Once in a while we need to step back from real estate and perceive the larger world around us. In San Diego County, there are tens of thousands of people living below the poverty level. Many thousands are lacking food every day. In the past, Kris and I have spent time helping to serve food to some of these less fortunate people. It was heartbreaking to see people of all ages, including families with small children, needing assistance. We don’t do enough.
So when Kris suggested that we tap into one of our greatest resources, our Scripps Ranch community, to help, my first thought was, how? Hence, the 1st Annual Scripps Ranch Food Drive was born. We have teamed up with a great organization, Second Harvest San Diego Food Bank which is headed up by Gary McDonald, one of our own Scripps Ranch neighbors. Last Saturday, we arranged for the delivery of 4,000 food drive bags to homes in Scripps Ranch Villages. We know that there are more than 11,000 homes and condos here, but this is a start.
(Kris showing off the hottest fashion accessory of the season for Scripps Ranch residents, made from recycled paper, of course.)
Instructions on the bags simply ask that you fill them up with non-perishable canned foods and place the bags curbside by 9:00 AM next Saturday, April 19th. Along with our own team (including Daughter Emily and friends), we have enlisted volunteers from Scripps Ranch High School to help us with the collection effort. Hopefully, we will be retrieving many, many bags filled to the brim. Second Harvest San Diego Food Bank will be picking up the donations from our Prudential California Realty Scripps Ranch office later in the day and transporting them to their warehouse for distribution.
This effort will certainly not save the world. It’s just one little thing we can do as a community to help be part of the solution.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Steve Berg is Broker/Owner of San Diego Castles Realty. He is an awesome agent and an all-around great guy. When he is not dazzling clients, he contributes the occasional article here. 
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There is no better place to give than in your own community. Good for you for taking action.
No one can save the world, we can all just make the area around us a little better. What a great idea – I like you guys even more now!!!! Keep up the good fight…:)
Wade and Tara – Thanks for the vote of confidence. Sometimes we need a time-out from the day-to-day stuff to appreciate what we have and what others don’t. We are hopeful of a great response from the community.
Steve and Kris,
I distinctly remember what you said to me one day after working at the homeless shelter – that many of the people you served were just like you and me. People who, through a series of perhaps random misfortunes, were suddenly without food and shelter. Shocking, but true. I am so proud of you both – with the incredible time constraints that you have – that you still take the time to care for others. We are all beneficiaries of the example you set. The Colonel would be so proud.
Susan Berg Zuckerman
I truly believe that we can judge character by unselfish demonstrations like what you guys are doing. You make the real estate industry proud. Congratulations!
Susi – Your right about the Colonel, but he would have loved to have been there to “coordinate” the effort.
Ines – Thank you. Unofficially we collected over half a ton of food donations yesterday (Saturday). Scripps Ranch really came through! Kris will no doubt post the official amount once we have it.
What was the final tally?
Huh. My anti-spam word is dinner….
Jay – We are going to do a post as soon as all of our volunteers get their pictures to me. We distributed about 4000 bags and collected, with the help of our community and high school volunteers, about 3/4 of a ton of food. (They are still weighing the donations which continue to come in.) The Second Harvest truck was completely full. Next year, we plan on doubling the effort. In short, we saw an amazing outpouring from the community, and what was the culmination of months of planning turned out to be a huge success! It really underscores the generosity of people, just in case we ever tend to doubt it.
Thanks for asking.
Kris and Steve – my kudos to you on a project that appears to have been highly success. It is truly wonderful to see people give back to their community. The project was an immense project and required significant coordination. Many would not have taken on the responsibility.
Hopefully other people in the blogsphere will read about you did and follow your lead.
Steve and Kris,
It is wonderful to see you giving back. We expect nothing less of consummate professionals like yourselves but to be gracious to the community that has done much for you. Excellent work on organizing such a monumental effort. God Bless you and may your Food Drive be a huge success.