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Poway Gives Back: 'Paws' Walk, Soldiers & Fruit for Families

In this week's Poway Gives Back, find out how to help soldiers and local families in need.

ESCONDIDO HUMANE SOCIETY SETS “PAWS” DATE

Mark your calendar! The annual Escondido Humane Society fundraising walk around Kit Carson Park, known as Paws in the Park, is set for Palm Sunday, March 24. It's the largest walk in North San Diego to help raise funds and awareness for dogs in need. Enjoy a day of good company, contests, entertainment, shopping, food, games and more. Fun for the whole family, especially your four-legged kids. My boy Bear is so excited he's already pacing around the car. 

This year you can create your own online webpage to make it easy for your friends to sponsor you. Can't make it on March 24? Be a “virtual” walker using the webpage. There are incentive prizes based on dollars raised. Register on line before Feb. 1 and be in a drawing for a gift basket of pet goodies. Here's where to register.

Find out what's happening in Powaywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

CELL PHONES FOR SOLDIERS

The holidays are over but the Poway Kiwanis Club is still able to turn your old, unwanted cell phones into 120-minute calling cards for soldiers overseas. There are collection boxes in Poway and in Rancho Bernardo. You are asked to please remove the SIM card and battery before dropping off your phones. In Poway, collection boxes are at the Hamburger Factory on Midland, at Jimmy's Brick Pit BBQ, 14034 Poway Rd., and at several schools including Twin Peaks Middle, Tierra Bonita Elementary and Painted Rock Elementary.

Find out what's happening in Powaywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

BACKYARD PRODUCE

The recent rains are making all your growing things happy. Don't let your homegrown fruits and vegetable rot and attract unwanted pests. There are neighbors in Poway who need them for their table and can't afford to buy them. Backyard Produce will collect the fruits and vegetables and the Friends and Family Food Connection will make sure they get to the families who need them. Collection days are the fourth Thursday of every month (Jan. 24) from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Connection Church on Twin Peaks in Poway, and at Seven Oaks Community Center, 16789 Bernardo Oaks Dr. in RB. 

If you have one fruit tree, chances are you have five or more and not enough time to pick and box them. No problem. Call Jane at 858-485-5449 and she'll arrange to send a team to pick it for you and haul it away. You can email her at jradatz@att.net. Thanks for giving back.

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