By Miriam Raftery

February 22, 2019 (Fallbrook) – Farmworker families in De Luz/Fallbrook are in “desperate need of emergency supplies” according to a press release sent by California State University San Marcos and human rights groups.

By Miriam Raftery

February 15, 2019 (Alpine) – “The powerful storm system that swept across our region has taken a toll on our sanctuary grounds - and made a HUGE mess in its wake,” Bobbi Brink, founder of the Lions, Tigers and Bears rescue facility in Alpine writes in an e-mail to supporters.

By Logan Knight  

February 14, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) -- “What do you want to be when you grow up?” It’s a question virtually every American child is asked from the time he or she begins talking. They are continually asked this question until adulthood, when the question becomes, “What do you do for a living?”

East County News Service

February 5, 2019 (San Diego) - McAlister Institute, a non-profit organization in East County that helps bring life-saving services in substance abuse treatment, mental health counseling, life skills education, and vocational training to individuals and families regardless of their inability to pay, has received an $11,195 grant from Las Patronas to fund a wellness courtyard at the organization’s Kiva Learning Center for Women and Children (Kiva).

Kiva, which receives its primary funding through contract with the County of San Diego’s Health and Human Services Agency, was established in 1981. With its founding, McAlister Institute became one of the first five organizations in the nation and the first in San Diego County to develop a residential program that allows women to live with their children in a safe, instructive, and supportive environment while they receive treatment. 

By Maryanne Jackson

January 31, 2019 (La Mesa) – The Alma Future Foundation held a dinner on January 22nd at Tiramisu Trattoria restaurant in La Mesa to raise funds for an orphanage in Ensenada, Mexico.

Many Thanks to Tiramisu Trattoria owner David Chiodo, who kindly donated the use of his restaurant. Chef and host Giulia Croce (photo) kindly donated her time preparing an amazing five-course meal.

East County News Service

Photo:  (from left to right) Steve Becvar, ALS; Paul Negulescu, Vertex; Keith Miller (wearing Santa hat), ALS; Peter Grootenhuis, Vertex.

By Miriam Raftery

January 18, 2019 (Lakeside) – Kathryn Anne Kennedy, 70, was found in Ocotillo Wells shortly after 11 a.m. this morning, Lt. David Perkins with the San Diego Sheriff’s Department has confirmed to ECM.

“A concerned citizen saw her sitting on the steps of the market at a campground in Ocotillo Wells and called for a welfare check because she seemed disoriented,” Lt. Perkins told ECM. Law enforcement officers identified her as the missing woman and transported her back to Lakeside to be reunited with friends, after making sure she did not appear to have any physical injuries.

“She was shaken, hungry and tired,” says Jill Barto, who helped organize a search for the missing woman and received word via a phone call with the good news.

50 New Bikes and Helmets for Military & First Responders’ Children donated by Cartright Pest Control, ASAP Towing and iWash Car Wash

East County News Service

December 23, 2018( El Cajon) –Three El Cajon businesses are joining to give away 50 new bikes and helmets on Christmas Eve to deserving East County children.

The public is invited to the open-house style event which will feature a brisket and pulled pork BBQ cookout provided by Golden Corral of El Cajon, also from 10am-1pm, at Cartwright Pest Control, 1376 Broadway in El Cajon.

Annual event raised funds for SMSC’s 2018 student holiday celebration

Source: St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center

Photos by Jennie Edwards, Guided By Imagination Photography

November 16, 2018 (El Cajon) --St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center (SMSC) held its 5^th annual Swing with Santa Golf Tournament on Friday, November 2, 2018. The sold-out event raised more than $16,000 to fund SMSC’s 2018 Student Holiday Celebration. The annual golf tournament featured a fun-filled day of games, a silent auction, food and more.

Golfers received a round of golf, lunch, a happy hour reception and a gift bag. Guests also met Santa and Elvis, who arrived to the golf course by helicopter, and SMSC student, Sam Dupree, sang the national anthem to help kick off the golf tournament. The Presenting Sponsor for this year’s Golf Tournament was Sycuan Casino, Tournament Sponsor was Keller Williams Realty San Diego East Foothills, and the On the Green Sponsors included A. Vidovich Construction Co., Cartwright Termite & Pest Control, Inc., EDCO Disposal, Lundy Insurance Services, Inc. and SDG&E.

Source: City of El Cajon

November 14, 2018 (El Cajon) -- Each year El Cajon’s civic, service, and fraternal organizations select the El Cajon “Citizen of the Year” from the many people in El Cajon who contribute to El Cajon through years of volunteer civic and community service. Active community groups, or individuals, can nominate a candidate for the “Citizen of the Year” by sending a representative of your organization to the Selection Committee meetings.  Your Nomination must be submitted on a special form and must strictly comply with the Rules for Selection.  

Source: Envision La Mesa

October 24, 2018 (La Mesa) -- Last Saturday, volunteers from across the City of La Mesa took a hand in cleaning up University Avenue at Envision La Mesa’s “Shining Our Streets” event. Neighbors and students from nearby Helix High School gathered unsightly trash, reported issues requiring the city’s attention through the YourGov app and dropped by to thank local businesses who chipped in to ensure participants had the supplies they needed for a successful event.

By Susan Ashby

October 21, 2018 (San Diego) - While 94 percent of Americans believe there is value and knowledge seniors can pass along to children, under 30 percent actually know of places in their community that bring generations together. This issue is compounded when families are spread out across the United States and even the world. Grandparents aren’t always able to interact with grandchildren in person. Thankfully, intergenerational programs can bring seniors and youth together in ways that better the society at large.

East County News Service

October 15, 2018 (La Mesa) – The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) is continuing its support of community organizations working to address hunger and food insecurity among residents in the East County Region with recent grants totaling $85,500 to three food distribution nonprofits, including Meals on Wheels, Jewish Family Service of San Diego and the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank.

Food drive benefiting East County Transitional Living Center starts Oct. 5

Source: Waste Management 

October 10, 2018 (El Cajon) -  For the second consecutive year, Waste Management of San Diego and the Mother Goose Parade Association have launched a non-perishable food drive benefiting the East County Transitional Living Center. The drive will run Oct. 5 through Nov. 16 and will culminate with food being collected at the Mother Goose Parade on Nov. 18.

By Rebecca Jefferis Williamson

October 9, 2018 (El Cajon) – Aboard an exhilarating flight on a World War II B-17G warbird named the Sentimental Journey, WWII veterans told spellbinding stories about their experiences as combat pilots and prisoners of war.  This peace-time flight out of El Cajon’s Gillespie Field was offered on October 1st  to members of the press and public, thanks to the Arizona Memorial Museum’s staff and flight crew.