San Bernardino firefighters help make Thanksgiving better for needy

You may have read Michel Nolan’s article regarding Mary’s Table and its efforts to provide Thanksgiving dinner for nearly 400 hungry people this year.

What you didn’t read about was the San Bernardino city firefighters’ role in that dinner.

On November 17, firefighters stocked Mary’s Mercy Center’s pantry shelves with hams, turkeys, potatoes, gravy, stuffing, pies and other traditional goodies, all unloaded from a Stater Bros. truck.

In all, firefighters donated a generous $10,000 worth of food, with Stater Bros. kicking in a $500 discount.

This is the fifth year that the San Bernardino City Professional Firefighters Local 891 has donated to the service organization.

A special Dine 909 thanks goes out to the San Bernardino city firefighters, Stater Bros., and to the staff and volunteers of Mary’s Mercy Center!

Cuca’s #6 is open for business

Cuca’s fans, you’ve got another reason to celebrate!

The new Cuca’s Mexican Food is open at 11221 California St. (at Barton Road) in Loma Linda.

The restaurant joins their other locations in Redlands, Highland, Rialto and Mentone. (It’s actually their seventh location — they formerly had one in Ontario.)

The full-service restaurant opened Sunday (November 28).

The restaurant will hold an official grand opening on December 14.

Thanksgiving brew at Hangar 24

Redlands’ Hangar 24 Craft Brewery will tap a special holiday cask at 4 p.m. tomorrow (November 24). The brew consists of their Pale Ale with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, mace and molasses added, and is being called Pumpkin Pie Pale Ale.

It will be available until 9 p.m. tomorrow and during their holiday hours, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., on Thursday (November 25).

Also, here’s something else to be thankful for: Hangar 24 will be expanding its hours to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays beginning December 3.

The brewery is at 1710 Sessums Drive.

Thanksgiving giving begins today

St. Bernardine Medical Center is helping to kick off the holiday spirit a tad early this year.

Beginning at 4 p.m. today (November 23), they’re celebrating their 16th year of providing Thanksgiving dinners for those who might otherwise go without.

The event will be held at the hospital’s Family Focus Center, 1931 N. E St. in San Bernardino.

They’re expecting to serve more than 800 people.

In addition, they’re hosting a free health fair, at which free flu shots, blood pressure checks and dental screenings will be offered. Those attending can also receive health information and mini health kits — which include purifying hand gel and tips on how to remain healthy during flu season — will be given out.

Also, families will also have the opportunity to choose from coats donated through the center’s coat and jacket drive.

Follow the jump to find other volunteer opportunities in the Inland Empire.
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Sweet deal from El Pollo Loco…free cake!

It’s Black Friday. You’ve been out since 4 a.m. waiting in line at (insert name of favorite big-box store here) for that elusive deal. It’s getting close to noon now and you are hungry!

Where to go?

Here’s one option…El Pollo Loco is giving away a free individual chocolate cake with any of three new plates.

The new plates are:

  • Tamale Plate: Two chicken tamales covered in a Colorado sauce, Spanish rice and pinto beans
  • Carne Asada Plate: Citrus-marinated, flame-grilled carne asada, Spanish rice, pinto beans, warm tortillas and fresh salsa
  • Mixed Grill Plate: Carne asada alongside a chicken leg or thigh, Spanish rice, pinto beans, warm tortillas and fresh salsa

The deal begins on Black Friday (November 26) and continues through Cyber Monday (November 29).

You do have to have a coupon, however, and you have to enter your name (which will be printed on the coupon) and email address to claim it.

To start the process, simply go to El Pollo Loco’s website and click the Black Friday/Cyber Monday “Get Coupon” button at the bottom of the page.

See, there’s one more thing to be thankful for…and good luck getting that deal!

fresh & easy helps feed the hungry

Neighborhood market fresh & easy is asking its customers to partner with them in helping to fight hunger this holiday season.

They have set up donation bins in its stores for customers to donate canned and boxed goods.

The donations will be given to local food banks and charities, along with food donations from each store.

Donations will be accepted until December 24.

The food drive was the suggestion of fresh & easy store employees who thought customers should have the chance to join the company in hunger relief.

Combined, more than $1 million in food will be given to local food banks and charities during the campaign.

One charity that will be the recipient of donations is Feeding America, which is represented locally by Second Harvest Food Bank serving San Bernardino and Riverside counties.

In other words, your donations — along with fresh & easy’s — will feed hungry folks right here in the Inland Empire.

For more information, check out this post from fresh & easy’s blog.

Free coffee every day at Burger King

I realize the month is over half through, but I just spotted this coupon the other day.

Burger King is giving you free coffee every day this month — with a coupon, of course.

The fast-food restaurant has already been giving away free 12-ounce cups of hot Seattle’s Best coffee during breakfast hours every Friday during November — no purchase necessary, but this coupon gives you more.

You get your choice of a small hot or cold coffee any day…and not just during breakfast hours.

And where will you get this coupon?

From your friends here at Dine 909. Just click this link.

Enjoy!

Stater Bros. begins campaign to help needy

Stater Bros. stores have begun their annual Harvesting Hope campaign to help provide food for those in need.

They’ll be accepting monetary donations at registers (via collection canisters and $10 donation vouchers) and non-perishable food items in bins placed in the front of stores. Donated food does not need to be purchased at Staters.

The collections will continue through December 13.

Stater Bros. Charities will be donating more than $450,000 to local food banks and self-help organizations.

Harvesting Hope partners include:

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