The Mira Mesa Town Council approved $1000 towards the paint for this project at their last meeting and Frazee Paint and Wallcovering on Miramar Road has graciously volunteered to supply us with more paint as the project rolls along.

Now if you really don’t have the time or the ability to paint, there are other things you could do to help out. One of the coolest things that happened this past Sunday was a man stopped by in his car (out of the blue) and dropped off a big box of donuts to the volunteers. He was practically in tears when he dropped them off as he thanked us for the work we were doing. Now that made everyone feel good!

Now there are close to 80,000 of us living in Mira Mesa these days. If just a small percentage of us can spare a couple hours now and then we can clean this community up in no time. Please… make your plans to volunteer and let’s make Mira Mesa a beautiful place to live in!

If you would like to see some more photos that were taken of last Sunday’s event, you can check them out on Ted Brengel’s website.

We are always improving the process, iterating from one event to the next, but we will have an event one Saturday of each month, from 0800 to 1130. Several folks/organizations, including Brian Maienschein, our councilman, already endorse “HEROES” and we are still soliciting and solidifying additional support and endorsement from our community leaders and businesses, yet it’s the people, YOU, that will make this work. That is, be of immediate benefit to someone in need every month, truly touch their lives and make a difference – neighbors helping neighbors and getting to know each other at the same time. If you want to be part of a group that gives the most precious gift of all, TIME, to help those in need in your community, send an e-mail to Mike Davis at (davismh@san.rr.com) and let him know the types of skills you can bring (and any organization you belong to that could also help). This is your chance to be part of an active group that “walks the walk” in community self-help… If you have been thinking about similar ways to help others, or made that your new year’s resolution, this is the opportunity to “DO” something and make it happen – take a chance and “just do it” as you will enjoy it too!

We welcome ALL volunteers, whatever skill/talent you can bring, as it’s the labor that makes a difference. We also need support from folks and businesses willing to help defray the costs somewhat. Though not expected to cost much each month, we do need access to at least a discount on materials and a way to haul away the garbage… sometimes the hardest part! The group’s intent is to leverage and integrate similar efforts in our community (like the “alpha” project, senior citizen support, etc) – as there are many deserving and needy folks that we all need to help, so if your organization wants to do similar things and would like to tag-team this effort with us – please engage. Bottom line – we will have an event each month to help someone in need that we live next to. We can only succeed, doing a good deed and typically much more that that, as the recipient will be a whole lot better off and happier. What more could we ask for a few hours each month?

Don’t keep thinking about helping and giving back – DO IT NOW – and where better than in your community backyard. Together we can better our community – one person at a time - and have fun at the same time. Please feel free to recommend a needy candidate as well. Thanks in advance for your support – we all hope to see you there!

Mira Mesa Community Supports their Local Firefighters\Our city firefighters are there 24/7 for our protection, so when their living quarters gets run down and unattractive looking, it’s the least we can do to spruce it up a little with a coat of paint and repair a few of the cosmetic problems. (Even if the City can’t spare the funds to do it for whatever reason…)
As highlighted in the Union-Tribune article (re: “San Diegans do their part. Griping about city’s woes doesn’t help, so they pitch in.” By Michael Stetz, March 26, 2006). People are quitting complaining about the city’s money woes and inability to provide some services. And pitching in instead. A number of people are not about to let a little thing like the city’s huge pension fund deficit mess with their neighborhoods. Such activism is hardly new. What seems to be changing is the scope and ambition of some projects. People are cleaning parks and painting city firehouses and attacking graffiti.

Mira Mesa HEROES (”Hometown Efforts to Rescue Our Endangered Society”) along with many other generous volunteers, like a scout troop (Pack 1209), high school students and the community at large, will paint their fire station 38 on Saturday May 6th from 8AM till at least noon. Frazee donated all the paint and the Mira Mesa Town Council and Realty Executives Advantage donated some cash as well. Our City Councilman Brian Maienschein is also supporting the event and will attend around mid-morning. The event is as much to help our firefighters be more comfortable in their living quarters as it is to generate community spirit, camaraderie and have fun too.

To help out - park in the Mira Mesa Library lot (8405 New Salem Street - at the corner of Camino Ruiz New Salem) and walk to the registration table in front of fire station 38. All materials and refreshments are provided - just bring a positive attitude and a little elbow grease. Anyone interested in donating time, materials or funds to HEROES for this and other events, as well as nominating needy candidates, or needing more information, please contact Mike at volunteer@MiraMesaHEROES.org.