Community Centers & Recreation
In this section, you will find resources for teens and young adults who want to participate in recreational and community activities throughout San Diego County, such as local recreation centers, clubhouses for specialized needs, activities for a variety of interests, and volunteer opportunities.
Search and Filter
Use the tools below to find the community centers & recreation resources that fit your unique set of needs.
Interfaith Community Services: Coastal Service Center
Interfaith Community Services, was founded in 1982 by a handful of diverse faith communities to address the needs of low-income, homeless, and underserved people in North San Diego County. Separately, these congregations were providing relief to people in need, but by creating Interfaith they were better able to collaborate to make a bigger impact on the needs of people in our community. As participation grew, Interfaith evolved into broad continuum of programs and services that provides the tools and resources people in crisis need to stabilize and rebuild their lives. These programs are organized into nine main areas: food and basic needs, shelters and housing, family and social services, employment services, children and youth programs, senior services, veterans assistance, addiction recovery, and community connections. Under these department headings are numerous programs covering a broad spectrum of support. Programs are designed to overlap so that each client receives as many services as necessary for his/her specific situation.
(760) 721-2117
Brother Benno’s Center
Brother Benno’s was started by Harold and Kay Kutler as a Soup Kitchen in downtown Oceanside. They named it after Brother Benno Garrity, a Benedictine monk who was well known for his tireless service to the poor in the Oceanside area. The first meal was served on October 21, 1983; and Brother Benno himself made a big cauldron of soup at his abbey and brought it to the little house that bore his name. For the first few years, those who came to the Kitchen were mainly street people. Now most of our guests are the working poor (parents and children who struggle on a daily basis for their most basic needs), the disabled, and low-income senior citizens. In order to provide these needs, Brother Benno’s has expanded its services beyond food
(760) 439-1244
WorldBeat Center
As a non-profit multi-cultural arts organization we are dedicated to promoting, presenting & preserving the African & Indigenous cultures of the world through Music, Art, Dance, Education & Technology. We are located in beautiful Balboa Park in the heart of San Diego, California. Through consciousness raising the WorldBeat Center promotes peace within our San Diego community by providing on going programs and services that nurture the spirit of children, the elderly, and everyone in between. Our main goal is then to create unity within diversity.
(619) 230-1190
Barona Cultural Center and Museum
As San Diego County’s only museum on an Indian reservation dedicated to the perpetuation and presentation of the local Native culture, the Barona Museum offers a unique educational journey for visitors of all ages. The museum’s collection represents thousands of years of history—some objects dating as far back as 10,000 years—and it demonstrates the artistry and skill of the hemisphere’s first inhabitants. A visit to the Barona Cultural Center & Museum is an exciting opportunity to witness history and explore the living cultures of Southern California’s indigenous populations.
(619) 443-7003 Ext. 219
Japanese Friendship Garden
The mission of the Japanese Friendship Garden Society of San Diego is to educate, engage, and inspire present and future generations of diverse backgrounds about Japanese culture and community legacy through exhibits, programs, and the preservation of a Japanese garden.
(619) 232-2721
Persian Cultural Center
PCC’s core activities are multifaceted and include musical concerts, lectures, art exhibitions, dance performances, as well as language, theater, traditional instrument, and art classes. The variety of PCC’s programming draws a diverse patronage extending far beyond San Diego. We seek and welcome all members of the San Diego community and visitors to the City to enjoy and participate in our events and presentations. To this end our programs/events are non-partisan and secular, with artistic and cultural value being the ultimate benchmarks.
(858) 552-9355
San Diego Food Bank
The face of hunger in San Diego has changed. Many people associate the Food Bank with those who are homeless, but the majority of the people we feed are low-income individuals and families who have homes but struggle daily to put food on the table. And increasingly in this tough economic climate middle class families are now seeking help from the Food Bank.
Call: 1-866-350-FOOD (3663)
Numerous locations throughout San Diego County. Call or visit website to search for the food distribution site closest to you.
1 (866) 350-3663
Women’s Resource Center
Women’s Resource Center (WRC) is dedicated to providing the highest quality supportive services, counseling, shelter and education to North San Diego County women, children and men involved in or threatened by domestic violence or sexual assault.
(760) 757-3500
Balboa Park
Balboa Park is an urban, culturally-diverse park containing numerous activities and attractions in San Diego, California.
(619) 239-0512
Jewish Family Services
Since 1918, Jewish Family Services of San Diego has been a trusted community resource for individuals and families in times of need. Our wide range of integrated services empower individuals & families to move toward self-sufficiency, support aging with dignity, and foster community connection & engagement throughout San Diego County and the Coachella Valley. JFS provides essential services to people regardless of religion, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, ability, gender identity/expression, or sexual orientation.
(See website for locations in other counties in San Diego.)
(858) 637-3210
Search and Filter
Use the tools below to find the community centers & recreation resources that fit your unique set of needs.
The resources and services in this directory are provided by external partners and not by San Diego Center for Children.
Funded by the Generosity of
Agency Inclusion
If you would like to have your agency listed in our Successful Transitions© Resource Center or to update your agency’s information, please send
us an email.
Disclaimer
We do not endorse any specific organization listed nor are we responsible for ensuring the quality of the services listed. Users should always select services at their own discretion. Additionally, this information is subject to change as funding for programs can shift over time, though we do our very best to keep the resource center as up-to-date as possible.