Senior center, Sandia Creek bridge, USO to benefit from county grants

The awards of Neighborhood Reinvestment Program and Community Enhancement grants from the County of San Diego will provide funding for the Fallbrook Senior Center, the Sandia Creek Drive bridge, and United Services Organizations on Camp Pendleton.

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 June 29 to allocate $18,134 to the Fallbrook Senior Citizens Service Club which operates the Fallbrook Senior Center, $5,000 to California Trout, Inc., to help with engineering costs to replace the Sandia Creek Drive bridge, and $25,000 to USO to help fund the purchase of a cargo van.

Each county supervisor has a discretionary Neighborhood Reinvestment Program budget for projects supporting public purposes at the regional and community levels and a discretionary Community Enhancement budget for organizations which promote tourism including visitors from other parts of the county.

The county supervisors recommend the use of their discretionary funding, and those expenditures must be approved by a majority of the board. Supervisor Jim Desmond recommended Neighborhood Reinvestment Program funding for the senior center and the USO and a Community Enhancement award to California Trout, Inc.

The Fallbrook Senior Citizens Service Club was established in 1974 and focuses on nutrition for Fallbrook, Bonsall, Rainbow, and DeLuz residents 60 and older. The meal program includes delivery services. The Fallbrook Senior Citizens Service Club also operates the Fallbrook Senior Center which offers recreational, educational, and social activities as well as nutrition programs.

"The Fallbrook Senior Citizens Service Club is a wonderful organization that provides nutrition programs and meal delivery services for seniors 60 and above," Desmond said. "It's a vital part of North County and an organization I'm extremely proud to support. These funds will go towards replacing old, worn flooring, roofing, painting, and shelter covering."

In addition to floor replacement, roof repairs, painting, and shelter covering, the Neighborhood Reinvestment Program money may also be used for a website upgrade and a ping pong table for the senior center in the 300 block of Heald Lane.

California Trout, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to ensure that wild fish thrive in healthy waters. The existing box culvert crossing the Santa Margarita River is considered to be the top flooding site in San Diego County, and it will be replaced with a new steel bridge which is designed to withstand 100-year flood levels.

"Through their regional office in San Diego County, the California Trout's Sandia Creek Drive bridge replacement project will replace aging infrastructure. These funds will be allocated to help with engineering costs for the Sandia Creek Drive bridge replacement project," Desmond said.

United Service Organizations provides services to military members and their families and also helps military families transition back to their communities. The USO services on Camp Pendleton include wellness, resiliency, and outreach programs.

"As a veteran I know how vital USO San Diego is for our military service members and their families. These funds will play a vital role in helping to purchase a cargo van for Camp Pendleton providing mobile services throughout the county," Desmond said.