San Carlos rents on the rise

In a recent article on the website Rent.com, San Carlos was rated as having the second-highest rent increase over the past year.

The article showed the top five neighborhoods for rent increases were Loma Portal, Point Loma Heights, Morena, San Carlos and Serra Mesa.

According to the data in the article, rent in San Carlos increased 6.46% over the last year. Despite its second-highest standing in the report, San Carlos still has comparably cheaper rent than the city with an average monthly one-bedroom apartment costing $1,746 compared to a monthly $2,341 average rent for all of San Diego.

Serra Mesa earned the highest rent increase — 11.02%.

To read the article in full visit rent.com/blog/san-diego-neighborhoods-rent-prices-increasing/.

Red Cross issues urgent call for blood donors

Following a difficult Fourth of July week for blood and platelet donations and ongoing challenges finding new blood donors, the American Red Cross now faces a blood shortage and has issued an emergency call for eligible individuals of all blood types to give now and prevent delays in medical care.

About 450 fewer blood drives were organized by businesses and other community groups during the first week of July than during a typical week as people across the country celebrated the holiday with activities and travel. This led to about 17,000 fewer blood donations than needed for patients in a single week.

“Medical emergencies and critical treatments don’t stop for holiday celebrations. Patients depend on lifesaving blood transfusions every day,” said Cliff Numark, senior vice president of Red Cross Blood Services, in a press release. “Right now, the Red Cross only has less than a three-day supply when we need a five-day supply to be prepared for all situations that require blood products. To help meet this need, we’ve added about 8,000 additional appointments at blood donation centers and community blood drives over the next few weeks to accommodate more donors. But we need people to fill those appointments, please join us today.”

Alvarado Hospital is among the many locations to host blood drives and will hold one on July 31 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

In June, the Red Cross launched the Missing Types campaign to encourage donors — especially new donors and those who have not donated in the past years — to give blood or platelets during the challenging summer months. Through the campaign, the letters A, B and O — letters that make up the main blood groups — disappeared from popular brands to symbolize what happens when blood goes missing from hospital shelves during blood shortages.

Despite an encouraging response to the campaign, blood donations still fell short of expectations in June, resulting in more than 24,000 fewer donations than needed; about 1,900 fewer here in the Southern California Blood Services Region; and causing a significant draw down of the Red Cross blood supply.

“Blood is only available when generous blood and platelet donors roll up a sleeve to give, and right now, all donors — especially those who have never given or haven’t given in a while — are urged to make an appointment to give today,” Numark added.

For a complete list of blood drives, visit RedCrossBlood.org.

Supervisors vote to create 24/7 crisis centers

On June 25, the Board of Supervisors agreed to create around-the-clock crisis stabilization centers and bolster clinical resources and other tools to help those dealing with mental illness and addiction.

Board chairwoman Dianne Jacob proposed the improvements in her State of the County address in February. Supervisor Kristin Gaspar, District Attorney Summer Stephan and Sheriff Bill Gore teamed up with her to formally bring them to the board.

The first crisis stabilization center will be located in North County. An exact location has not been determined, but county Health and Human Services Agency officials say the north region has the greatest immediate need.

The centers will offer psychiatric care, medication and other help, and will connect patients to long-term services and programs. The centers will include law enforcement drop-off.

District Attorney Summer Stephan said the board’s action is a leap forward, advancing some of the concrete recommendations in the DA’s Blueprint for Mental Health Reform, which was released earlier this year.

The county PERT (psychiatric emergency response teams) program will continue to respond to the most serious incidents. There are currently 53 PERT teams, with funding in place to grow that number to 70.

The county is moving to bolster follow-up services for those helped through PERT or any law enforcement contact.

Red Shoe Day a success

San Diegans opened their hearts and wallets and raised an estimated $253,000 during the 10th annual Red Shoe Day fundraiser, benefiting Ronald McDonald House Charities of San Diego.

During the June 20 morning commute, nearly 1,600 dedicated volunteers — the most volunteers in Red Shoe Day history — collected donations at approximately 200 major intersections across San Diego County to raise funds to support families with critically ill or injured children receiving treatment at San Diego-area hospitals. Proceeds help provide a range of services to families, including meals, lodging and emotional support during their child’s hospital stay.

In addition to street-side donations, funds were also raised through online fundraising pages, matching gifts, corporate sponsorships and contributions made at McDonald’s restaurants in San Diego County. This year, the impact of online donations was doubled courtesy of a $500,000 matching gift and endowment from the Joseph Clayes III Charitable Trust. The funds will help transform the House’s kitchens and dining rooms as part of its More Than A Meal campaign.

“San Diegans came out in force today to support Ronald McDonald House and the families who rely on our services, and we are so grateful for their contributions,” said Chuck Day, president and CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities of San Diego, in a press statement released after the event.

As a founding partner of Ronald McDonald House Charities of San Diego, McDonald’s restaurants across the county showed their support for the charity by hosting an in-restaurant fundraiser, which continued through June 23.

Corporate support was provided by title sponsor Wells Fargo; presenting sponsors San Diego County McDonald’s restaurants; NEWS 8, AM 760 and 100.7 San Diego; partner sponsors County of San Diego and Walmart; and supporting sponsor SuperShuttle. Other sponsors include Kiwanis Club of San Diego, Geico, The GEO Group Foundation, San Diego Padres, Ecolab, Brinks, Ultra Star Cinemas, and The UPS Store.