Shelter From the Storm

Seniors today face challenges that were unimaginable to previous generations, and some turn to nonprofit organizations to bridge the gap. Serving Seniors helps low-income older adults with housing assistance, social services, and more. The nonprofit provides 1.5 million meals and coordinated services to 13,265 older adults each year, the majority living on less than $1,125 per month. 

Dedicated volunteers, like Fred Davis, help make this important work possible. Since roughly 2008, Davis has spent six days a week at the Serving Seniors Gary and Mary West Senior Wellness Center serves as a liaison to help clients access much-needed resources. Here, he shares what keeps him coming back day after day. 

What made you want to get involved with Serving Seniors?

I have a community outreach ministry and my grandson and I were on the streets downtown handing out sack lunches, water, hygiene products, clothes and shoes, and things like that and I noticed that most of the people I met appeared to be seniors. So the next logical step for me was to find a senior group that I could work with. I heard about Serving Seniors, and I made a few phone calls. No one really responded to me, so I showed up. They opened the door for me and now they can’t get rid of me. I found a home. I’ve met some really good people over the years. And as it turned out, I’ve been here longer than most of them. I’ve been here at the West Center ever since the doors opened. And matter of fact, I was the one who gave Gary and Mary West an award for their generous donation that made it possible to open up this center.

What do your volunteer duties entail? 

I’m in ministry, but I don’t want that to be the highlight of what I do. It’s not just a passion for serving people, it’s a calling. I like the idea of giving and serving people and trying to meet their needs. So I counsel, I oversee the serving of the lunches, and I work with the head of the volunteer group. I’m involved in different activities. Matter of fact, this coming Saturday, I’m going to take a group of seniors out sailing. I also helped start the Civic Engagement Group. It was a group of us, and there are about three members that are left from when we originally started it. Now Serving Seniors is taking it over, and my role is to work with them. I also took it a little bit further and ended up joining Aging and Independent Services and sat on that advisory board for a number of years. That led to me being elected to the California Senior Legislature. So I’ve been advocating for seniors for a very long time. They’re a vulnerable group. They worked hard and don’t always get the respect that they deserve. 

What do you like best about volunteering at Serving Seniors? 

The people—this is my target group right here. I don’t have to walk the streets like my grandson and I did anymore; they’re right here. I’m here every day at the West Center but Sunday. 

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced? 

The biggest challenge is not being able to help someone who really needs the help. But we try to find a way. I reach out to different organizations, faith-based organizations or other nonprofits, sometimes with success and a lot of times without success. There are quite a few people that are in need who are hardworking people, dedicated people who still want to provide for themselves and their family, and they’re just caught in that void.

Can you describe your favorite or most memorable experience while volunteering?

I was handing out clothes; I usually have a sock drive and I gave a homeless person a pair of socks. As they peeled their filthy socks off their feet, this person cried. You don’t know how important these little things are that we take for granted. It was really touching. 

Any advice for someone considering volunteering as a way to give back?

A lot of people use the term giving back, but I just say giving. When you say ‘giving back,’ that means you’re trying to repay something and you’re taking credit. But giving is a passion. It’s something that you do from your heart, not out of obligation. 

For more than five decades, SAY San Diego (Social Advocates for Youth) has been helping local kids, families, and seniors navigate challenges they can’t face alone. The nonprofit serves as a beacon for local residents by offering more than 30 programs that range from youth mentorship and crisis support to increasing access to stable housing and mental health services to substance-use prevention and workforce development.

“For 55 years, SAY’s story has been shaped by listening to the community and being willing to grow with it,” says Louie Nguyen, SAY San Diego’s president and CEO. “Our mission is to partner with youth, adults, families, and communities so they can reach their full potential. That keeps us focused on the whole person, not just one immediate need. As San Diego evolves, we listen, work alongside trusted community partners, and adjust our services so they remain accessible, relevant, and rooted in opportunity, equity, and well-being.” 

SAY San Diego started as a grassroots nonprofit with one paid employee and a budget of $1,500. The organization has since evolved from humble beginnings as a youth-focused agency into a comprehensive and far-reaching social services organization. 

Several milestones mark SAY San Diego’s success, including partnering with local schools and neighborhoods to expand its child and youth development programs, family resource centers, and school-based mental health services; the creation of the San Diego Military Family Collaborative, one of the largest of its kind in the nation; and the opening of its licensed early childhood center that introduced an employer-supported childcare model. 

What underscores SAY San Diego’s programs and opens the doors for lasting change is a willingness to listen and grow in response to emerging needs, says Nguyen. 

