In Brief

Senior Basket Project Begins
It's time again for the ScrippsAssists Annual Senior Basket project, organized in conjunction with the Downtown Senior Community Center. ScrippsAssists is collecting specialty items for seniors, including: mugs, ornaments, other gift items, hand towels, slippers, socks, gloves, scarves, flashlights, batteries, stamps, calendars, razors, stationery, lotion, and Ensure or equivalent drinks. Baskets will be assembled December 10 and 12 from 4:30-7PM (sandwiches provided; children welcome.) ScrippsAssists is currently looking for people to put a box in their area or building to collect the items. ScrippsAssists will also accept monetary donations. Checks should be made out to ScrippsAssists and sent to Helen Plutner at MB6. Send questions to scripps-assists@scripps.edu.


Lunch and Learn: "Identity Theft: When Bad Things Happen to Your Good Name"
Jay Foley, director of Consumer/Victim Services Identity Theft Resource Center will present "Identity Theft: When Bad Things Happen to Your Good Name" on Wednesday, November 20, from noon to 1 PM as part of the ongoing Lunch and Learn Series. He will address topics including: who these criminals are, how they steal, why they are dangerous, how you can protect yourself, what to do if you are a victim of identity theft, what legislative and assistance programs are in place to help victims, and how businesses and companies can protect you or put you at risk. The seminar will be held in the W.M. Keck Amphitheater, The Beckman Center for Chemical Sciences. For more information, contact Jan Hill, x-42950.


Adopt a Family
It's time again for the Adopt-A-Family Program. Adopting a family means that you and your lab (or several labs together) or your family commit to helping a needy family have a good holiday. The idea is to provide the family with groceries (or a food coupon with which they can buy them) for a festive holiday meal with all the trimmings, some day-to-day necessities such as shampoo, toothbrushes, soap, etc., and modest gifts.

As in past years, the ScrippsAssists Adopt-A-Family Program will work with the St. Vincent de Paul agency in Linda Vista, Home Start in East San Diego, Sanctuary House (a women's shelter) and the Battered Women's Shelter through the Y. The agencies provide an information sheet about the family to the adoptees, which includes clothing sizes, pressing needs, and wish lists' from the children (please keep in mind that kids have little concept of money and may ask for a Playstation or a computer, but any thoughtful gift will make them happy).

Contact Bonnie Towle, x4-2167 or email-btowle@scripps.edu, or Kat Occhipinti, x4-8135 or email: occhip@scripps.edu.