If your pantry is looking a little bare, cruise on over to Faith Chapel this morning! They hve non-perishable items bagged and ready to distribute to you, TODAY beginning at 9am.
9400 Campo Rd.
Spring Valley, CA 91977
This is a drive-thru style event, so you don’t have to leave your vehicles.
If you are looking for other free food resources:
Food Resources for Eastern and Central San Diego
Food Resources for Northern San Diego County
They are live now! I already requested my sample box.
New To PinchMe?
Join PINCHme and receive free samples that you can provide feedback on.
PinchMe is awesome! Once you are signed up, they will email you reminders when new samples are about to drop, and remind you when it’s time to leave feedback.
Answer a series of questions about your household and shopping habits in the Member Profile. PinchMe learns what you like and offer samples just for you.
Once you’ve had a chance to try the samples, complete a short feedback survey to tell PinchMe what you think of the samples.
What are you waiting for? Sign up here and get on the free sample bandwagon! I’ve gotten all kinds of awesome sample/trial size items, as well as full-sized items to try out from PinchMe!
When you or a loved one wear glasses or contacts, you are always on the prowl for a good deal or freebies.
Since I’ve got two bespeckled family members, I’m on the lookout constantly!
Here are a few deals and freebies that I’ve come across lately.
Warby Parker has a great offer- for some of us, it’s hard to know what kinds of frames look and feel good on our faces. It’s as easy as 1, 2,3.
Having used Warby Parker before, their glasses are great, and their service is amazing! We bought glasses online, and later when they needed to be adjusted (helpful tip: Don’t roughhouse with kids when you are wearing glasses), we took them to our local Warby Parker store and they “tuned up” the glasses FOR FREE!
If you prefer contacts, Waldo has a great trial offer. I wrote about it here.
If you wear glasses, you have to have a eyeglass repair kit. You can usually score a free one when you get new glasses (Warby Parker sends a little one when you purchase glasses from them, along with a cleaning cloth), but sometimes you need a little more.
And of course, you gotta keep your glasses clean, so here is a great freebie offer: Free Lens Cloth & Cleaner at Walmart Vision Centers
If you need help getting glasses or vision exams for your kids, check out Vision to Learn. They operate in 13 states and partner with the Boys and Girs Club, offering free eye exams and eyeglasses for kids.
If you are 65+, you can obtain a free eye exam from Eye Care America. Kids 6 months-1 year can obtain a free eye exam from InfantSEE.
And if you are wondering what to do with all of the old eyeglasses in your house that are no longer your current prescription…. The Lions Club helps recycle eyeglasses and get them into the hands of the needy. You can find out more about how and where to recycle your unwanted eyeglasses here. I also recommend checking with your local optometrist’s office. They frequently partner with local Lion’s Clubs to collect old glasses. You could help a person in need get the glasses they can’t afford!
What are your tips for saving on glasses and contacts?
**This post may contain affiliate links, for more information about how we use affiliate links, please visit our Disclosure page.**
Checkout 51 is one of my favorite cashback shopping apps! Most of the deals/cashback rebates are not store specific, so I can save at stores that don’t accept coupons, like Grocery Outlet and 99 Cents Only. You can also stack with store sales and discounts.
This week on Checkout 51, there is a great selection of products, including some yummy frozen desserts to beat the heat.
New to Checkout 51? Check out my post with more details here.
I am usually sooo much more on top of these free lunch posts, but…well, life has been a little crazy around here, and all over the world.
Better late than never, so, here we go. In past years schools, libraries, and community centers have hosted these free lunches, this year, however, the list of facilities has decreased.
If you don’t find any facilities near you offering free lunches, I recommend contacting 211, they may have more updated information.
And if you are in need of food for your entire family, but you find yourself not qualifying for P-EBT or other social services, I recommend that you check out Facebook. There are tons of local groups of neighbors getting together setting up Tables of Hope. In San Diego, there are several. Tables of Hope are small groups of neighbors that have set up food distribution tables within neighborhoods to help those who might be experiencing food insecurity.
Churches and community organizations are offering free food distributions that require no proof of need, like Faith Chapel in Spring Valley. They are offering free produce each Friday through mid-August. You can find out more info here.
And the San Diego Food Bank is continuing their neighborhood distributions– Lots of produce and goodies are available each week. No proof of need or residency requirements.
