People Power

Inspiring Stories from San Diego's Eastern Region

RAMONA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES 2020 GRANTS AVAILABLE

East County News Service

June 8, 2020 (Ramona, CA) – Ramona Community Foundation (RCF), an affiliate of The San Diego Foundation, announced its annual call for grant applications. In its 9th year of grantmaking, RCF invites nonprofit organizations and agencies to submit proposals that demonstrate the power to build a more vibrant Ramona community.

The goal of the grant cycle is to support programs that make Ramona a great place to live, work and play. Desirable projects will inspire community pride and revitalization, and increase the quality of life of the broader community.


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REBUILD LA MESA: GO FUND ME ACCOUNT RAISES MORE THAN $160,000

 

Update June 18, 2020:  The fund has now raised over $196,000 and has begun distributing funds, but donations are still needed.

By Miriam Raftery

June 6, 2020 (La Mesa) – After riots devastated downtown La Mesa on May 30th, El Cajon Deputy Mayor Phil Ortiz teamed up with the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce Foundation and others to establish the La Mesa Business Disaster Recovery Fund.  The fund raised $50,000 in its first 13 hours last Sunday and has now surpassed $168,000 from more than 2,000 donors.

You can make a 100% tax deductible donation on GoFundMe by clicking here. 

The site states, “Our small businesses are devastated and many were already on the brink due to COVID19. La Mesa Village has been the heart of small business in the city and is a beautiful place for dining, events and memories.”


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SAVING LA MESA: RESIDENTS RALLIED TO PROTECT AND RESTORE CITY

By Miriam Raftery and Kendra Sitton

May 31, 2020 (La Mesa) -- With the acrid stench of burning rubble and tear gas still pungent in the air after a night of rioting, looting and destruction, a different kind of mob descended on La Mesa  today. Some 500 to 600 volunteers came armed with brooms, power tools and paint brushes to clean up debris and broken glass, paint over graffiti and board up storefront windows to help protect local businesses if looters return tonight.

Stories of heroism also emerged – business owners, neighbors and strangers who came during the night to drive out looters with baseball bats and makeshift clubs, douse spot fires with fire extinguishers, and help save La Mesa’s historic downtown village.


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LIONS CLUB AIDS COMMUNITY AMID PANDEMIC

By Miriam Raftery

May 30, 2020 (La Mesa) – Members of the La Mesa Lions Club  are continuing their good works serving the community amid the COVID-19 pandemic, helping healthcare workers, nonprofits, students and hungry families.


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SANTEE LOVES: RESIDENTS RALLY IN VEHICLES TO STAND AGAINST HATE

By Rebecca Jefferis Williamson

(Photos by Rebecca Jefferis Williamson)

May 27, 2020 (Santee) -- A Santee community group known as Santee Loves organized “Demonstrate Love,” a vehicle rally held today to counter the two racially charged incidents at a Santee Vons store on May 2 and at  Food 4 Less five days later. 

(Left: a participant standing next to his car.)

Those incidents, which went viral on social media and made international headlines, involved a man wearing a Ku Klux Klan hood and a couple, who live in unincorporated El Cajon, with Nazi swastikas on their COVID-19 face masks. 

The vehicle rally was designed to promote tolerance and inclusiveness. Though planned over the past two weeks, the event ironically occurred on the same night that national protests erupted over the brutal killing of George Floyd, an African-American man, by a Minneapolis police officer. 


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LOCAL WRITERS AND TEACHERS HELP OTHERS THROUGH THE SMALL MOVEMENT

By Mimi Pollack

 

Update May 21, 2020: Dr. Kalmar and his staff love their new headbands, which have now been delivered to Grossmont Hospital to help hold masks in place more comfortable. Photo, left, courtesy of Dr. Kalmar. (Other photos courtesy of Mimi Pollack)

 

May 13, 2020 (San Diego’s East County) -- What is the small movement? It’s an informal group of people brought together by yours truly to find ways to help others, especially during this pandemic.  This includes giving business to small mom and pop restaurants that may be struggling, buying pizzas for Grossmont Hospital staff,  making masks for Rady’s Children’s Hospital and for shelters in Tijuana, gathering and donating food and fresh fruit to a food pantry, and making headbands for hospital staff to alleviate the discomfort of face masks.

