Drive to support AJ’s Kids Crane and Rady Children’s Hospital 

October 2, 2015 (La Mesa) -- The La Mesa Police Department will begin its 3rd Annual Toy Drive on October 5, 2015 which will continue through November 17, 2015. The police department is hoping to collect enough toys to fill their Bearcat Rescue Vehicle, which will deliver the toys to AJ’s Kids Crane in the Mission Valley Ikea parking lot on November 17th. 

San Diego Lifesaving Association Raising Funds for Lifeguard Injured On Duty

September 30, 2015 (San Diego)-- After completing a routine rescue at Windansea beach in La Jolla on August 15th, San Diego Lifeguard Gareth “Chappy” Chapman was struck by a large wave in shallow water and driven headfirst into the ground.  The resulting impact left Gareth with several broken vertebrae in his neck and back, but fortunately did not cause any permanent damage to his spinal cord or nervous system.

By Tasha Matthews

Photo, left: Staff and mentors at Fostering Opportunities Scholarships

Part I in a series on foster youth programs

September 22, 2015 (San Diego)-- Half of all foster kids in the U.S. end up homeless as adults.  Just 10% go to college, and of those, only 3% graduate. Although foster youths comprise less than 0.3% of the state’s population, 40% of the people in homeless shelters are former foster youths, as is a high percentage of the country's prison population. Over half (51% ) of foster youths are unemployed.  Yet despite these staggering statistics, many foster  youths are bright, talented individuals who have proven that they can thrive—with help from some local groups working to help them have a brighter future.

County News Service

September 16, 2015 (San Diego)--A San Diego County program that helps safeguard vulnerable adults in dependent care has received the California Counties Innovation Award, the highest honor given in the California State Association of Counties’ annual awards.

San Diego Military Veterans Volunteer at Garden As Part of National Service Project

September 12, 2015 (El Cajon)--The Water Conservation Garden proudly hosted more than a dozen military veterans from The Mission Continues as part of a national veterans service day on September 11. The volunteers planted trees in one of The Garden’s newest exhibits, the Native Habitat Garden.

Photo: Craig McClain with his wife, Kathleen and daughter, Deanna

August 28, 2015 (El Cajon)--The Boy Scouts of the Heartland District in East County honored Craig McClain of Boys to Men Mentoring at a luncheon on August 26^th at the Ronald Reagan Community Center in El Cajon.

By Janis Russell

August 21, 2015 (San Diego)- Mary Lubey, division director of Behavioral Health Sciences from Volunteers of America Southwest, recently sat down with ECM to talk about Hawley Veterans Center and what the center has been doing to help veterans among other topics. Lubey is also in charge of overseeing the program manager at Hawley Veterans Center at 9980 Hawley Road in El Cajon.

Submitted by La Mesa Sunrise Rotary

August 14, 2015 (La Mesa) --Ivan Alba, Elena Lujan-Alba, Isabel Alba and Lily Alba are four Allied Gardens residents who are going on an amazing journey at the end of August.  Read on and learn about their upcoming travels around the world.  All four of them are members of the La Mesa Sunrise Rotary Club.

East County News Service

August 6, 2015 (Alpine) – For Childhood Cancer Awareness month, the Kylie Rowland Foundation is hosting “Wine and Bunco Under the Stars” on  Sept. 9 at 6 pm.. to raise funds for promising less-toxic cancer treatments for children. The foundation was started in memory of Kylie Rowland, who lost her battle to neuroblastoma at age two in February 2015.

Ribbon Cutting Thursday, August 6

July 29, 2015 (Rancho San Diego)--YMCA Camp McGrath in Rancho San Diego will celebrate its ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday, August 6, 2015 at 11:30 a.m.  The beautiful outdoor area, located at the McGrath Family YMCA - 12006 Campo Road, is in a position to provide a variety of recreation programs that allow camp kids and family members to enjoy a serene park atmosphere with numerous exciting features for the kids and the kids at heart.

East County News Service

July 25, 2015 (Poway)—The Marine Reconnaissance Foundation supports past, present, future and fallen recon brothers and their families.  On Friday, September 11, a day of remembrance, golfers and donors are invited to join in the 1^st annual Marine Recon Foundation Charity Golf Tournament and auction.

The event will be held at the Maderas Golf Course at 17750 Old Coach Road, Poway, 92064. Lunches are available on the course followed by a dinner and awards ceremony with auction featuring fabulous prizes.

Donate a van or repairs and East County Magazine will give your business a free ad on our site

East County News Service

July 19, 2015 (Rancho San Diego)—Last week we told you about a foster care family in need here in East County.  (See our story). Debra Zeldin’s van was stolen and crashed by the thieves, and her insurance won’t cover the repairs.  She’s helped over 60 foster kids including Russell, a 6-year-old who had a kidney transplant recently but “is still wheelchair bound with a tracheotomy. He is blind and developmentally delayed.  See this Voices of Children video about his inspiring story:  https://vimeo.com/76706300 .

Despite fundraising efforts the Zeldin family is still far short of what’s needed to repair or replace their damaged van. 

By Miriam Raftery

Photos, left: Three of the five special needs children in Zeldin's care.

July 11, 2015 (Rancho San Diego) – Friends describe Debra Zeldin as an “angel.”  Twice named the County’s foster parent of the year, she has taken in over 60 foster children, specializing in those with special medical needs.  She currently has five children in her care, including a blind, 6-year-old boy for whom she helped obtain a kidney transplant and a 10-year-old girl with muscular dystrophy who  just came home from the hospital when Zeldin discovered her van had been stolen. Two of the children use wheelchairs and one is on a tracheotomy curently.

Now Zeldin needs help –and a friend has launched a fundraising drive to raise money for repairs, since the thieves who stole her van had no insurance or assets and Zeldin’s insurance company has informed her that her policy lacked comprehensive coverage.

East County News Service

July 9, 2015 (Descanso) – Once again, Camp Jack will offer a summer camping experience for at-risk youths. This year’s camp starts on July 26 with a Traditional Barbeque hosted by the El Cajon Valley Host Lions club.