Chef Julie Darling was born into a family who believed in giving back.<\/p>\n
Throughout the years, Darling, who owns Just Call Us Catering and Kitchen Rental, has served on countless committees, chaired numerous fundraising events and has donated her catering services to Helen Woodward\u2019s Spring Fling, Mama\u2019s Kitchen and Rady Children\u2019s Hospital, to name a few.<\/p>\n
Her volunteerism reached its peak in 2005, when she founded Just Call Us Volunteers (JCUV).<\/p>\n
Since that time, JCUV has worked with a number of local nonprofits to help feed San Diego\u2019s homeless fresh and nutritious meals.<\/p>\n
On Sept. 16, the organization will celebrate more than a decade of volunteerism with The Wacky Wingding party and fundraiser. Darling hopes the circus-themed event will raise upward of $50,000.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re a 100 percent volunteer organization and we\u2019ve never had any payroll,\u201d Darling said, estimating that JCUV serves between 7,000 and 10,000 meals to homeless San Diegans each year.<\/p>\n And while she admits the organization has certainly expanded their meal service in the past decade, their mission to help feed the homeless has not wavered.<\/p>\n \u201cAbout 10 years ago, one Christmas, I realized I didn\u2019t have anything to do, and instead of sitting at home doing nothing I found someone who was going to make food and serve it down on the streets,\u201d Darling said. \u201cI called and asked if they needed help.\u201d<\/p>\n With this, the idea to start a nonprofit that would work to feed San Diego\u2019s homeless community fresh and nutritious meals was born.<\/p>\n \u201cIt started out with Christmas but then we started doing Thanksgiving,\u201d she said. \u201cNow we do Valentine\u2019s Day, St. Patrick\u2019s Day, Easter, Mother\u2019s Day and Father\u2019s Day.\u201d<\/p>\n Partnering with the nonprofit community Veteran\u2019s Village of San Diego\u2019s (VVSD) is among the many nonprofits that JCUV has collaborated with; Darling said that JCUV volunteers also serve the last meal at Stand Down, an annual event hosted by VVSD that assists homeless veterans in accessing VA benefits, employment, job counseling and other key services.<\/p>\n VVSD Development Manager Joe Perucca said were it not for the support of volunteers, including those working with JCUV, Stand Down wouldn\u2019t be able to happen.<\/p>\n \u201cWe thank them for participating and for donating their time to helping us feed San Diego\u2019s homeless veterans,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n In addition to working with Veteran\u2019s Village, JCUV also collaborates with a number of other nonprofit groups including the Alpha Project, Rachel\u2019s Women\u2019s Shelter, the Monarch School and San Diego Center for Children.<\/p>\n \u201cAlpha Project is extremely grateful for the ongoing support we receive from Just Call Us Volunteers,\u201d said Alpha Project CEO Bob McElroy. \u201cFor the past 10 years, especially on holidays, they have provided nutritious meals to thousands of our clients, making a big difference in their day.\u201d<\/p>\n Life skills manager for San Diego Center for Children Tina Reyes-Magnanelli, M.A., said SDCC has been working with Darling and her team of volunteers for approximately five years.<\/p>\n \u201cJulie and her group of wonderful volunteers come on the last Sunday of each month to provide a beautifully catered meal for our Family Day Luncheons,\u201d Reyes-Magnanelli said. \u201c[They] always arrive on time, with a smile and are eager to interact positively with our kids and their families. The experience of eating a delicious cuisine is always enhanced by their desire to make our kids feel special and cared for \u2014 and nothing brightens their day more than to know others care about them.\u201d<\/p>\n JCUV is also actively involved with Mama\u2019s Kitchen. Each year, volunteers prepare 300 pecan pies for their Pie in the Sky bake sale, which helps provide thousands of meals for local San Diegans who are affected by AIDS or cancer.<\/p>\n The fundraiser<\/strong><\/p>\n JCUV\u2019s Wacky Wingding, A 10th Anniversary Celebration, will take place on Saturday, Sept. 17 at the Francis W. Parker School, upper school campus, 6501 Linda Vista Road, in Linda Vista.<\/p>\n The event will begin at 4 p.m. for families with children of all ages and include strolling and staged entertainment such as acrobats, stilt-walkers and clowns.<\/p>\n At 7 p.m., the night will evolve into a party that\u2019s more geared toward adults, with burlesque, fire twirling and more.<\/p>\n A delicious selection of bites and tastes prepared by local chefs will accompany the entertainment all day and evening long.<\/p>\n Participating chefs from Cardamom, Chinitas Pies, Cupcakes Squared, California Table, Dobson\u2019s, Fishbone, High Dive, Mess Hall, Super Natural Sandwiches, Sundra, Wrench & Rodent, Woo Bar and others will be lending their culinary expertise to help prepare the night\u2019s food selections.<\/p>\n Entertainment for the circus-themed celebratory fundraiser will be provided by Fern Street Circus, Drop Dead Dames Burlesque, Fiora Firefly, and others.<\/p>\n Advance tickets are available en l\u00ednea<\/a>. The cost to attend is $120 for couples, $90 for single tickets and $10 for children ages 6 to 17. Children ages 5 and younger can attend for free.<\/p>\n![\"9A97809B-849D-4034-8A4E-A315C02FC9EDwebtop\"](\"https:\/\/sandiegodowntownnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/9A97809B-849D-4034-8A4E-A315C02FC9EDwebtop.jpg\")
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