Chair: Jane Helmer and Co-Chair: Steve Balch
Meets: First Friday of the month, after the Club meeting in the meeting room at the UCSD Faculty Club, 9500 Gilman Drive MC 0121, La Jolla, CA 92093.   (Date is subject to change. Members, please confirm with committee chair)
 
Community Service offers club members the opportunity to improve the quality of life in our local communities. LJGT Rotary Club has implemented a variety of local service projects that help our neighbors overcome challenges, address basic needs, and enhance their quality of life.
 
      
Following are examples of the types of projects undertaken by our Community Service Committee:
 
Boys and Girls Club: 
We provide and help stuff the backpacks. For many San Diego children, going back to school can be overwhelming. Not having the necessary school supplies or clothes can put an enormous amount of stress on parents and their children. The goal of this project is to collect 1000 backpacks for families who cannot afford to purchase the back-to-school basics.
 
The CSC team helps on collection day in accepting donations from the public. The team also helps packing the backpacks with the school supplies and then the distribution to the children. Back to School 2020 is likely to be a very different process so our financial donation will help the Club in achieving the same results using a different delivery method that they are still working on.
 
For many San Diego children, going back to school can be overwhelming. Not having the necessary school supplies or clothes can put an enormous amount of stress on parents and their children. The goal of this project is to collect 1000 backpacks for families who cannot afford to purchase the back-to-school basics.
 
CCSA Holiday Baskets: 
The Christian Community Service Association identifies needy families in our community.   We provide funds to purchase food at the holiday time for the Adopt-A-Family Gift Basket program.  Several Rotarians shop for the food and gift cards that are provided to these adopted families.  Each adopted family receives a basket containing non-perishable food along with a gift card or two*** View Holiday Baskets photo album ***
 
Canyon Cleanup: 
On 12-10-22, a group of LJGTRC members, organized by Dory Beatrice, met to clean up the canyon paths in City Heights. *** View Canyon Cleanup photo album ***
 
 
 
 
 
 
Just in Time (JIT) for Foster Youth: 
On May 11, 2024, our club members helped foster youth shop for Their First Home by buying and shopping for home goods, and then moving the goods to their first home.  Working directly with the young adults we were able to help guide them to what essentials are needed for their first home.  It was rewarding for our volunteers to help launch young people that do not have parental support.  JIT also offers mentoring, college and vocational connections, financial assistance, counseling and life skills classes to young people that exit the foster care system as adults. ***View Just in Time photo album***
 
St. Paul's Veterans Housing: 
This project provides furniture for several rooms occupied by Military Vets who are very appreciative to have a place to live that is completely furnished.
 
Project Mercy: 
The La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club invited UCSD Rotaract to help coordinate the event and participate the day of. We built a house in the colonias of Tijuana, Mexico for a needy family.
 
Ronald McDonald House:
The Ronald McDonald House provides shelter for the parents of children hospitalized at Rady’s Children Hospital, usually for a prolonged period of time with serious illnesses. The donation that we give will pay for one meal for the parents and siblings of these children. We always enjoy preparing and serving the meal for these loving parents. 
*** View the Ronald MacDonal House photo album and the 2022 Ronald McDonald House photo album ***
 
 
 
Red Shoe Day
On 5-25-24 Rotarians and friends of the La Jolla Golden Triangle, under the direction of Father Wayne and Brett Morey, met on the corner of La Jolla Village Drive and Executive Way to hustle motorists for donations to support Red Shoe Day, which in turn supports the Ronald MacDonald House in San Diego. The money raised was to help families who have kids at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego.  *** View the Red Shoe Day photo album for 2024. ***
 
 
Salvation Army Door of Hope Easter Baskets (2024):
On March 22, 2024, a group of Rotarians under the direction of Ellen Bryson met at the Salvation Army, Door of Hope to assemble Easter Baskets for the children and families..  *** View the Salvation Army Door of Hope Easter Baskets photo album for 2024. ***
 
Salvation Army Door of Hope Easter Baskets (2023):
On March 31, 2023, a group of Rotarians under the direction of Ellen Bryson met at the Salvation Army, Door of Hope to assemble Easter Baskets for the children and families. A sum of $1,000 was also donated to buy supplies for the baskets.  *** View the Salvation Army Door of Hope Easter Baskets photo album for 2023. ***
 
Salvation Army Door of Hope Easter Baskets (2022):
On April 5th, 2022, under the direction of Ellen Bryson, LJGT Rotary Club provided funds and support to create over 100 Easter baskets for the women and children living at the Door of Hope.  The Salvation Army, Door of Hope provides a transitional living center for homeless women and children. Supportive services include parenting, budgeting, career counseling, personal hygiene and nutrition, self-awareness, anger management and prevention of domestic abuse and substance abuse.  *** View the Salvation Army Door of Hope Easter Baskets photo album for 2022. ***
 
San Diego Food Bank:
We came together (Rotaracts and Rotarians) in large numbers from both of our clubs to box tens of thousands of pounds of food for malnourished children and the elderly in south San Diego.
 