The movement so far includes two East County Magazine writers (Rebecca Jefferis Williamson and me), three Grossmont College teachers (Sara Ferguson, Edda Temoche and me), a San Diego Continuing Education retired teacher (Lynn Francis), two well-known artists (Becky Guttin and Griselda Rosas), East County resident Sharonne Ketels, North County resident, Janna Leoff, and Dr. Frank Kalmar.


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EAST COUNTY REALTORS COLLECTING DONATIONS FOR `RED SHOE DAY’ BENEFITING RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE

East County News Service

May 14, 2020 (El Cajon) – The Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors (PSAR), a real estate trade group for San Diego-area realtors with an office in El Cajon, has formed “Team PSAR” to collect donations online until June 4 as part of the annual Red Shoe Day fundraiser benefiting Ronald McDonald House, a home-away-from-home for families of seriously ill or injured children being treated at San Diego hospitals.


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CALLING ALL HEROES: LOCAL RED CROSS SEEKS PUBLIC'S NOMINATION FOR ANNUAL AWARDS

18th annual Real Heroes Breakfast to be held Sept. 25, 2020

Source:  American Red Cross

May 13, 2020 (San Diego) - Do you know an “ordinary” person with extraordinary courage? Someone who has saved a life, helped a neighbor in need or made a difference in their community? If you know a local hero, the American Red Cross of San Diego and Imperial Counties asks you to nominate them for the 18th Annual Real Heroes Awards.


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EAST COUNTY RALLIES TO HELP THE NEEDY DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

By Emmet Pierce

May 12, 2020 (San Diego’s East County) -- While East County residents anxiously wait out the COVID-19 pandemic, community groups and concerned citizens are rallying to help those in need.


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CHILDREN’S NATURE RETREAT LAUNCHES VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS AND ONLINE LESSONS; ALPINE SANCTUARY ALSO SEEKS DONATIONS TO HELP FEED ZEBRAS, LLAMAS AND OTHER RESCUED LARGE ANIMALS

Children’s Nature Retreat launches virtual field trips & online lessons

**The Alpine sanctuary also calls for support among COVID-19 pandemic** 

Source: Chlidren’s Nature Retreat 

May 5, 2020 (Alpine) – The Children’s Nature Retreat is a 20-acre animal sanctuary in Alpine with nearly 150 domesticated animals. Due to the statewide COVID-19 stay-at-home order, the Retreat is closed for public visits and school field trips. They have recently launched online classes – $5 lessons and virtual school field trips. 

The Retreat has teamed up with the Association for Human-Animal Bond Studies to offer the remote programming, which will include a video lesson, as well as a tutorial for a craft project related to the lesson. The first lesson – launched this week – is Reptiles and Birds. The objective is to introduce students to the similarities that reptiles and birds have with each other, and for them to have an opportunity to see different reptiles up close, including a rosy boa snake, a bearded dragon lizard, and a leg less lizard, as well as different birds from the Retreat – chickens, ducks, and turkeys. 


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IRAQI REFUGEE IN EL CAJON NOW SAVES LIVES MAKING MASKS FOR MEDICAL WORKERS, ASYLUM-SEEKERS AND NAVAJO NATION

By Miriam Raftery
May 4, 2020 (El Cajon) –“Helping other people was the only way that I survived through different risks and wars I went through,” says Kilian Colin, an Iraqi refugee in El Cajon who says he went through lockdowns in Iraq and Syria.  A long-time civil rights and labor activist, he has now started a mask-making campaign that is protecting thousands of the most vulnerable people during the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
His masks have been sent to protect healthcare workers in San Diego and in cities across the nation including had-hit New York City, as well as to farmers in the Midwest, farmworkers in Oregon, asylum seekers in Mexico, and tribal members of the Navajo Nation in Arizona.
 
