Poway Gives Back: Feeding the Elderly Poor and Adopting Cats

By Bill Stoudenmire

Some 50,000 San Diego County seniors from North County to the border live in poverty with inadequate aid to provide for their most basic needs. That's why nonprofit The Angel's Depot was founded in 2005, its mission to provide food for our elderly poor and improve the quality of their lives.

According to Director of Community Relations, Rick Cunningham, who spoke to Poway Rotary Wednesday, the average monthly income of the seniors Angel's Depot serves is $765. Much of that goes for rent, prescription medications and other necessities. By the middle of the month they're going hungry.

These are men and women of generations who fought wars, paid taxes, and built this country. They're proud and find it difficult to ask for help.

The Angel's Depot “Senior Food-For-A-Week” 21-meal Emergency Food Box Program provides specially formulated meals that meet their nutrition needs and relieves the anxiety of food insecurity. It's three meals a day for seven days, which they can easily make last for a longer period of time.

Here's how you can help. Between now and August 31, donate non-perishable foods like cereal, pasta, rice, dried beans, bottled cooking oil, spaghetti sauce, canned tuna, cake mixes and cookies at Chicken Pie Diner, 14727 Pomerado Road in Poway by Target.

You can also donate money ($25 pays for a food box) and become a volunteer. Call Fern Wood-Mosley at 858-565-2499. The website is www.theangelsdepot.org. Coming in September, it's a “Goin' Fishin'” for canned tuna contest in which you can win a prize.

Are You Prepared for a Wildfire?

It has been an especially bad wildfire season. If a serious fire happens here will you be caught off-guard?

You're invited to a free Poway Neighborhood Emergency Corps meeting on wildfire preparedness Thursday, September 5, 7 p.m., at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 14211 Twin Peaks Road. Learn how to prepare your home and plan and practice an evacuation.

Visit www.PowayNEC.com to learn more.

Cat Wranglers Needed

The Escondido Humane Society's first ever Cat Bonanza Adoption is Saturday, August 31, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Escondido Petco store, 1000 West Valley Parkway. It's a great opportunity to find loving, forever homes for EHS felines.

Adoptions are conducted on site. Your help is needed to transport cats and kittens, handle felines at the event and talk with potential adopters. If you're interested email cindys@escondidohumanesociety.org or call 760-888-2235.

We Have A Parade!

The 49th Poway Days Parade, Saturday, September 7, presented by the Rotary Club of Poway-Scripps, is now two weeks away and the parade committee, headed by Pauline Getz, has done amazing work in a short time. With 75 floats at this moment and some 1,200 participants set to go, we definitely have a parade. Over 100 runners for the 5K and walk have registered.

We are almost at our fundraising goal of $30,000. It's now down to the details. What do we need? You! Volunteers are needed along the parade route, for the 5K and Walk in The Park, for the sponsor breakfast, cleanup and various other tasks. Please volunteer to help.

Log on to www.powayparade.org and check out who is participating this year on our Facebook page. See you September 7.