EAST COUNTY HAPPENINGS Church offers concert, Bible talk tonight

City councils

El Cajon, 3 p.m. Tuesday; La Mesa, 6 p.m. Tuesday (in person); Santee, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday

School boards

Jamul-dulzura Union School District, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday; Lakeside Union Elementary School District, 6 p.m. Thursday; Mountain Empire Unified School District, 6 p.m. Tuesday

Senior Gleaners seek harvesting help

The Senior Gleaners of San Diego County are looking for help picking surplus fruit, especially citrus, to prevent it from going to waste. All food collected by the gleaners is donated to the San Diego Food Bank, Feeding San Diego, churches, food pantries and similar organizations. The group has more requests for picking trees than current volunteer crews can handle. Most volunteers pick three to four hours one day per week, but there are no required minimum commitments. Volunteers join crews working near where they live. Some form small groups that set their own schedules. The group also needs people with vehicles that can haul several filled banana boxes of fruit. Most deliveries are within 10 miles of the picking site. To learn more and to register as a volunteer, visit www.seniorgleanerssdco.org or call (619) 633-9180.

Still time to join Western Days parade lineup

Lakeside is preparing to host the annual Western Days Parade on April 23. The parade steps off at 9:35 a.m. from Woodside Avenue to Maine Avenue and through historical downtown Lakeside. This year’s theme is “Reading — A Passport to Adventure.” The nonprofit Lakeside Friends of the Library will be honored as the parade’s grand marshals. The free parade will feature floats, local pageant queens and court, and equestrians

from all over San Diego County. Local students will also be representing their arts, performing and language immersion programs in the parade. Attendees are welcome to bring chairs and pop-up shades or umbrellas. The parade is part of Lakeside’s annual Rodeo, which takes place April 21-24. Tickets may be purchased at www.lakesiderodeo.com. It’s not too late to participate in the parade; learn more at www.lakesidechamber.org.

The World Mission Society Church of God in San Diego will host a "Refreshing Concert for the Passover" and a Bible talk, "Heaven and the Passover," from 7-9 p.m. today. 4/10 All welcome. Streamed live via Zoom: ID is 92071 92071. The church is at 9230 Prospect Ave., Santee. Visit sdwmscog.com.

La Mesa library preparing to extend hours

The La Mesa Branch library will be expanding its open hours starting Monday. The new schedule: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday and Thursday; noon-7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday; and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Call (619) 469-2151 or go to sdcl.org/lamesa.

Tifereth Israel Synagogue hosts pizza party, film

Tifereth Israel Synagogue is hosting a Matzah Pizza Party at 5:30 p.m. April 20, which includes a showing of the film “The Prince of Egypt.” Reserve by Monday. Cost is $8 per person or $20 per household. Visit tiferethisrael.com/events/matzahpizzaparty. The synagogue is at 6660 Cowles Mountain Blvd., San Diego.

Learn how to become a La Mesa city vendor

The city of La Mesa offers a free virtual Lunch & Learn program from noon-1 p.m. Thursday to show vendors how to do business with the city. Small businesses are encouraged to attend. No registration required. Join the Zoom meeting at https:// bit.ly/372ehz0. Meeting ID: 867 3209 4696; passcode: 312627. Visit cityoflamesa.us/bids or email news@cityoflamesa.us.

The Elizabeth Hospice invites those interested in helping adults and children facing the challenges of a life-limiting illness and those grieving a death to free virtual volunteer orientations. An email address and a device with a camera interface are needed to participate in the sessions, or attendees can join by phone. The next sessions will be from 10-11 a.m. Wednesday and noon-1 p.m. April 26. Register to the Volunteer Department at (800) 797-2050 or email volunteer@ehospice.org.

El Cajon volunteers join clean-up event

El Cajon volunteers are joining I Love A Clean San Diego from 9 a.m.-noon April 23 for the annual Creek to Bay Cleanup, taking place at sites all over San Diego County. The El Cajon team will meet at the city’s Public Works Yard, 1050 Vernon Way, and work to clean up the storm drain channel that runs to Forrester Creek. Registration is open at www.creektobay.org.

Blood drives

The San Diego Blood Bank hosts these blood donation opportunities. • 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, Rally for Ruby, 1364 Tavern Road, Alpine • 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Chickfil-a, 9418 Mission Gorge Road, Santee

• 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday, Grossmont College, 8800 Grossmont College Drive, El Cajon, in the 500 Quad

• noon-5 p.m. Tuesday, Lakeside Library, 9839 Vine St., Lakeside, community center parking lot Appointments strongly encouraged. Photo ID required. Call (800) 4697322 or visit Sandiegobloodbank.org.