up highest percentage of new homelessness -- and this organization meets people with real humanity. Every person there is a blessing. Forever grateful. Don't lose hope

the thrift store HAS OUTRAGEOUS PRICES. You would think at this time when people are struggling a…read morestore that gets EVERYTHING THEY SELL FOR FREE would MAYBE PRICE THEIR STUFF RESONABLY. They're so afraid someone might re-sell and make a little money. Not worth shopping there anymore.

They give a hand up not a handout to people in need. They're run with private monies not government…read moremoney. The people that go there must be clean and sober, participate & all the programs and classes. When they're ready to leave there they are prepared for life. They grow their own foods. The people that stay there help with the cleaning and preparing.

Volunteering with Solutions for Change has been one of the most inspiring and purpose-driven…read moreexperiences of my life. From my very first day, it was clear that this organization is guided by a deep commitment to transforming lives, not just meeting temporary needs. Their mission--to permanently solve family homelessness through accountability, empowerment, and opportunity--is not just a statement on paper. It is lived out in every conversation, every program, and every interaction I witnessed. What sets Solutions for Change apart is their unwavering belief in the potential of every individual. Their values of leadership, responsibility, community, and long-term transformation shine through in the way they support families. Instead of offering quick fixes, they focus on equipping people with the tools, skills, and confidence to rebuild their lives in a sustainable way. This approach doesn't just change circumstances--it changes futures. As a volunteer, I felt valued and included in a mission much bigger than myself. The staff leads with compassion and clarity, always emphasizing dignity and empowerment. Watching parents take bold steps toward stability and seeing children thrive in a safe, supportive environment reminded me that real change happens when people are given both hope and responsibility. My time at Solutions for Change strengthened my belief that lasting transformation is possible when an organization listens deeply, leads boldly, and works alongside the people they serve. I'm grateful to have played even a small part in their mission and would encourage anyone seeking a meaningful volunteer experience to get involved. This is truly a place where change is not only possible--it's happening every day

Every time I go there, I am greeted by so many enthusiastic people who are there to truly help…read more Even if you don't need help and just want a friendly ear, someone is there for that! they have many programs and services for all. Highly recommend :-)

Have you ever heard of an LGBTQ center that doesn't have an onsite gay men's support group? Under…read more"Services" they offer a "list" of "various programs" which included exactly ONE weekly Narc Anon meeting. No AA 12 step meeting. Under the "Programs" section of the website, there is an HIV group that meets ONCE a month. There is no onsite seniors group meeting. It's a flashy website that looks great and seems to promise a lot but when you dig into it and actually visit the location you're told to find a support group on Zoom or offsite somewhere. And the atmosphere is not friendly; it's cold. But there are multiple links for donating money.

There's a little nature center building here and a small lake/lagoon you can walk around. The walk…read moreis completely flat and all of 1/4 mile. The trail is a loop. I can't rate the nature center because it was closed. The door was open and there were people inside, and it was during "open" hours, but they told me it was closed. So it goes. The walk around the lake is pleasant enough but very short. You'll probably see some interesting birds. Free parking in the small lot.

What a cool place. When visiting I have driven passed it a hundred times and finally while out on…read morea ride with my brother I asked if we could stop. So many interesting animals (taxidermy) to look at in the nature center. I purchased a hat for only $15. Everywhere else they were $25 and up. I did not go on the trail so I can't tell you anything about it. There is plenty of parking but the sign makes it a little confusing on when and where you can park. I have to say Sandy who was on staff was so knowledgeable and interesting to speak with. She has a wealth of information and is very nice. This is a great place to visit with a child or not. aug 2023

This is a great facility. Staff is welcoming and service driven. Great management from the top…read more It's big with lots of gyms, workout studios and extensive fitness rooms. I go to the EGym which allows you to program your with a chip bracelet. They have personal trainers. This place has soccer fields. Skateboard parks, teen center, and a big camp schedule year around. Also tons of programs all week. The price to join is competitive. If you go there you'll see friends and meet new ones. I grew up with various Y'S and this one is excellent.

I had my 8yo in camps several times with YMCA. He attended there sports camp and they called me…read moresaying he was hit by a baseball in the face. The councilor said they did not provide helmets but did to the other children after the incident. When I arrived my child had a massive swelling on his forehead and I had to rush him to the Er. The councilor said they accept full responsibility. Several weeks later I got the bill and contacted them for payment and Brittney Lingenfelter, Program Director replied this: Good Morning Michael, Thank you for reaching out. Again, we hope Skylar is feeling better and recovering well. Please note that the YMCA does not carry participant medical liability insurance. If you have additional questions or need further clarification, we're happy to assist where we can. I wrote her back several times with question over the next several week and she has ignored every message with no reply. Very unprofessional of Brittney Lingenfelter to ignore our emails and not address the situation.

