CACC candidate forum

 On Friday, Jan. 24, the College Area Community Council (CACC) will host a candidate forum. 

CACC chair Jose Reynoso said that he has invited every candidate for local, state and federal office that serves the College Area. The forum will allow all the candidates that decide to participate a chance to introduce themselves to the community and take questions from residents.

This is your opportunity to find out where the candidates stand on issues and concerns and make informed decisions. “Please join us,” reads a CACC flyer for the event. The CACC candidate forum will take place on Jan. 24, 6-9 p.m. at Faith Presbyterian Church, 5075 Campanile Drive.

 
Community service day at Tubman

Harriett Tubman Charter is holding a campus beautification event on Saturday, Jan. 18, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Everyone is welcome to come. 

The Mission Continues is planning on creating a large mural on the main building wall facing Saranac Street. They will also be working on outdoor classrooms on the patio and garden/dirt area facing 69th Street. 

Additionally, Starbucks has agreed to sponsor and partner with The Mission Continues for this event and according to The Mission Continues project manager, will most likely be bringing anywhere from 50-200 volunteers to the campus. 

For this project, volunteers can help paint, garden and build benches, a gazebo, etc. Overall, it’s a great opportunity to network with the different nonprofit organizations in the community. 

Homeless count seeks volunteers

 The Regional Task Force on the Homeless conducts an annual count and survey of homeless individuals throughout San Diego County called We All Count for a one-day snapshot of where the region’s unsheltered neighbors are living. This is an engaged count to meet them where they are at.

San Diego County’s annual Point-in-Time Count campaign helps the Regional Task Force to better understand the state of homelessness in our region in order to help individuals, veterans and families leave the streets. This year, that day is Thursday, Jan. 23. Volunteers meet starting at 3:30 a.m. and head out for counting from 4-8 a.m. at most deployment sites. 

This effort has involved 1,600 volunteers countywide in the past, but this year, more volunteers are being requested for a thorough count. Organizers describe the volunteer experience as “a great way to serve the community as it gives a voice to them and helps direct critical funding for housing and services.”

To sign up, visit the Regional Task Force on the Homeless page for We All Count at bit.ly/35kQYTO.

For questions, reach out to [email protected].

Type O blood at ‘critical levels’

San Diego Blood Bank is asking those who have never given blood and those who haven’t given blood recently, and have Type O blood, to donate blood immediately. Supplies of O-positive and O-negative blood are at critically low levels.

Type O-positive is the most common blood type, and therefore needed by many hospital patients, while Type O-negative is the universal blood type and can be given to any patient, and is often used in emergency rooms when there is no time to determine the blood type of the patient.

“Coming out of the holiday season, we typically see a decrease in donations of all types at this time due to schools being out of session for the holidays and seasonal illnesses like the flu,” said David Wellis, San Diego Blood Bank CEO. “The need for Type O blood has hit a critically low level and we need the community to help us keep a safe supply for local hospital patients.” 

San Diego Blood Bank has six donor centers throughout San Diego County and bloodmobiles out in the community, making it convenient to donate.

To be eligible to donate blood, you must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 114 pounds and be in general good health. Anyone who is eligible to donate blood and has O-negative or O-positive type blood is encouraged to make an appointment immediately at SanDiegoBloodBank.org or by calling 1-800-4MY-SDBB. Walk-ins are also welcome.