Annual turkey giveaway
This holiday season, the office of Assembly member Akilah Weber is continuing the tradition of giving back to our community with the ninth annual Drive-Through Turkey Giveaway.
The turkey giveaway — which will also be paired with a vaccination clinic — will be held Saturday, Nov. 20, 10 a.m.-noon. at the Jacobs Center, 404 Euclid Ave., San Diego. Only one turkey per household will be given on a first-come, first served basis while supplies last.
In addition, the County of San Diego will be providing Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson&Johnson COVID-19 vaccinations in the Jacobs Center’s Celebration Hall from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Pfizer vaccinations will be available for children 5-11 years old. A parent or guardian must accompany them. If you’re eligible, you may also receive your booster. Walk-ups are accepted, but an appointment is recommended. To schedule an appointment, please visit: myturn.ca.gov/.
To avoid extensive traffic congestion, do not arrive before 10 a.m. and follow the directions of our traffic control officers and volunteers. Registration will close Saturday, November 20 at 8 a.m., and you may sign up here: ha79.asmdc.org/giveaway.
For questions, call Assembly member Weber’s District Office at 619-531-7913.
College District appoints vice chancellor
Sahar Abushaban, a veteran administrator with the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District, has received permanent appointment as Vice Chancellor-Business Services following a two-year interim term.
Her selection to the post, announced by Chancellor Lynn Neault, is effective Nov. 1.
Abushaban brings to the role substantial experience in public education budgeting and administration, including 15 years with the college district. She first began at the district in 2006 as a financial analyst, and went on to serve as Interim Director of District Business Services. She was appointed Associate Vice Chancellor-Business Services in 2011. She then served as Vice President of Administrative Services at Cuyamaca College for five years before returning to District Services.
A community college alumna, Abushaban then earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from San Diego State University and a master’s in accountancy from National University.
“We are fortunate to have someone with such a keen understanding of budget complexities, as well as a commitment to community college education and diversity and inclusion of students and employees,” Neault said.
Abushaban’s 30-year career in budget and financial analyses has taken her from the private sector to public sector jobs with multiple education systems. She worked in high school education at the Grossmont Union High School District, in community colleges at the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District and in the University of California system at UC San Diego.
Drop-off sites for Operation Christmas Child
More than 4,000 locations will soon open to collect Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts for the Samaritan’s Purse project. Volunteers are preparing to collect shoebox gifts during National Collection Week, Nov. 15 –22, offering a curbside option, including 17 sites throughout San Diego County.
Operation Christmas Child has been collecting and delivering shoebox gifts — filled with school supplies, hygiene items and fun toys — to children worldwide since 1993. This is a project that everyone can participate in, even with COVID-19 restrictions.
Individuals, families, and groups still have time to transform empty shoeboxes into fun gifts. The project partners with local churches across the globe to deliver these tangible expressions of God’s love to children in need. Find a step-by-step guide on the How to Pack a Shoebox webpage.
“In the midst of the pandemic, children around the world need to know that God loves them and there is hope,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse. “A simple shoebox gift opens the door to share about the true hope that can only be found in Jesus Christ.”
Participants can find the nearest drop-off location and hours of operation as they make plans to drop off their shoebox gifts. The online lookup tool is searchable by city or ZIP code. Signs at each location will identify the drop-off.
Among the 17 drop-off sites in San Diego County, the following locations will be open to accept shoebox gifts, Nov. 15-22:
Foothills Christian Church, 365 W Bradley Ave., El Cajon, CA 92020. Open Mondays–Fridays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturdays noon to 3 p.m.; and Sundays 1 to 4 p.m.
First Baptist Church of Lemon Grove, 2910 Main Street, Lemon Grove, CA 91945. Open Mondays, Tuesdays 2 to 6 p.m.; Wednesdays 5 to 8 p.m.; Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays noon to 6 p.m.; and Sundays noon to 5 p.m.
North Park Community Church, 3702 29th Street, San Diego, CA 92104. All days 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Feeding San Diego’s food distributions for military families
Leading into the Veteran’s Day holiday, Feeding San Diego is hosting a series of free food distributions that celebrate local military families and veterans. Starting November 1 through November 13, Feeding San Diego will celebrate local heroes at its Together Tour large-scale food distributions, some of which are still seeing up to 1,000 attendees drive through. Providing food assistance to the local military community is a year-round priority for the county’s leading hunger-relief and food rescue non-profit.
Feeding San Diego is partnering with six of its community partners, all of whom will join the organization at its food distributions across the county: Courage to Call, San Diego Military Outreach Ministries, Support the Enlisted Project, Us4Warriors, Veterans Village of San Diego, and Wounded Warriors Homes. Staff and volunteers from each non-profit will be on hand to help pass out food and provide information on additional services.
“The local military community needs our support now and always, and we are here to provide what they need,” says Bob Kamensky, Chief Strategy Officer at Feeding San Diego and retired Naval Admiral. “Members of the armed forces and their families, as well as veterans, often face unique challenges. We applaud our partners for the services they provide and are honored to be able to provide food for them to get to those in need.”
Through its Feeding Heroes initiative, Feeding San Diego serves active-duty military families and veterans, providing nutritious food when it’s needed. To ensure that military families and veterans get the food assistance they need, Feeding San Diego works with 17 community partners, mostly other nonprofits who directly serve members of the military and veterans, to deliver fresh produce, dry goods, and frozen meat protein. Feeding San Diego’s community partners hold direct distributions for those they serve and also provide additional resources that address the unique challenges presented to those who serve or have served in the armed forces and their families.
To see a list of all dates and locations of food distributions dedicated to the military community in November, please visit feedingsandiego.org/feeding-heroes
Del Cerro property manager wins national award
The REME Awards are a celebration of the essential work that real estate managers and firms do each day—managing through crisis and uncertainty to make a difference in the lives of their tenants and community. IREM (Institute of Real Estate Management) recognizes their contributions and celebrates their achievements with the Real Estate Management Excellence (REME) Awards.
This year, IREM received 79 submissions across six categories for standout property managers and real estate management companies. Del Cerro resident Lucinda Lilley, vice president of FBS Property Management, AMO was chosen as the winner of the CPM (Certified Property Manager) of the Year award.
“I’m stunned and humbled to win this international honor,” said Lilley, who – in addition to her executive role at FBS Property Management – is president of the Southern California Rental Housing Association.
Lilley dreams of evolving the real estate management profession to become equally human-centric as well as profit-centric. To get there, she’s been leading her organization with people-driven management concepts that bring out the best in people, resulting in greater revenue generation.
FBS Property Management, AMO is an award-winning management company celebrating nearly 50 years of continuous property management operations in San Diego County. Our unique market niche was designed for thoughtful and strategic independent real estate owners. Likewise, as committed housing providers, we take great pride in helping residents find their next home! With two offices located in Del Cerro and Rancho Bernardo to better serve our communities. FBS has been an anchor in the Del Cerro Community sponsoring and supporting the Lake Murray Playground Project as well as the 4th of July Music Fest and Fireworks.
Award winners were announced and recognized during The Gala at the 2021 IREM Global Summit in Las Vegas, Nevada on Oct. 14.
