Community Corner

Poway Gives Back: From Free Dictionaries to Thanksgiving Dinner Invitations

Poway gives back again this week with free dictionaries, shopping trips for underprivileged children, flu shots and Thanksgiving dinner for international students.

By Bill Stoudenmire

It is an annual event for the Rotary Clubs in District 5340, from Fallbrook to the border and out to Blythe: a shiny new dictionary is given to every third-grade student in the district.

The Rotary Club of Poway-Scripps began its deliveries last Thursday at Garden Road Elementary in Poway. Club President Dan Brenner demonstrated to the students how words can be downloaded directly into the brain without batteries or a password. Although you can't play games on them, you can play games with them.

This week it's on to Tierra Bonita Elementary as well as Pomerado, Morning Creek and Los Penasquitos for the Poway-Scripps club. 

Holiday With Heroes

The 4th annual shopping event at the Poway Walmart, put on by the Kiwanis Club of Poway, is Thursday, Dec. 12, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. 

Last year 57 local underprivileged students were matched with Marines from our adopted 1st LAR at Camp Pendleton, and with sailors, police officers and firefighters. The adults took the children through the Walmart store and helped them select presents for their families.

Each child was given a $100 gift card to spend. After shopping, the children wrapped their presents, visited with Santa, completed arts and crafts projects and enjoyed a hamburger dinner.

To learn more about this year's event visit www.powaykiwanis.org

Got Flu?

'Tis the season. No, I mean the flu season. Palomar Health Seasonal Influenza Community Vaccination Clinics are underway.

The 2013-14 vaccine will protect against the three influenza viruses that research says will be most common this season. It takes two weeks for protection to develop after the shot. It lasts six months to a year.

Those nine years of age and older can receive a shot for a fee of $20. Medicare is accepted.

Remaining clinics are this Friday, Nov. 22, from noon to 3 p.m.; Wednesday, Dec. 4, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.; Monday, Dec. 9, from noon to 2 p.m.; and Thursday, Jan. 2, from noon to 2 p.m. All are in the lobby of Pomerado Hospital, located at 15615 Pomerado Road.

Visit www.palomarhealth.org for more information.

UC San Diego Thanksgiving Exchange

Last year 46 families treated 80 UC San Diego international students to a home-cooked Thanksgiving dinner and a one-of-a-kind opportunity to learn more about each other's cultures and to make new friends.

Thanksgiving is on Thursday, Nov. 28 this year. Want to share your bounty and give back as a host family? Log on to http://bit.ly/UCSDThanksgivingHost.


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