It’s a rainy, gloomy morning. Young and old walk through Mission Valley to school and to work.
Be someone’s sunshine! You can make a big difference!
During my walk to work, I saw some unselfish people at a busy San Diego intersection collecting donations for Rady Children’s Hospital. They were trying to fill their bucket with love! The rain couldn’t stop them! I saw nothing but smiles!
Rady Children’s Hospital has saved thousands upon thousands of young lives. It’s where kids with the most serious, life-threatening diseases go for a good chance at a full life. It’s one of the top children’s hospitals in the nation.
Out in the middle of a busy intersection, in the rain, one of several unselfish volunteers collects donations for a good cause.A smile in the rain. Please support Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego, where very sick kids get better. Everyone should have a full life.
The generous people of WE EMPOWER HER offered free food today to anyone passing by. Their mission is to help create a compassionate world.
Please give these good people a moment of your time. I learned about the WE EMPOWER HER effort during my walk this morning along San Diego’s Embarcadero. The organization fights domestic violence and sex trafficking by planting seeds of kindness and compassion in the world. They also offer free mentoring and counseling. As their literature states: You have the Right to be treated with Respect.
Unfortunately, San Diego has a very big human trafficking problem. I suppose it’s our proximity to the world’s busiest border crossing.
The modest event today near Seaport Village had the theme of feeding the hungry. Their Facebook event description states: Let us inspire each other and create a compassionate world.
Sounds wise to me!
Please check out the WE EMPOWER HER Facebook page, and possibly help these people in your own way to do good and help others!
Together we can create a world full of love–a world without violence.Human generosity, inspiring courage and confidence. The good people of WE EMPOWER HER, setting a wonderful example for us all.
Many people in San Diego County, unfortunately, are hungry. Food collected during this special holiday food drive will be distributed to soup kitchens, pantries, shelters and schools.
If you’re in or around La Jolla, today I learned about a holiday food drive with nearby drop-off locations. The Heart to Hands Food Drive San Diego is run by Candi DeMoura, who has raised 2776 pounds of food in the past 3 years. Wow!
Please visit her San Diego Food Drive website. It lists the types of food that are accepted. There are several places to drop off food, including the La Jolla Farmers Market and Coldwell Banker on Prospect Street.
Together we can work to beat hunger in San Diego!
Heart to Hands Food Drive San Diego supports people in need. You can help! Visit the website to learn how! (Click this image to enlarge the flyer so that you can read it.)
Marines stand at pedestrian entrance to Navy Pier, welcoming people to the Toys For Tots event by the USS Midway Museum.
Most of you reading Cool San Diego Sights probably can’t make it out to the Toys for Tots event today. It’s being held in downtown San Diego, on the pier next to the USS Midway Museum. But if you’d like to make a charitable donation to the cause, please go the Toys for Tots website.
I headed on down to Navy Pier for a few minutes to see what was going on. Not only did I spy Santa and Mrs. Claus, but a dancing green elf, and some very generous people. Toys collected (and donations made) help less fortunate children to have a Merry Christmas. Thank you United States Marine Corps!
Toys and donations are being collected by San Diego Marines next to the USS Midway. Santa will be parachuting onto the aircraft carrier throughout the day!This funky elf is present to lend a helping hand and a laugh or two!Donated toys will fill this United States Marine Corps truck. A banner on its side commemorates the Marine Corps Reserve Centennial.Santa and Mrs. Claus are visiting again for the toy drive! I saw them here a year ago!San Diego Marines collect toys for the less fortunate, to be distributed by charitable organizations during Christmas.
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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!
Serving others. Expressing true compassion with more than words: with actual deeds. Having a purpose that is larger than oneself.
I know quite a few people who are fundamentally unhappy. Of course, they are all self-centered.
Perhaps they should look beyond their own nose and think of others.
Here are some photographic examples of true love. These and hundreds of other unselfish volunteers gladly took to the streets of San Diego this morning to collect donations for Ronald McDonald House.
Ronald McDonald House offers families a place to stay near specialized hospitals where young children are battling life-threatening illnesses. Every year, about 1,400 families, who are undergoing unspeakable stress and worry, and possibly financial hardship, are freely given a place to stay and good meals to eat. Now that is love.
It’s too late this year to roll down your car window and drop some money into a big red shoe. But you can donate online here!
One of many unselfish volunteers who took to the streets of San Diego this morning, collecting donations for the Ronald McDonald House.The happiest people alive are the least selfish. Look at the genuine smiles. What more needs to be said.Money collected by this wonderful lady will provide families with a comforting place to stay while children who suffer from life-threatening illnesses are treated at nearby hospitals.
An event in downtown San Diego called Towerthon raised money for Father Joe’s Villages Toussaint Academy, which educates and assists homeless youth.
We all have the opportunity to help homeless kids in San Diego ascend to new heights–even if you didn’t participate in today’s Towerthon, where generous neighbors raised money for Father Joe’s Villages Toussaint Academy by climbing the stairs of the 20-story tall 550 Corporate Center building in downtown San Diego.
During my absolutely incredible morning walk (stay tuned–you’ll see why), I paused for a couple minutes to absorb the humanity of the charitable event and snap some photos.
Would you like to help homeless kids in San Diego? I don’t need to tell you how horrible life on the street can be. Being homeless can be depressing, highly stressful, dangerous–eventually breaking both body and spirit. Many youth became homeless because of unspeakable physical abuse and emotional pain.
