Tag: charity

Ukrainian Festival adds joy to Balboa Park!

A lively, joyful celebration of Ukrainian culture was held today in San Diego. The House of Ukraine’s big Ukrainian Festival drew an enthusiastic crowd to the International Cottages in Balboa Park!

Several artists on the lawn smiled and showed their art for sale. A couple of booths raised money for charitable causes. Much of the money raised during the festival would go toward providing relief to war-torn Ukraine.

After grabbing authentic Ukrainian food, such as kovbasa sandwiches and varenyky, families sat on the lawn and watched folk dancing and listened to traditional music.

I took these photographs…

A big crowd gathered at Balboa Park’s International Cottages for the House of Ukraine’s 2023 lawn program.

Sales of treats at one table raised money for the Ukrainian School of San Diego.

Two smiling artists were selling great artwork with a Ukraine theme.

Cheerful artwork by Svitlana Ivasyuk includes sunflowers.

Fun artwork by Orysya Barua includes traditional Ukrainian dress.

The next two people you see were raising money to help Ukraine during its present difficulties.

On the left is Daniel Bondarenko, who was promoting Healing Scalpel. The organization is sending medical supplies to Ukrainian field hospitals during the war.

On the right is artist Kateryna Marchuk. Sales of her art go to emergency supplies for Ukraine. Check out her fine art here.

People walk around the House of Ukraine cottage.

Signs around the cottage concern the invasion of Ukraine and the defense of Freedom.

A big line waits to purchase Ukrainian food during the festival.

Lots of tasty items on the menu!

Some crafts and souvenirs for sale. Money raised helps Ukraine.

House of Ukraine’s rock band u3zubmusic performs before the 2 o’clock cultural program begins.

Chamber Music Ensemble of the University of San Diego performs the Ukrainian National Anthem and other traditional songs on stage.

Here come the folk dancers! They are the Chervona Kalyna Ukrainian Dance Group out of Los Angeles.

Performing a joyful Welcoming Dance.

A hospitable welcome includes a big loaf of bread!

Young people dressed as Cossacks arrive.

Ukrainians love dancing!

The audience is then treated to traditional Bandura music.

Soulful singing during the 2023 Ukrainian Festival in San Diego!

…

Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)!

Real superheroes fight human trafficking!

Wearing a superhero costume is fun. But would you like to become a genuine superhero?

Help spread the word about human trafficking and join the effort to end it!

I met several superheroes today at Comic-Con who are doing just that. They are informing people that human trafficking is a serious problem in San Diego.

What is human trafficking? The SAFE San Diego website explains: Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery where perpetrators profit from the sexual exploitation and/or forced labor of men, women and children. It is a violation of basic human rights, and it is also a crime as defined by U.S. federal law and California state law. Furthermore, San Diego was identified by the FBI as of the top 13 high intensity child prostitution areas.

This same website explains how to identify possible human trafficking and what you should do if you spot it. It’s good to be informed, because you never know.

Please visit the SAFE San Diego website and spend a minute or two learning what you can. And spread the word! You’ll become a real superhero!

You may end up saving someone’s life.

If you expand the following image, you should be able to read it…

…

I’m covering Comic-Con again this year. To see all my current and past blog posts concerning Comic-Con, click here and scroll down!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

Young person’s concert in Balboa Park to help homeless!

Eva Mather, young vocalist, singer and actress, will be performing in San Diego at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park on Friday, November 24, 2023. Her concert will benefit a project that helps those who are homeless.

Today she sang the National Anthem at Balboa Park’s International Cottages, as the “Independence Day of United States of America” program began. Her powerful voice soared.

Eva has performed at diverse events around San Diego–most recently at the San Diego County Fair. She is also a Princess representing the House of China of the House of Pacific Relations International Cottages.

Youthful optimism, energy and ambition will be taking the stage! Why not make a note on your calendar?

…

Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

Free expert help finding your lost dog!

I ran into some cool people today during a Balboa Park walk. An organization called A Way Home For Dogs was out on the grass by the Centro Cultural de la Raza with some happy rescue dogs. I learned A Way Home For Dogs specializes in pet recovery. They help recover, reunite, rehabilitate and rehome lost dogs.

A Way Home For Dogs offers FREE help to get your pet back home, including important advice from Babs Fry, an expert animal tracker who founded the organization. She’s an honest-to-goodness pet detective!

This nonprofit has been featured many times on television and in newspaper articles. (TODAY Show and New York Post included!) The San Diego Humane Society features an article concerning Babs.

