Toyota dealers treat community to lunch National City extends deadline for help Blood drives in La Mesa

The San Diego County Toyota Dealers Association surprised patrons of Chula Vista’s El Pollo Grill by picking up their lunch tabs — 121 of them — on Sept. 25. The free meal was part of the association’s “Toyota Supports San Diego” program, created to help locally owned businesses that had to close after the COVID-19 outbreak.

The National City Utility Assistance Program has extended its deadline to grant selected eligible families utility assistance to pay past-due gas, electric, phone, and internet bills. Funds are still available, so applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are gone. Pick up or drop off applications from 8 a.m.-noon and 1-5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the National City Family Resource Center, 304 W. 18th St. Or download the application at https:// bit.ly/2S6Td9f and submit it by email to utilityassistance@csbcs.org.

The San Diego Blood Bank is hosting these blood drives:

• 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesday 10/13, Sharp Grossmont Hospital auditorium, 5555 Grossmont Center Drive, La Mesa

• 1-7 p.m. Oct. 15: Grossmont Center, 5500 Grossmont Center Drive, La Mesa, near movie theater

Those 17 and older, weighing at least 114 pounds and in good health, may be eligible to donate blood. A good meal and plenty of fluids are recommended before donating. Appointment and photo ID required. Call (800) 469-7322 or visit SanDiegoBloodBank.org.