Nonprofits in Lakeside & Alpine — Top Local Picks (2026)

Nonprofits & Community Organizations in Lakeside & Alpine 92040

Lakeside and Alpine have 50 nonprofit organizations in 92040 and 91901, anchored by the Lions Tigers & Bears big cat sanctuary in Alpine, the Lakeside Rodeo Arena on Mapleview Street, and indoor play center FUNbelievable. VFW posts, food banks, youth sports leagues, and conservation groups fill out the nonprofit roster across both East County communities.

Animal Sanctuaries, Veterans Groups & Youth Sports on Maine Avenue and Alpine Boulevard

Is there an animal sanctuary in Alpine?

Lions Tigers & Bears is one of the only accredited big cat sanctuaries in Southern California, located on Japatul Road east of Alpine Boulevard in 91901. The sanctuary is home to rescued lions, tigers, bears, and other large animals that came from abusive or neglectful captive situations, and weekend tours let visitors see the animals up close with an educational guide.

Alpine Acres Sanctuary Farm takes a different approach — rescued farm animals including horses, goats, pigs, and chickens live on a working Alpine property that opens for scheduled tours and private visits. Saddles in Service in Lakeside pairs rescued horses with equestrian therapy programs for veterans and individuals with disabilities, combining animal rescue with hands-on community wellness work.

Does Lakeside have a skatepark?

Lakeside Skatepark is a free, public concrete park in 92040 with bowls, rails, and street-style features for skateboarders and scooter riders of all skill levels. The park draws riders from across East County, and regulars consider it one of the better free concrete skateparks in the San Diego area for its layout and variety of terrain.

The park is open from dawn to dusk and does not charge admission, making it a daily stop for local kids and teenagers after school. For families looking for more structured action sports, Cactus Park BMX on El Monte Road runs organized races and practice sessions with a full competition-grade track just a short drive away.

Is there a VFW in Lakeside?

Carter-Smith VFW Post 5867 is Lakeside's Veterans of Foreign Wars post, offering membership, a social hall, veteran support services, and event space for the military community in 92040. The Alpine VFW Post 9578 serves Alpine and the eastern foothills with a similar mission from its location in 91901.

Beyond the two VFW posts, the American Legion post and the Santee-Lakeside Elks Lodge #2698 round out the veteran and fraternal organizations in the area. Together, these four groups host Memorial Day ceremonies, veterans' dinners, flag retirement events, and community fundraisers throughout the year in both Lakeside and Alpine.

What is FUNbelievable in Lakeside?

FUNbelievable is an indoor family entertainment and play center in Lakeside that draws parents of toddlers and young children from across East County. The facility includes play structures, party rooms, and open-play sessions that fill up on weekends and during school breaks throughout the year.

With hundreds of reviews, FUNbelievable is one of the most-visited family destinations in 92040 — parents book birthday parties and drop-in play sessions regularly. For outdoor kid activities in Lakeside, Lakeside Skatepark and Cactus Park BMX are free alternatives that keep older kids moving after school and on weekends.

Where is the Lakeside Rodeo Arena?

The Lakeside Rodeo Arena sits at El Capitan Stadium on Mapleview Street in Lakeside, just south of Maine Avenue and a few blocks from Lindo Lake. The arena is the home venue for the annual Lakeside Rodeo — one of the longest-running professional rodeos in Southern California — held every August and September with bull riding, barrel racing, and team roping.

Outside rodeo season, the arena hosts equestrian shows, 4-H livestock events, the Lakeside Western Days celebration, and community fairs that use the full grounds. Dianne Jacob Lakeside Equestrian Park on nearby El Monte Road provides additional riding and staging space for the Lakeside equestrian community year-round.

Is there a BMX track in Lakeside?

Cactus Park BMX operates a USA BMX-sanctioned track near El Monte Road in Lakeside, running a full schedule of races, practice nights, and beginner clinics throughout the riding season. The track attracts riders from across San Diego County, and new riders can take introductory sessions before jumping into competition.

BMX racing in Lakeside has been an East County staple for years, and Cactus Park's organized race nights pull families out on weekday evenings during the season. The track sits close to Lakeside Baseball Park, making the El Monte Road corridor a youth sports destination where families split weekends between the diamond and the dirt track.

Is there a food bank in Lakeside?

Lakeside Christian Helps Center runs the primary food pantry in 92040, distributing groceries to families and individuals on a regular weekly schedule near Maine Avenue. The center also provides clothing assistance and household supplies, making it the broadest-service charitable nonprofit in downtown Lakeside. The center's distribution days draw families from across 92040 and parts of Alpine who rely on the weekly food supply.

In Alpine, the Feeding San Diego distribution site handles weekly food box pickups for families in 91901. For additional food assistance in East County, the Santee Food Bank on Mission Gorge Road accepts walk-ins and referrals from residents across Lakeside, Alpine, and the surrounding communities who need help beyond what the local pantries cover.

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Nonprofits & Community Organizations in Lakeside & Alpine 92040

All Nonprofits

Lions Tigers & Bears The San Diego Animal Sanctuary®

Alpine Acres Sanctuary Farm™

Partridge Creek Mortuary

Alpine VFW Post 9578

Saddles in Service

Cactus Park BMX

Blue Sky learning Home#376102009

Imam Ali Masjid

Viejas Recreation Center

Franklin Farm Sanctuary

Lakeside Rodeo Arena

Lakeside Teen Center

Food Distribution Center - Feeding San Diego-Alpine

Hearts and Hooves Haven

CARTER-SMITH VFW POST 5867

Lakeside Baseball Park

Alpine Youth Center

Resource Conservation District of Greater San Diego County

Alpine Woman's Club

Lakeside Christian Helps Center - Food Distribution Center

Debwebdesigns

Scarlet's Kids Foundation

El Capitan Stadium Association

American Legion

Santee-Lakeside Elks Lodge #2698

Lakeside Christian Helps Center

Alpine Chamber of Commerce

Lakeside Chamber of Commerce

Lakeside's River Park Conservancy

Alpine American Little League

Dianne Jacob Lakeside Equestrian Park

Lakefront

Lakeside Skatepark

Lakeside Gardens

Boys and Girls Clubs of East County- Lakeside Clubhouse

Unyeway Inc

Mountain Health Cares

FUNbelievable

San Ysidro Health Center

Lakeside Water District

Batza Family Trust

Flight of the Phoenix Collective

Food for Health - Food Pantry

H.E.R.D. Foundation

Kylie Rowand Foundation

Ranger Station

San Diego County Roads Department

San Diego County Sheriff's Department Lakeside Substation

The Tag Stop - Alpine 85499 Licensed By DMV Near Me

WIC Alpine Family Medicine - San Ysidro Health