If your furry friend is missing and you want some free expert help, or simply want to learn more, check out the A Way Home For Dogs website here!

…

Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

Help end hunger: plant a vegetable garden!

Would you like to begin a project at home that is fun and beneficial to others in need? Why not plant a vegetable garden, grow healthy produce and donate your harvest to a local food bank?

I was walking through the Garden Show at the San Diego County Fair when I came upon a “Homegrown Hunger Relief” display. I stopped to read what that meant.

The organization Healthy Day Partners works to feed the hungry with healthy food, and encourages the creation of home and school gardens. They offer gardening workshops, and support a number of different hunger relief programs.

Healthy Day Partners has collaborated with San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) to plant fruit trees in many communities throughout San Diego County.

They also offer Grab & Grow Gardens to aid people grow their own food. A small selection of vegetable and/or herb seedlings are handed out in an easy to carry bag, along with instructions in English and Spanish.

Sounds like a good thing? Check out the Healthy Day Partners website and perhaps become involved by clicking here!

…

Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

San Diego’s biggest Rummage Sale all weekend!

Attention shoppers! And treasure hunters!

San Diego’s largest Rummage Sale is taking place all this weekend in Balboa Park! You’ll find it in the Activity Center at 2145 Park Boulevard, to be exact.

It’s the annual Thursday Club Rummage Sale!

The Thursday Club is a local volunteer-driven non-profit that’s over a century old. They raise money for a variety of San Diego charities, including deserving organizations in Balboa Park. Here’s their website, where you can learn more about the Thursday Club and this year’s Rummage Sale!

I swung by the sale early this morning and encountered a huge line to get inside. When I returned at noon–no line at all!

Should you head over to the sale tomorrow–Sunday–everything is half off! So instead of the two DVDs/Blue-rays for one dollar that filled my bag, you can get four for a dollar! Are you kidding me? Awesome!

There’s clothing, artwork, appliances, electronics, collectibles, furniture…

You might want to check it out! Who knows what you’ll find?

You’ll get a nice smile, too!

See the next photograph for the Rummage Sale times…

…

Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

Donate online to help burn victims!

San Diego firefighters are out at busy intersections today collecting donations for the Burn Institute. Drivers roll down windows and place a bill or two into a firefighter’s boot! The annual event is called Fill the Boot!

The Burn Institute, serving San Diego and Imperial County, provides important services for those who’ve suffered from burns, and they provide fire safety education in the community.

Would you like to make a donation? Haven’t passed through an intersection with friendly firefighters this morning? Then donate online!

Make your online donation at the Burn Institute website by clicking here!

…

Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

House of Turkey raises earthquake relief funds.

The House of Turkey in Balboa Park is now raising earthquake relief funds. I learned this today as I walked through the International Cottages.

According to a House of Turkey flyer, one hundred percent of the money donated will go toward the earthquake relief effort, which includes providing life saving supplies.

If you’d like to help, click here.

…

Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

Young Marines help feed the hungry on Veterans Day.

Today, Veterans Day, a Celebration of Service was held at the Veterans Museum at Balboa Park.

Several local organizations from around San Diego came together during the event to engage in service projects that help the community.

When I arrived at the museum in the early afternoon, I noticed that hard-working Young Marines were helping Feeding San Diego to assemble Thanksgiving boxes.

Every box makes a complete Thanksgiving dinner, minus a turkey. Those who are hungry during the holiday season will greatly appreciate the kindness of others.

The Veterans Day event is part of the #ThanksToVeterans Tour, which has traveled across the United States to celebrate the service and contributions of Veterans.

…

Thank you for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

I post new blogs pretty often, so you might want to bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and check back from time to time.

You can explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on this website’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There’s a lot of stuff to share and enjoy!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

Geek culture helps military veterans!

Some very cool people are helping military veterans by bringing them the joys of geek culture and video gaming.

Stack Up is the name of the organization. They have a table outside Comic-Con, near the “pirate ship” behind the San Diego Convention Center.

Serving far from home or coming back into civilian life can be difficult for veterans. I’m sure you’ve heard the stories in the news. Or you have friends or family with experience. Feelings of isolation. Anxiety. Depression. Or worse.

Stack Up provides these veterans with community and fun!

They send video games to deployed troops; they offer veterans trips to cool geek culture events; they engage in community outreach; and they provide mental health support through online community.

It’s a uniquely awesome way to help those who’ve sacrificed.

If you want to learn more about Stack Up, and perhaps get connected, or help them out, click here!

If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!

…

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!