How the effort began
 
“I was visiting Asia in January when the pandemic started,” says Colin, who began wearing masks in Vietnam and Taiwan.  Back home as a student at San Diego State University, he kept wearing a mask to avoid infecting others.  
 
But he recalls, “Both professors and students at SDSU were making fun of me…I had no option but to face some of those bullies and told them I was protecting them by wearing this mask, since I had no idea if I carried the virus with me home.” 
 
In mid-March, SDSU moved classes online. Without spending an hour daily commuting, Colin decided to make several masks instead and offer them online to whoever needed them, also replacing his own surgical masks that had been washed too many times to be protective.
 
“I looked online for patterns to make masks and I looked in my closet for clothes that I no longer use,” he tells East County Magazine in an exclusive interview. 

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SAN DIEGO FOUNDATION APPROVES $5 MILLION FOR INTEREST-FREE LOANS FOR NONPROFITS

Source:  San Diego Foundation

April 28, 2020 (San Diego) - Today the San Diego Foundation Board of Governors announced it approved $5 million to support short-term, interest-free loans to San Diego County nonprofit organizations impacted by COVID-19.  


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A MEATY CHANGE: COUNTY FAIR’S FFA MARKET ANIMALS TO BE JUDGED & AUCTIONED VIRTUALLY DUE TO COVID

By Rebecca Jefferis Williamson

(Photo, at left, courtesy of Taryl Townsend)

April 21, 2020 (Lakeside) – For East County kids who raise pigs, cattle, sheep or goats through the Future Farmers of America program, a highlight each year is the live auction of their animals at the San Diego County Junior Fair. But due to the fair’s cancellation  amid the COVID-19 quarantine, the Eastern San Diego County Junior Fair’s market animals auction will be held virtually on May 14.

 Don Dyer of Alpine, president of the Eastern San Diego County Jr. Fair (ESDCJF) Lakeside division says the judging, typically done in person, will be switched to online video presentations of the animals. 

Virtualstockshow.com will facilitate the judging and then the sale of the animals,” Dyer told ECM. “The exhibitors will make a 90 second video showing their market animals which will be evaluated and placed by the fair’s judges. Exhibitors will sign up and submit their videos on Saturday, May 9th.  Judging will happen on Thursday, May 14th, and the auction will be held online on Saturday May16th starting at noon.” 


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LA MESA SUNRISE ROTARY MEMBERS FIND FRUITFUL WAY TO HELP COMMUNITY DURING PANDEMIC

Produce for Polio now Produce for COVID-19
 
By Dr. Jeffrey Hall, President of La Mesa Sunrise Rotary
 
April 19, 2020 (La Mesa) --  Over the years, members of the La Mesa Sunrise Rotary Club have brought fruits and vegetables from their own gardens to the meetings. Members would take the fruit and give a donation to the club foundation for the eradication of polio. Today, the climate has changed. We are no longer able to meet together, and the health crisis has come home to us in the manor of COVID-19. 
 
How can fresh produce make a difference?
 
Members of the club have stepped up, as pictured below. On Thursday, April 16 (as an early Rotarians At Work effort) the group harvested over 500 pounds of oranges, tangerines, grapefruit, lemons and limes from members’ gardens and donated the fruit to several locations including: the Santee Food Bank, La Mesa 1st Methodist Church’s Fresh Start program, Noah Homes, Homeless Encampment, the East County Transitional Living, the Bradley Convalescent Home, and La Mesa Senior Citizens.
 

