Associated Students of San Diego State University has been working hard to make sure that students and other community members have access to the food they need to do well in school and in life.

Aztecs Rock Hunger (ARH) is an annual campaign which was in full swing between Oct. 13 and Nov. 5.

With the goal of besting the $109,676 raised last year, event coordinators have been rallying campus student groups and university divisions in a friendly competition to collect non-perishable foods, monetary donations, and log volunteer service hours.

The amount of money raised during the 2023 ARH campaign will be announced during a highly anticipated “reveal” event on Dec. 4, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.in the Conrad Prebys Student Union. Similar to last year, the Registered Student Organization which has contributed the most money will also be receiving an award.

This year the CACC also got involved by donating directly to Aztecs Rock Hunger.

CACC board member, Jim Schneider, who is the executive director of the College Area Business District (CABD), took extra time to promote the event. He posted information on social media throughout the month and recruited four local businesses to support the fundraising effort by donating a percentage of their sales on a given day. The local businesses which donated portions of their sales were Cheba Hut, Corbin’s Q, The Cravory and Woodstock’s Pizza.

Melvin Ridley III is on the CACC Board as the representative of SDSU Associated Students (AS) and serves as the AS Vice President of External Relations. A political science major in his fourth year, he takes his leadership roles seriously and contributes a lot on and off campus.

“Bringing the community together is important,” he said, “as it shows that when people unite there isn’t anything they can’t accomplish.” He added, “Having a campaign like ARH is important because it not only helps address inequities in San Diego, but it also helps support our students directly on campus. As an executive officer for Associated Students, it is important to me that we are doing everything we can to support students through their educational journey.”

Since its inception in 2010, ARH has raised over $825,000. Donations will support three beneficiaries: the on-campus AS Food Pantry, The Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank and the SDSU Economic Crisis and Response Team.

Located on the second floor of the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union, the AS Food Pantry is in its eighth year of operation. It provides an average of 100,000 pounds of food to students each year, including eggs, milk and fresh produce. Last year, an estimated 1 in 4 students used the AS Food Pantry because of food and nutrition insecurity. The first being a lack of consistent access to food and the other, a lack of safe, nutritious and culturally acceptable food. The pantry is open to students three days a week for food and referrals to other food program resources.

Funds raised also go to support the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank which serves students and non-students living in the College Area and throughout San Diego.

According to Chris Carter, vice president of Communications, Marketing & Public Affairs, “All students will likely qualify to have access to any food distribution site and for emergency food assistance.” Food distribution sites in neighborhoods throughout the region can be found by going to sandiegofoodbank.org/gethelp.

In addition to the two direct service food sources, the ARH event dedicated 20% of its donated funds to support the SDSU Economic Crisis and Response Team. The ECRT helps students find the assistance they need to address food, housing or immediate, unforeseen financial crises.

The Aztecs Rock Hunger campaign is always a big success.

Successful in supporting students’ nutritional needs, so food insecurity doesn’t get in the way of their academic success.

Fincas Alvarado

Por KAREN AUSTIN

Earlier in the year, the San Diego Regional Fire Foundation awarded grant funds to the Alvarado Estates Fire Safe Council (AEFSC) to help address wildfire risks in the neighborhood and nearby gateway to College Area and SDSU.

The funds provide for a series of educational workshops to help residents learn about and implement proven strategies to reduce wildfire risks to themselves, their families, their pets and their properties. The Fire Foundation provides grants throughout San Diego County to support community fire prevention programs.

On Nov. 8, the AEFSC held its first Fire Preparedness Workshop for residents. Fire officials from San Diego Fire-Rescue and CAL FIRE took part in the workshop, giving their valuable professional support.

Captain Alma Lowry, a community resource officer with SDFR, talked with the group about how she models fire behavior and works to establish evacuation plans. Residents learned what to expect in the event of an evacuation, how to prepare well in advance for evacuation, about AE-specific routes, what to do when leaving the house, and so forth.

Captain Thomas Shoots from CAL FIRE guided the group in registering for various emergency notifications, sharing information and tools to make a household safety plan, suggesting typical items for a “GO-KIT” of emergency supplies, and showing the group ember resistant vents for homes which help prevent the entry of blowing embers into flammable interior spaces.

Anthony Tosca, Deputy Fire Chief/Fire Marshal for San Diego Fire-Rescue, planned to join the other officers, as well. He stated in an advance communication, “We’re looking forward to meeting with you and the community to discuss wildfire preparedness. Thanks for being proactive to make your community safer! It’s this type of collaboration and community engagement that we look forward to.”

This meeting helped refocus attention on the very important conversations and actions which are necessary to be well-prepared for inevitable wildfire … its not IF, but when!

College View Estates

By JEAN HOEGER

We were in full fun mode with our annual Progressive Dinner on Halloween weekend.

Over 80 community members gathered at one home for drinks, hors d’oeuvres and to meet old and new community members. We then moved on to private dinner homes in groups of about 6-8 people for more intimate conversations.

The night ended at the last home for desserts to die for and a Halloween costume contest.

Ken and Barbie were the clear winners, with Travis and Taylor coming in second. A couple of Waldos were also sighted. The weather was just perfect, with a full moon rising over the festivities.

Our Director of Children’s activities, Josette Alvarez, sponsored a family fun Halloween Pumpkin and Popsicles party, with a free pumpkin and ice cream treats for all from Cabetos Pops.

Mesa Colony

By SUSAN GRANT

Mesa Colony is celebrating the holiday season with Santa Claus this year.

He will be appearing at the College-Rolando Library located at 6600 Montezuma Road on the evening of Tuesday, Dec. 12.

We encourage families to bring their little ones for a chance to ask Santa for that special gift. He would love to have his picture taken with Mesa Colony kids and families and others from College Area and Rolando neighborhoods and beyond. For those who are interested in crafts, there will be plenty of fun crafts to engage in throughout the evening.

Contact the library for time and other updated information at: sandiego.gov/public-library/locations/college-rolando-library.

Mesa Colony will host an open house and cookie exchange in the community room.

We will serve hot apple cider, holiday punch and coffee as well as finger foods and treats. “Ugly Holiday Sweaters” are encouraged, but optional.

Anyone who wants to participate should bring two dozen of their favorite holiday cookies and we will make them available to swap with other guests for a nice sampling of other yummy family favorites. There will be plenty of paper plates and wrap so that each participant can have a nice variety of cookies to take home to enjoy.