San Diego Humane Society:
On October 30, 2021 the Club, under the direction of Nancy Gatschet, funded the purchase of 325 lbs of dry cat food and 180 cans of wet food. We bagged the food for distribution to families who can't afford to feed their cats. We had so much fun, and really enjoyed the tour of the facilities - especially the kitten nursery!  *** View the photo album of this project. ***
 
San Diego Literacy Council:
The Literacy project is in its 4th year. Our Club donates new or gently used children's books to the San Diego Literacy Council. The Council then distributes the books to adults who are taking classes at the Literacy Council and learning to read . This motivates them to start reading to their children and helps them start their own family library. Also some of the books are distributed to schools in the more disadvantaged neighborhoods of San Diego to the children to keep for their own library. The Council has set up free libraries in some food banks. To date we have purchased and donated over 4,000 Children's books.
 
San Diego Oasis:
San Diego Oasis offers more than 3,000 classes throughout San Diego County each year to help seniors stay engaged mentally, physically, and emotionally. For many older San Diegans, Oasis is a home away from home.    In addition, it attacks illiteracy by bringing two generations together. Since 1987, San Diego Oa-sis has recruited and trained thousands of older adults to serve as volunteer literacy tutors for at-risk children in grades K through 3rd.    Over the years La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club, has engaged in several projects ranging from painting classrooms/common areas to providing capital equipment to donating books
 
Therapeutic Horsemanship / Upward Bound:
We take children from the USD Upward Bound Program to Therapeutic Horsemanship. They shovel sand, clean tack, walk horses, and help with lessons for the morning , then we feed them lunch and facility teaches them to ride. Some of these children have never seen or been on a horse.
 
Ukranian Refugee Fundraiser
La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club was one of several sponsors that helped with a fundraiser for the Ukrainian Refugees hosted by AMNA Sanctuary at La Jolla Congregational Church on March 11, 2023. Participants from the club at the fundraiser were Jan Bernardy, Christy White, Janine Pack, Chris Muhart and Carol Tohsaku. The Club gathered Women’s Toiletries and Clothing to be donated. Overall, it was a great project and a heart warming experience.
 
 
 
Urban Street Angels:
On 02-25-24, a group of club members under the direction of Jacquie Reilly,  went to Urban Street Angels to serve food to the youths and present them with a check for $1,000.  Urban Street Angels is a fantastic non-profit helping transition-age youths (TAY), 18-25 years old starting a new life.  Most of their clients have experienced years if abuse, trauma, and harsh conditions while living on the streets.  In order to be successful, their motto requires carefully rebuilding the bonds of trust, and providing hope along the way.  In their programs, homeless TAY receive housing, support, training and the confidence necessary to leave the streets behind for good.  *** View the photo albums of this project. 2023 and 2024 ***
 
Veterans Hospital Visitation:
The Spinal Cord Injuries and Disorders (SCI/D) Center at VA San Diego provides care to Veterans and active duty personnel with SCI/D in San Diego and Imperial Counties, Arizona, and Southern Nevada. For nearly 10 years, LJGT Rotarians have been serving a quarterly dinner to these brave men and women. Camaraderie and good times are enjoyed by participants and patients alike.
 
Wreaths Across America: 
Rotarians, led by Jacquie Riley, put wreaths in the graves of fallen service members at Miramar National Cemetery. *** View Wreaths Across America photo album ***
 
 
 
 
 
YMCA OZ: 
YMCA OZ provides safe houses for troubled teens.  Teens stay at the home for 2-3 week periods.  They receive individual and family counseling .  Our crew of 15-20 volunteers decorate two YMCA OZ homes for the holiday season and help with holiday card making.  We also provide funds for a holiday dinner, gifts and movie tickets. *** View the YMCA OZ photo album. ***
 
YMCA Tides Program: 
Organized by Jim Davies, La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club hosted a YMCA Tides program family party in December 2022*** View the YMCA Tides photo album. ***