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JANTZ FAMILY LAUNCHES GO FUND ME SITE FOR GROSSMONT HOSPITAL FOUNDATION FOOD PANTRY AND SUPPLIES

Donations of money, non-perishable foods and personal protective equipment are needed for healthcare workers

By Miriam Raftery

April 17, 2020 (La Mesa) – Barry Jantz, CEO of Grossmont Healthcare District, and his family have launched a GoFundMe site on behalf of the Grossmont Hospital Foundation to help healthcare workers with an on-site food pantry and medical supplies. 

“As most of you know, the care team at our local hospital is working tirelessly during this global battle against COVID-19. Many of the healthcare workers are unable to go to the store and get items they need for their families, either because the items are gone from the shelves or they’re just exhausted by the end of their shift. On a daily basis, these amazing individuals are here doing their very best to help those in need,” a message from Barry, Colleen and Kayleigh Jantz states.

A contribution via this GoFundMe page will go to the non-profit Grossmont Hospital Foundation to provide Food Pantry items and/or much-needed hospital supplies to protect front-line caregivers during this crisis.  Donations are 100% tax deductible.

People can also donate non-perishable food items and personal protective equipment directly. Click here for details or to make a donation.


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HELIX WATER DISTRICT HOSTS VIRTUAL FOOD DRIVE

 
Source: Helix Water District
 
April 17, 2020 (La Mesa) -- Helix Water District’s employee volunteer program, Helix Helps, is hosting a virtual food drive in partnership with the San Diego Food Bank to help feed vulnerable families and seniors impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. 
 
The public is welcome to participate in the virtual food drive. To donate, visit hwd.fyi/food, slide food items across the checkout and pay securely with a credit or debit card. The virtual food drive runs through June 30, 2020.
 
“Right now, making sure that families and seniors are fed and have access to food is a top priority for our communities,” said Helix Water District Board President Mark Gracyk. “Not only are our employees working to ensure that our customers have access to safe and reliable water throughout this crisis, they are also looking for more personal ways to help.”
 

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GOOD EARTH PLANT COMPANY AND SAN DIEGO COUNTY GREENHOUSES DONATE PLANTS TO FRONTLINE HEALTHCARE WORKERS

By Gayle Lynn Falkenthal, APR, Fellow PRSA
 
Photos: Good Earth Plant Company
 
April 16, 2020 (San Diego) -- As a result of the coronavirus pandemic’s impact on San Diego County’s wholesale ornamental plant and flower nursuries, tens of thousands of dollars of indoor plants remaining unsold to clients were destined for the landfill.
 
Instead, the plants are being donated as a small thank you to the frontline healthcare staff at San Diego area hospitals.
 
Jim Mumford, owner and president of Good Earth Plant Company, arranged the donations from Olive Hill Greenhouses, Leucadia Nursery, and FlorAbunda Nursery. All were eager to participate. The three businesses have donated $35,000 worth of plants to date. Other nurseries are expected to participate in the ongoing project, operating under the hashtag #StayPlanted.
 

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SAN DIEGO FAMILY PROTECTING HOSPITAL WORKERS BY MAKING OVER 475 FACE SHIELDS

By Mei Ling Nazar

 April 16, 2020 (San Diego) -- Nick Warner and his family of four are contributing their volunteer efforts to help healthcare workers on the front lines. Warner, who is a part of the Jesus Geeks Computer Services Ministry at the Rock Church in San Diego,  along with his wife Stephanie, and their children Ryley, 10, and Mason, 8, are utilizing their 3D printers to print face shields for local hospital staff that are in desperate need of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to guard them from the novel Coronavirus. 


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VAUS LAUNCHES ANGELS WILL HELP: SITE ENABLES VOLUNTEERS TO HELP NEIGHBORS

By Miriam Raftery

 

April 16, 2020 (Poway) – “The question I’ve gotten most often during this pandemic is `How can I help?’” says Steve Vaus, Poway Mayor and candidate for County Supervisor. “My answer is typically `Be there for your neighbors.’“  To facilitate this, Vaus has launched a website, AngelsWillHelp.com to help facilitate neighbors helping neighbors.