Toussaint Academy has been providing homeless youth with a high quality education and other services since 1992. Please click the link above to learn more, about how Toussaint Academy not only save lives, but enables young people to heal, flourish and finally experience true happiness. You might feel inspired to make a donation or provide help in your own special fashion!
(I challenge other bloggers reading this to find charities in your own neighborhood, and help them out! Your efforts add up and actually help!)
Participants in the charitable stair climb check the standings board in the plaza in front of 550 Corporate Center.
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
Be kinder than necessary – for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle…
Yesterday I walked through Ocean Beach. A few of my photographs seem to spell out a message about life.
I noticed that a small park at the corner of Sunset Cliffs and W. Point Loma Boulevard contained bits of wisdom. So did a formation of pelicans and a surfer near the OB pier.
Moving shadow in a small plaza at the corner of Sunset Cliffs and W. Point Loma Boulevard. Wisdom and love are written on an Ocean Beach wall.Walking down a winding path toward Robb Field. Life is a one way meandering journey.Public art on an Ocean Beach wall. All starfish are beautiful, alike but different.A starfish is small but resilient. It moves and bends with life’s unceasing tides.A starfish that suffers loss will regenerate. During its short life, it is a survivor.Bicycling a short distance down life’s path. Be kind. The unknown awaits around some turns.A glimpse of immensity beyond the beach. The OB pier extends a short way toward the mysterious horizon.Entering the ocean. A place of beauty, power, pleasure, danger. Like life itself.Pelicans fly in formation to ease their path through the air.Riding a wave. A short trip upon the mighty ocean back toward familiar land.Live fully. Ride well. Enjoy life. We each are very small. Be forgiving. Be kind.
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
Do you like to read short pieces of thought-provoking fiction? You might enjoy checking out Short Stories by Richard.
Use your words to speak in a kind way. Help others as you go throughout your day…
If you didn’t have a chance to visit the International Non-Profits Fair in Balboa Park today, here are some photos that might inspire you. I walked through and met many smiling people, all of whom are working unselfishly to make this world a better place.
The fair, put on by The Worldview Project, is all about people from different cultures coming together for mutual understanding, increased tolerance, education and peace. It’s about positive people working to create a better, more happy world. I just strolled through casually, talking to some exhibitors and learning a little, taking a picture here and there. Perhaps you’ll see something that makes you want to explore further. Click the photos to enlarge them, if you’d like to read a poster or bit of information!
People in San Diego’s Balboa Park have gathered to learn how to make the world a better place. Many non-profits were represented at an annual fair put on by The Worldview Project.Some of the values highlighted at the Kids For Peace table. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.Nice ladies from the United Nations Association of the USA, San Diego Chapter, smile for a roving blogger’s camera!A few musical instruments from around the world were on display at this table.The Center for World Music promotes awareness, skills and knowledge of the rich performing arts traditions of the world in San Diego area schools.The San Diego Asian Film Festival is coming up! It runs April 28 to May 5 at the UltraStar movie theater in Hazard Center.These friendly folks are representing the German American Societies, who host El Cajon’s authentic Oktoberfest!More nice people! These guys tried without success to get me to dance. Sorry! The Cabrillo International Folk Dancers meet at the Balboa Park Club.CRY America has a hopeful vision of the world, where all children, everywhere, have equal opportunities to develop to their full potential and realize their dreams.Survivors of Torture International. Sometimes we might forget how horrible life for some in this world can be, and the unspeakable suffering they experience.One way to help Survivors of Torture International is to enroll in a free community program when you shop at Ralph’s. Please read this poster for more info.Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County needs you! Operation Bigs seeks civilian, retired and active military adult volunteers to serve military children.Map of San Diego County shows hundreds of children ready to be matched with caring adults. They need more “bigs”!Climate Kids educates youth about climate change through art, storytelling and science.The American Red Cross of San Diego and Imperial Counties was represented at the International Non-Profits Fair in Balboa Park.License to Freedom works to stop violence in refugee and immigrant communities in San Diego County.You are loved. Your are so strong. You are worthy. Life is beautiful!
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
A challenge for every person, both young and old. It is very simply: Be kind! (Click this image to read the poster!)
Have you heard of the Great Kindness Challenge? I hadn’t, until today.
The Great Kindness Challenge is put on by Kids For Peace, and I learned about it while I walked this morning through the International Non-Profits Fair in Balboa Park. (I’ll blog a little about this inspiring event shortly.) I was really struck by a thoughtful Kids For Peace poster challenging school students to engage in acts of kindness.
What an excellent idea! It seems this reminder to be compassionate, helpful and polite might apply to people of all ages. Sometimes we adults, during our hectic, numbing day-to-day routines, might benefit from a little lesson about the importance of having a warm heart and positive outlook!
Here are just a few of the 50 challenges. These are appropriate for both young and old…
Members of the Helping Hand Club at Mt. Carmel High School are raising funds for Build a Miracle.
Students belonging to Mt. Carmel High School’s very cool Helping Hand Club would like you to help Build a Miracle!
Today I came across a bake sale in Balboa Park. Two very generous MCHS students had a table full of brownies and other treats; they were raising donations for Build a Miracle, a charity that constructs and furnishes homes for needy families in Mexico. Between 1999 and 2014, Build a Miracle has built 185 homes and 3 community centers. They have touched literally thousands of lives, offering hope and a pathway to a brighter future.
Should you wander through Balboa Park and see smiling members of the Helping Hand Club, perhaps you could offer your own hand! Or check out the Build a Miracle website and see if you’d like to help!
Two awesome students are working to make our world a better place.Donations welcome. Help us reach our goal to build and furnish a house in Mexico.
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk! You can enjoy more Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
