Poway Gives Back: Padres Luncheon, Cell Phones for Soldiers & Typhoon Relief

By Bill Stoudenmire

Save the date! The 17th annual Padres Spring Training Kickoff Luncheon, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Poway Foundation, will be held at noon on Friday, Feb. 7, in the Holy Family Center at St. Michaels Catholic Church in Poway.

This popular event drew nearly 350 fans last year. It features preseason comments from San Diego Padres staff and players, live and silent auctions, music and a barbecue lunch. 

Padres radio broadcaster Ted Leitner will serve as this year's emcee. Poway City Councilman Jim Cunningham, who is also a Kiwanis member, will be the auctioneer.

Individual tickets are $40 and can be purchased online at www.powaykiwanis.org. Sponsored tables are also available. Call 760-805-9100.

Cell Phones for Soldiers

The Poway Kiwanis Club is also busy collecting used cell phones for soldiers again this year. 

If Techno-Santa brought you a new one for Christmas, drop off your old cell phone at special “Cell Phones for Soldiers” collection boxes at Poway High, Twin Peaks Middle School, Painted Rock Elementary, Village Mail and other locations. Please remember to remove the battery and SIM card.

Recycled cell phones are magically turned into calling cards and are given to military members serving overseas.

Help for Philippines Storm Victims

Volunteers for the 58th Friends & Family Community Connection food packaging event provided help, this past Sunday, for victims of Typhoon Haiyan, which effected 4.3 million people in 36 provinces of the Philippines. More than 340,000 have been displaced. Sunday's packaging event was held at Westview High School on Camino Del Sur.

FFCC will be sending volunteers, food, water filters and over the counter medications. Donations can be sent to FFCC, 12463 Rancho Bernardo Road, PMB #158, San Diego, CA 92129.

Poway Chamber Tax Program

The Poway Chamber of Commerce is presenting the basics of sales and use tax at a "lunch and learn" this Wednesday, Jan. 8, in the chamber office at 13381 Poway Rd., from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. 

Guest speaker Cynthia Suero-Gablen, Disctrict Outreach Specialist from the California State Board of Equalization, District 3, will explain how to maintain adequate records, taxable and nontaxable labor, resale certificates, how to find publications and more.

It's open to members as well as non-members. Admission includes lunch, provided by Jersey Mike's, and is $10 for members and $15 for non-members. Call 858-748-0016 or visit www.poway.com.