Studio Ace was fantastic for my son's 8th birthday party! I can't say enough good things about…read moreMichelle and everything she did for the boys and our party guests. She was extremely hands-on, professional, patient, and amazing with the kids from start to finish. The amount of artwork and activities available kept everyone engaged, and we absolutely loved the Japanese-inspired artwork and overall vibe of the studio. I was honestly surprised to learn this place is a nonprofit. For about $250 for 15 kids, it felt like a great value. Unfortunately, three kids didn't show up, but the setup still worked out perfectly. The layout is on the smaller side, so I wouldn't recommend too many adults, but it created a cozy atmosphere where everyone could still enjoy themselves comfortably. One of the best parts was being able to bring our own food. We had pizza, and because we're Filipino, we also brought pancit and lumpia, which everyone enjoyed. The location was convenient as well. Parking was decent for the middle of the day, and having a dollar store right next door was perfect for grabbing a few last-minute party items. Overall, the two-hour party felt like two minutes because the kids were having such a great time. We enjoyed art, pizza, cake, and quality family time together. Highly recommend Studio Ace for a fun, creative, and stress-free kids' party experience!

What a fun experience for our kiddos! It's nice to have a place that teaches art and they are well…read moreorganized. The kids and I passed by often going to the library and they have free coloring pages hanging outside in a creative way. So to get to take classes after a year of passing it by, well my only regret is not enrolling them earlier. Check it out! Last class (an hour long) hubby and I had a little early dinner together next to the art studio. There's two teachers and a large window and kids completed fun art pieces I've not seen before. And I've been doing art for decades. So much fun!

Incredible organization! I can't say enough good things about the facility, the team, and the…read moremission. Everyone cares so deeply about those they help and serve. I get a real sense of peace every time I visit. The world needs more places like Casa de Amparo. Thank you for all that you do for children and families in need!

One of my favorite non-profits. I have been here to tour the facilities, and have volunteered my…read moretime to help with the kids, teens, and young adults for five years through their wish list program at the holiday season. Tania is the woman that I've been communicating with at Casa de Amparo, and she has done a tremendous job at coordinating and communicating effectively. Every staff member that I've met has been loving and friendly. This place deserves a lot more credit than it gets because they are involved in extremely difficult situations at times, and they are doing so much to help. I just learned that Amparo translates to protection, shelter, and help. Many of the kids at Casa de Amparo are being provided a safe shelter.

Despite being a California native, I've never been to a California Welcome Center, despite living…read moreto much closer ones. We wanted to stop by for a restroom break and to stretch our legs and eat some of our snacks before making our final voyage to San Diego and we saw the welcome center when we turned out of the freeway. Definitely stop here over a regular rest stop or fast food joint. We came in around 15-20 minutes before they had to close and all the ladies working there were super friendly, welcoming, answered all of our questions. Restrooms are super clean and smells nice too. They have a sign in sheet for visitors, lots of brochures for nearby attractions, an entire car inside for photos, lots of neat bits and pieces of history of the area and sights to see including info about pro-skater Tony Hawk, the surfboard museum or something nearby, and much more. Lots of neat gifts and trinkets for you to take back on your trip too. There's also books, and goods made by local artists. My friend from Texas got a cute kitchen towel with the art of all the animals and such from California. Cute! There's a discount corner and everything is reasonable and affordable. At the side there's also someone posted there to assist you with booking hotels and I'm sure other things like tickets to events or attractions, I'm sure. Going here has inspired me to eventually visit the other Welcome Centers too!

One of the things I love to do when traveling is to visit the local welcome center and I find…read moremyself always looking got them when away from home, so I was super excited to find that Oceanside has a Welcome Center! Yippee! The last one I went to was in Ventura and that was also fabulous! This Welcome Center is smaller than the one in Ventura but it was very solid! The two ladies that helped me today were sweet and knowledgeable. Since it's gonna hella rain the next couple of days, I asked for some indoor suggestions and they both were well prepared to answer my questions! One lady even pulled out a handout that had many rainy day activity sessions! I was pointed to go visit the Mission San Luis Rey, which I promptly did later and it did not disappoint but also got plenty of indoor suggestions like a vintage market to check out, go to the mall and go to the movies (I will probably do all of these things and more!). I also loved that they had very informative magazines, brochures for North Coast, and all of Cali and other states too! I was in heaven with all this information! Definitely give this place a visit if you like doing research on your travels! I loved it!