Make a
difference for local families, one bag at a time
By Lori
Bledsoe
The Alpine Sun
ALPINE — It’s that time of year again — time for the local
Gift Bag Drive. Local realtor, Jeff Campbell is now in the 10th
year of coordinating “The Gift Bag Drive.” This year more than
30,000 bags will be distributed to residents to be filled.
This drive has a long history. It began 10 years ago
when Daniels market of Alpine donated 200 bags and Campbell passed
them out door to door. He raised 30 cases of food and gave them
out to five Alpine churches. Since then, it has grown.
“I shared the Drive with other Realtors and businesses
in East County and we went from one volunteer to over 90
volunteers,” Campbell said. “The first year giveaway was 30 cases
of food and expanded to over 600 cases of food last year.”
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| Jeff Campbell is
already starting to receive bags full of items donated for
this year’s Gift Bag Drive. |
“Although I never intended to create such a huge drive,
it was too wonderful to operate just in Alpine. Today, every
single zip code in the East County can participate in this event.”
According to Campbell, the drive has raised and given
away more than 9,000 bags of donated goods to over 26 churches and
outreach centers and have brokered thousands of dollars in
donations to community organizations.
“We have helped the hungry, assisted military families
and needy children,” Campbell said.
With the help of many volunteers, the drive has been able to
donate through local schools, the Alpine Community Center, and has
given hundreds of dollars to the Alpine Kiwanis, donated through
the Alpine Fire Station and the Alpine Sheriffs substation and to
many Alpine Churches.
Campbell’s mission is to not only share the blessings,
but to empower others to share their blessings. His efforts have
been recognized by several groups and individuals including;
Governor Schwarzenegger, Sonshine Haven, Congressman Duncan
Hunter, Calvary Chapel, Florida Governor Jeb Bush, Lutheran Social
Services of Southern California, the County of San Diego, First
Baptist Church of Bostonia, and James Davis, former Chief of
Police of El Cajon.
The drive this year has been extended through Dec. 15.
The following items are needed: Non-perishable food
items, new clothing, disposable diapers, personal hygiene items,
kids videos, new blankets, new backpacks, and children’s toys and
art supplies. Monetary donations are welcome, and can be made
payable to “Polinsky Children’s Center.”
Food items that are collected will be delivered to
local churches and shelters. Diapers and childcare items will be
given to the Polinsky Center, which provides a healing environment
for neglected, abandoned and abused children.
“By counting my blessings I find my community has
richly rewarded me. I am compelled to share my blessings with my
community by participating in this drive,” Campbell says on his
web site.
Sponsors for this drive include: The Alpine Sun, Alpine
Lite 107.9 FM, First American Home Warranty, Gary Marrokal,
Marrokal Construction, Audrey Hildreth, Countrywide Home Loans,
East San Diego County Association of Realtors, First American
Title Company, The Bread Basket, Smart and Final of El Cajon,
North Island Credit Union, California Title, Waste Management, and
Heritage Escrow, Windemere Pacific Properties, Century 21, All
Service, The Grove Bakery, The Biker Shack.
More information about this year’s drive can be found
at www.GiftBagDrive.com.
If you would like to pick up a bag to fill with items
for the drive please stop by The Alpine Sun office at 2144
Alpine Blvd.
You can also drop off your filled bags, donated items
or money donations at The Alpine Sun office through Dec.
15.
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the Editor
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