“Lasting change comes from consistent support, strong relationships, and services that work together,” says Nguyen. “Our school-based programs have an especially broad reach, serving more than 6,500 young people across 57 school sites each day in places families already know and trust. Our mental health programs also stand out, with 72 percent of participants reporting improved emotional well-being. But the real strength of SAY is that a family can connect with early childhood care, parenting support, youth development, mental health services, or community resources as their needs change over time.” 

Much of SAY San Diego’s impact is possible thanks to partnerships with individuals and organizations across the county. Nguyen hopes to further expand that community investment through initiatives like its Play 4 SAY fundraiser, which brings together corporate partners, foundations, and other supporters. However, challenges remain in “meeting rising demand while public funding, workforce capacity, and the broader nonprofit environment remain uncertain,” he says.

As economic instability, rising housing and childcare costs, and access to mental health services continue to affect San Diegans, SAY San Diego’s role is more important than ever. The organization hopes to build on the foundation it has built over the past 55 years and continue to help kids, families, and communities thrive. 

“Today, we reach more than 45,000 San Diegans each year, but our goal is not simply to grow larger, it is to create a deeper, more lasting impact,” says Nguyen. “Our next chapter is about strengthening what works, expanding access to mental health and family support, investing in our people, and bringing partners together to build a stronger San Diego.”

More than 6,000 ice cream lovers devoured tasty treats at this year’s Scoop Ice Cream Festival for a great cause. The event on June 28 launched an ongoing partnership with Feeding San Diego and raised $60,000, or enough to provide 120,000 meals to San Diegans facing hunger. 

See photos from the night below.

August 1: Curebound Cancer Challenge 

Raise money for cancer research while you work out at the Curebound Cancer Challenge. Fundraisers will cycle along the San Diego coastline, run a 10K on the UC San Diego campus, and participate in group spin, yoga, and strength classes. 

August 1: No Curveballs: Rally for Type 1 Diabetes Early Detection
The San Diego Padres, Nick Jonas’ nonprofit Beyond Type 1, and the King of the Hill Foundation will host No Curveballs: Rally for Type 1 Diabetes Early Detection at Gallagher Square. Padres pitchers Mason Miller, who lives with Type 1 diabetes, and Michael King, whose wife, Sheila, lives with T1D, will share their stories during a panel discussion, and on-site education and screening will be available.

August 1: No Curveballs: Rally for Type 1 Diabetes Early Detection

The San Diego Padres, Nick Jonas’ nonprofit Beyond Type 1, and the King of the Hill Foundation will host No Curveballs: Rally for Type 1 Diabetes Early Detection at Gallagher Square. Padres pitchers Mason Miller, who lives with Type 1 diabetes, and Michael King, whose wife, Sheila, lives with T1D, will share their stories during a panel discussion, and on-site education and screening will be available.

August 1: Club Masterpiece: One Haute Havana Night

Patrons of the Prado will channel 1950s Havana at this year’s Masterpiece Gala. Club Masterpiece: One Haute Havana Night will raise money for Balboa Park cultural institutions and will include a special honor for philanthropists Joan and Irwin Jacobs. 

August 3: CaddyHack Golf Festival 

Golfers will tee off to support Boys to Men Mentoring at the CaddyHack Golf Festival. Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, the charity golf tournament will include golf, music, food, and fun at Fairbanks Ranch Country Club. 

August 7: Music By Eras Fundraiser for TERI Campus of Life

Acclaimed San Diego musicians will join together to support TERI’s programs and services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Music By Eras performance at TERI’s Bornemann Theatre will feature artists Whitney Shay, Jesse Ray Smith, Lauren Leigh, and Will Stucky. 

August 8: 80th Annual Jewel Ball 

Las Patronas will recreate the magic of Venice at its 80th annual Jewel Ball. Las Patronas has spent the entire year preparing for the event, as well as raising money to support nonprofit organizations across San Diego County. 

August 14: Shelter to Soldier Be the Light Gala

Help Shelter to Soldier train rescue dogs to be psychiatric service animals for local veterans at the 14th annual Be the Light Gala aboard the USS Midway Museum. The gala will include silent and live auctions, dinner, dessert, and appearances by canine ambassadors and veteran recipients. 

August 15: Haute with Heart Fashion Show 

St. Madeline Sophie’s Center will celebrate its “hidden diamonds” at its 48th annual Haute with Heart Fashion Show. The lively event at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront will include a pre-luncheon reception, live music, a live auction, a stunning fashion show, and surprise entertainment to benefit the nonprofit’s programs for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

August 15: Symphony at Salk’s Concert Under the Stars

The Bacon Brothers will perform with the San Diego Symphony at this year’s Concert Under the Stars. Now in its 30th year, Symphony at Salk supports research in areas such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, wellness, and agriculture. 

