Transients were using the public space as a toilet and trash was strewn everywhere. Neighboring the bulletin board is Willie’s Shoe Shine and Willie told us that the trees hadn’t been pruned in 15 years.

With just a little over two hours, two cans of spray paint, and a gallon of Caribbean Blue paint from OB Hardware, we were able to transform the space from nuisance to welcoming. Our next project will be to install ocean-friendly landscaping around the bulletin board. We hope this community project encourages all to “RESPECT OB.”

We were also thrilled to be able to bring Christmas trees to our OB families this year, thanks to a generous donation of 100 tabletop trees from Rodney Dow, owner of the Carlsbad Christmas Tree Farm! One mom said her daughter only asked for a tree this year and was so happy to see it, and another child exclaimed “Wow, it really does smell like Christmas!”

Much thanks to Jenn Avoledo, Donna Lamb, Jere Batten, and Claudia Jack for taking leadership roles and their countless hours of work to make this another successful OB Food & Toy Drive — we’re so grateful to them and to everyone who helped all season long!

And a huge thank you to all of our OB Food and Toy Drive partners, donors and sponsors, including OB Kiwanis Club, Point Loma High School JROTC, OB Lion’s Club, Shamrock Foods, Chase Bank, US Bank, Union Bank, Congressman Scott Peters, Assemblywoman Toni Atkins, Rodney Dow, Roger Bresnan, Carol Ladiges of Lighthouse Ice Cream, George Murphy, and all the local OB shops that hosted donation cans!

Check out our Facebook page for more pictures from the OB Food and Toy Drive.