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SAN DIEGO HUMANE SOCIETY INVITES YOU TO WATCH PUPPIES AND KITTENS GROW UP IN FOSTER HOMES

East County News Service
 
Ready, Set, Grow! gives the public a behind-the-scenes glimpse into caring for foster animals
 
April 16, 2020 (San Diego) --  While families are staying home, San Diego Humane Society is inviting them to watch litters of puppies and kittens grow up in foster care. This baby season, Ready, Set, Grow! will introduce the public to litters of adorable baby animals through regular updates and photos on social media and the Ready, Set, Grow! web page. 
 
SDHS kicked off Ready, Set, Grow! by introducing a puppy each day on Facebook and Instagram from a litter of Chihuahuas currently living in a foster home. Updates on the Chihuahua pups will continue to be posted to the website so the public can follow along and watch their progress. Next week, SDHS will introduce the community to a litter of foster kittens – stay tuned!
 
With springtime upon us, baby season is approaching, and San Diego Humane Society expects to see an influx in animals over the coming weeks, from cats and dogs to wildlife.
 

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GOV. NEWSOM ANNOUNCES $42 MILLION TO PROTECT FOSTER YOUTHS IMPACTED BY COVID-19

Rev. Shane Harris, local advocate for foster children, calls on Governor to extend foster care 180 days for youths aging out of the system

By Miriam Raftery

 

File photos:  Gov. Gavin Newsom and Rev. Shane Harris



April 13, 2020 (San Diego) – Today, Governor Gavin Newsom announced a $42 million investment to protect foster youths and foster families impacted by COVID-19over the next three months, including $40.6 million in state general fund money and $1.4 million in federal funds.

 

The Governor is making more than $27 million available to help families stay together, nearly $7 million to support social workers and $3 million to support Family Resource Centers, among other expenditures.


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COLLEGE DISTRICT HELPS COMMUNITY DURING COVID-19 CRISIS

Source:  Re:  Fresh

April 9, 2020 (El Cajon) - Loaning ventilators, aiding stranded cruise ship passengers, and stitching home-made face masks are ways that Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District employees are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.


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PIZZAS DELIVERED TO SHARP-GROSSMONT HOSPITAL BY TEACHER BOOST MORALE FOR MEDICAL PROVIDERS AND HELP LOCAL PIZZERIA

By Mimi Pollack

April 1, 2020 (La Mesa) -- So far, 2020 has proven to be a disturbing year, and everyone’s anxiety has been heightened.  The majority of us are staying home and waiting.  I have been teaching my class at Grossmont College online and struggling along. Inspired by stories of folks helping others in these trying times, I also decided to take action in my own small way.


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STATE SEEKS MEDICAL AND HEALTHCARE WORKERS

East County News Service

April 1, 2020 (San Diego) -- The California Health Corps Registration has put out an urgent request for volunteers who are health professionals or medical students during the COVID-19 crisis. An online registration has been set up here.

Participants will be paid and will be given malpractice insurance coverage. Locations will vary, but the staste-run organization will try to match your geographical preferences.

“As California responds to the COVID-19 outbreak, we are preparing for an increase in the number of people who urgently need health care in our communities. To serve Californians and support our health care system, we are preparing to open additional health care sites to provide medical services both for people who have symptoms of, or test positive for, COVID-19 and to relieve the pressure on our health care system by providing care for non-COVID-19 cases,” the site states.

“We need your help. To ensure adequate staff for these sites throughout the state, we’re calling on healthcare providers, behavioral health professionals, and health care administrators.”

The following healthcare professionals are among those sought, though additional occupations are listed in the actual application:


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SAN DIEGO COUNTY REFUGEE FAMILIES EMERGENCY FUND SEEKS DONATIONS TO HELP LOCAL FAMILIES DURING COVID-19 CRISIS

East County News Service

Photo by Rachel Williams: Syrian refugee children in El Cajon

March 29, 2020 (San Diego) – Refugees are among the hardest hit among our local residents impacted by COVID-19 shutdown orders. These are immigrants legally admitted to the U.S. after suffering war, famine, or other life-threatening hardships, primarily from the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia.

