Bird Rock Community Packs 30,000 Meals in First-Ever “Bird Rock Gives Back” Event
I had the chance to volunteer at the first-ever Bird Rock Gives Back event, and I’d like to share one of the best volunteer experiences I’ve had this year. On Saturday, December 6th, the Bird Rock Elementary School auditorium was overflowing with energy, generosity, and holiday spirit as more than 200 volunteers came together. By noon, we had assembled 30,000 nutritious meals for the San Diego Food Bank, supporting local families facing food insecurity during the holiday season.
This event came to life through a partnership between the La Jolla Sunrise Rotary Club, the Bird Rock Foundation, Bird Rock Elementary School, and The Outreach Program, a national nonprofit specializing in large-scale meal-packing operations.
A Community Answer to a Local Need
The idea began months earlier when Chris Romero from The Outreach Program visited the La Jolla Sunrise Rotary Club to share how meal-packing events foster connection and community service. Kenny Simpson and I immediately saw an opportunity to bring this to Bird Rock.
Many local families have long wanted meaningful volunteer opportunities for their children—chances where students can contribute, learn empathy, and feel the impact of their actions. Partnering with The Outreach Program gave us a turnkey system, and keeping the meals local through the San Diego Food Bank meant our efforts directly helped neighbors in need.
With one in four San Diegans experiencing food insecurity, it felt important that our first year would meet a real and urgent need close to home.
Holiday Cheer Meets High-Energy Service
From the moment doors opened, the auditorium buzzed with excitement. Holiday music played as children donned hairnets, families formed assembly lines, and volunteers scooped oats, dried apples, and soy protein into meal bags that were weighed, sealed, and boxed for distribution.
Between packing meals, students created handwritten holiday cards and signed a large community canvas filled with encouraging messages. These accompanied the boxes to the San Diego Food Bank so recipients would know exactly who packed their food.
The volunteers came from all corners of our community: Bird Rock Elementary families, members of the La Jolla Sunrise Rotary Club, representatives from the Bird Rock Foundation and La Jolla Elementary School Foundation, La Jolla High School students, and neighbors and friends from across La Jolla. The energy was electric—teamwork, laughter, and purpose filled the room.
Goal Reached — and a Vision for More
Our goal was to raise $15,000 to purchase food and supplies from The Outreach Program—and thanks to the generosity of our community, we reached it by the end of the event.
I want to express appreciation to:
- Bird Rock Elementary School for providing the space
- The La Jolla Sunrise Rotary Club for leadership and volunteer support
- The Bird Rock Foundation, especially Ben Smith and Mariko Uyeda Dotts
- The Bird Rock Community Council, La Jolla Merchants Association, and Kiwanis for helping spread the word
- And every family and student who gave their time, energy, and holiday spirit
Looking Ahead: A Bigger Vision for 2025
With the enthusiasm we experienced, we’re already planning an even bigger event next year. Our goal is to unite all three La Jolla elementary schools—Bird Rock, La Jolla Elementary, and Torrey Pines—into a single community service effort, aiming to pack over 100,000 meals in one day.
For a first-time event, Bird Rock Gives Back exceeded every expectation. Families left not only proud of what we accomplished, but excited for what comes next.