August 22: SummerFest Gala 2026

La Jolla Music Society supporters will enjoy an evening of exclusive performances at its SummerFest Gala 2026. The event at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego will raise money for La Jolla Music Society’s artistic, learning, and engagement programs. 

August 28: 2026 Alpha Project Golf Tournament 

Tee off to help San Diegans facing homelessness at Alpha Project’s 16th Annual Charity Golf Classic. The four-person scramble at the Rancho Bernardo Inn Golf Resort and Spa will support the Alpha Project’s housing, employment, recovery, and support services. 

August 29: Relay for Life of San Diego

Walkers will join forces to celebrate cancer survivors and remember those who lost their fight at the annual Relay for Life of San Diego. The 24-hour relay at Liberty Station NTC Park is part of a global network of similar events that raise money for the American Cancer Society. 

August 29: A Night United: Illuminating the Way

United Way of San Diego County will host its A Night United: Illuminating the Way gala at Eve, an event destination on San Diego Bay. The elegant evening will benefit UWSD’s mission to improve lives and strengthen communities across the region. 

Growing up in Carlsbad, I never quite understood why people vacationed there. What, so you want to check out the field where I have soccer practice? Pay my orthodontist a visit? Carlsbad just felt like a town by the beach, no better or worse than any other in the country. It took going to college out of state for me to actually understand just how rare a place like Carlsbad is.

Thanksgiving break my freshman year, my first time coming home after three months in the Midwest, my shoulders dropped. I rolled down the windows and drove to lifeguard tower 37—the hangout magnet for Carlsbad’s youths (and, in the summer, tourists)—and the smells of the ocean woke me right up like smelling salts do. I finally got it.

Carlsbad isn’t just a stopover town on your way to something better. It is the destination. Travel + Leisure named Carlsbad one of the top 50 places around the world to travel in 2026. From the whole globe, the travel magazine picked my home. Sure, we’ve got the Flower Fields and Legoland—but now it’s the smaller ships and indier dreams that are giving it street-level character.

It’s not just Carlsbad, either. People have talked about the “North County bubble” for decades—a force field that prevents its residents from traveling south of the 56. It’s often used derogatorily, and it’s a fairly accurate burn.

For decades, living up in North County meant giving up on culture, or at least culture within close proximity. But now, the main expansion of San Diego culture is happening up north. Central San Diego restaurants have started taking notice and are expanding into the area—spurred no doubt by Oceanside’s food boom and the Jeune et Jolie–Campfire–Wildland–Lilo constellation in Carlsbad. City Heights burger joint Key & Cleaver opened a new spot in Oceanside; the owners of Parc Bistro-Brasserie in Bankers Hill opened Parc Lounge in Rancho Santa Fe. Possibly the strongest market indicator is that Sam Fox—one of the most successful restaurateurs west of the Rockies—has started focusing on North County for his concepts. In 2025, he opened both The Henry in Carlsbad and Culinary Dropout in Del Mar.

For the ultimate insider guide, we found a handful of inspiring people who live and create and truly know six North County neighborhoods—San Marcos, Escondido, Oceanside, Leucadia, Rancho Santa Fe, and Vista—and asked them how they’d spend a dream day out and about in their town.

San Marcos

San Marcos is in full renaissance mode. The biggest story is that the grand North City vision is starting to peek through the scaffolding. It’s essentially the North County Downtown that’s been written in the tea leaves and discussed whenever someone gets stuck in traffic at the 5/805 merge: a 200-acre, pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use face-changer that’s slated for 2,600 homes, 350,000 square feet of retail and restaurants, 250 hotel rooms, and about a million square feet of offices and labs. Its most recent manifestation is 222 North City—a 12-story residential tower with over 450 residences, rooftop garden, pool cabanas, art installations, and almost 20,000 square feet of ground-floor retail (Necessity Coffee, Buona Forchetta, Draft Republic, Milonga Empanadas, and a grocery store anchor on its way).

Which means Restaurant Row is no longer burdened with being the primary caregiver for the hungry or the socially inclined. Patricia Prado-Olmos has watched the city morph during her nearly three-decade tenure at CSUSM, having spent the past six years as the school’s chief community engagement officer. She also just announced her forthcoming retirement at the end of the 2026–2027 school year, so she’ll have even more time to haunt local haunts.

Meet the Local: Patricia Prado-Olmos

Those in the know call the university “Cal State StairMaster” from the Sisyphean amount of stairs on the hillside campus. So, any day at or around CSUSM should start with a homestyle carbo-load (biscuits and gravy) from Mama Kat’s.

Rull, a Michelin-trained pastry chef who’s done stints on Netflix (Bake Squad) and Food Network (Super Mega Cakes, Halloween Wars), opened his patisserie last fall. The hype hasn’t cooled off yet: Get there early because the crowds do.