To help these new Americans, Partnership for Advancement of New Americans, in partnership with other refugee assistance organizations, has launched the San Diego County Refugee Assistance Fund.  Every penny will be donated directly to help a local refugee family.

You can donate here:  https://www.panasd.org/covidfund?fbclid=IwAR0sorX-O-fc-5H3hDa6fvN9TbmJqJ1fCEE3gPWR3_GRfDhyPl4mC8uB3-s

Their goal is to raise $100,000 so that they can support 100 families with grants of $1,000 each. In the first three days, over $80,000 has been raised.

According to their website:

"COVID-19 presents tremendous challenges for already struggling refugee families.

"The majority of San Diego’s refugee workers are in the restaurant, hotel, and transportation industries hardest hit by the pandemic. Even with the City of San Diego taking action to halt evictions, foreclosures, and utility shut-offs, people already struggling to make ends meet are now managing reduced work hours or furloughs, school closures, childcare challenges, and food scarcity. Community members have lost their jobs, drivers are facing major disruption with Uber and Lyft, and families have children that need to complete school assignments online, but don't have internet connectivity at home.


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MEMES BRING HUMOR TO THE HOMEBOUND DURING QUARANTINE

By Miriam Raftery

March 26, 2020 (San Diego) – As Americans stay home for weeks on end to stay safe and flatten the COVID-19 pandemic growth curve, some are sharing humorous memes on social media, bringing smiles and laughter to lighten the mood for others. 


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JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES PROVIDES FOOD, MEALS AND RIDES TO ANY SAN DIEGANS IN NEED DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

East County News Service

March 26, 2020 (San Diego) -- Jewish Family Service of San Diego (JFS) has expanded its most vital programs to serve families and individuals of all faiths, background and ages, impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and wants San Diegans to knowFood, meals and transportation are available for those in critical need.


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REV. SHANE HARRIS AND PEOPLE'S ALLIANCE FOR JUSTICE LAUNCH "WISH LIST SENIORS FUND” TO DELIVER FOOD AND TOILETRIES TO SENIORS’ HOMES

East County News Service
 
March 26, 2020 (San Diego) - Civil rights activist and President of People's Alliance for Justice Shane Harris has launched a new fund to serve vulnerable seniors countywide during the COVID-19 Coronavirus public health crisis.  Starting today, volunteers will deliver toiletries and food to seniors age 65 and older at their homes.

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FREE RIDES FOR SENIORS AND OTHERS IN NEED

East County News Service
 
March 23, 2020 (San Diego) – Supervisor Dianne Jacob has asked that we share this information with seniors and others in need.  In light of the coronavirus crisis, a local nonprofit, FACT, is offering free transportation for seniors, persons with disabilities, students, veterans and other residents with essential needs. 
 
Call 888-924-3228 between 8am and 3pm, Mon thru Fri.
 

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FOOTHILLS CHURCH IN EL CAJON HOSTS `BLESSED WITH A DRESS,’ FREE FORMAL DRESSES FOR YOUNG WOMEN

East County News Service
 
March 1, 2020 (El Cajon) – Foothills Christian Church, 365 West Bradley Ave., El Cajon, will host “Blessed with a Dress,” a free event for young women needing high-quality, fashionable formal wear for school dances and other special occasions. From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 14, young women are invited to visit the church campus and select a free dress, pair of shoes and jewelry for any upcoming formal event. Hundreds of formal dresses will be available for selection, said church officials.
 
Church officials are seeking donations of gentle used dresses, shoes, jewelry and other accessories. Items can be dropped off Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the church office, 350 Cypress Lane, Suite B, El Cajon.
 

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