There are all sorts of organizations looking to help families in need.
Even if you are not in dire need, if you need help stretching your budget, these resources are here for you!
Talk Back: How are you stretching your food budget this summer?
They are live now! I already requested my sample box. the picture above is just a sample (get it) of what you might be able to score- FOR FREE!
New To PinchMe? Join PINCHme and receive free samples that you can provide feedback on.
PinchMe is awesome! Once you are signed up, they will email you reminders when new samples are about to drop, and remind you when it’s time to leave feedback.
Answer a series of questions about your household and shopping habits in the Member Profile. PinchMe learns what you like and offer samples just for you.
Once you’ve had a chance to try the samples, complete a short feedback survey to tell PinchMe what you think of the samples.
What are you waiting for? Sign up here and get on the free sample bandwagon! I’ve gotten all kinds of awesome sample/trial size items, as well as full-sized items to try out from PinchMe!
Checkout 51 is hooking us up right now with some great savings on staples that most of us are buying right now. 
Bread, Eggs, and fresh bananas or apples! .25 per offer isn’t a ton of money, but these days with coupons drying up, and most stores not running really great sales, you have to take savings where you can!
If you are new to Checkout 51, it’s a great app that’s been around for 5 years or so.
Checkout51 is NOT store specific! Checkout 51 is a savings program that’s so easy to use, and no Smartphone is needed! It’s an app on your iPhone or Android phone, or you use your computer.
Checkout 51 is so easy: Purchase specific products (and these products change each Thursday, so make sure you check out the app/website before heading out to shop), scan and upload your receipts weekly.
In addition to saving on groceries, there is also a cashback on GASOLINE component to Checkout 51. You can learn more here.
Oh, and if you are new and sign up for Checkout 51, you will score a $5 bonus after you redeem your first offer! It keeps getting better!
Now through 4/4/2020, Dollar Tree is hosting a Best DIY Spring Wreath Photo Contest! You could win a $100 Dollar Tree Gift Card. To enter or learn more, click here.
I’m going to check out the Dollar Tree next door and see what I can make!
Did you know that you can order from Dollar Tree Online and have it shipped for just $4.95 (*Restrictions apply. See website for details.)? Perfect for planning Easter events!
I just discovered that if you don’t need an entire case of 1 item, Dollar Tree has “Pick and Pack” service. This would be great for restocking up craft supplies, household goods, or picking up seasonal or holiday goods!
**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.
You read that right!
Save on every fill-up at participating gas stations, every single week (yeah, seriously!) with Checkout 51!
Head to the app to find a station near you. I’ve done it for the past month, and I’ve gotten almost $10 cash back!
New to Checkout 51? Check out my post with more details here.
Checkout 51 is sweetening the deal too- When you sign up here and scan in your first receipt, you’ll get a $5 bonus!
If you are already a Checkout 51 user, refer your friends and you’ll earn $10 when a new user scans in their first receipt (and they still earn $5). Everyone wins!
A few years back, I wrote this post, which I update about once a year with information on Food Banks/Food Pantries and food co-ops in San Diego County. Considering san Diego County is larger than some New England states, I decided to dedicate a post purely to North County food resources, as I have been getting requests for those lately. Thanks to my friends Elizabeth, Kate, Yvonne, and Stephanie for assisting me with the research!
There are of course the Neighborhood Distribution sites from The Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank. There are no requirements or proof of need (no ID either). Just bring a few reusable bags or a cart to carry your food home.
Learn more about Neighborhood Distributions here. The 2020 Calendar of Neighborhood Distributions can be found here.
If you live in Escondido or Oceanside, check out the Interfaith Community Services Website for information on food.
In Encinitas:
In Vista:
In San Marcos:
In Ramona:
Ramona Food and Clothes Closet Each 3rd Friday of the month, a truck will bring perishable food items like produce to the store for distribution. You do not need to qualify for this program. Patrons are asked to line up before 9:00 AM in an orderly fashion and wait their turn.
Each person will receive approximately 20-25 pounds of food per family. It is a first-come, first-serve basis. You will need to bring your own bags or rolling carts.
Feeding American San Diego has a map on their website of various resources in the San Diego area, many of them require no proof of need or paperwork.
If you have any food resources to share, please leave a comment!
