Mike Hiles

The Soboba Gives Back! Toy Drive began its annual philanthropic push to collect and distribute Christmas gifts to the neediest of children this holiday season. This atypical year, mostly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, has left many families with less earnings to provide toys for their kids. Soboba Foundation members are grateful that the Soboba Casino Resort is allowing them to help out the community by partnering with them again this year.

To engage young students even further with literacy, the Soboba Tribal Preschool recently unveiled an art project to serve as a focal point for that message. Lenora “Ponie” Mojado painted a tree mural on one of the large walls of the hallway and it is already making a statement.

The Soboba Fire Department recently added a new vehicle to its fleet, and it has already proven to be a perfect fit. Chief Glenn Patterson said he recognized the need for a patrol truck and once funding became available, he was able to start the search.

Fall was in the air as carloads of kids enjoyed a drive-through event at the Soboba Sports Complex on Oct. 24. From 6 to 9 p.m., vehicles made their way through a maze of about 30 candy-laden stops during the tribal community’s Halloween Trunk or Treat event.

When the coronavirus pandemic forced public venues to close their doors and for large gatherings to be curtailed, officials at Soboba Casino Resort’s Event Center had to cancel or reschedule many events. Calls went out in mid-March and only now are nonprofits, businesses and individuals being contacted about revisiting their original plans to host an event there.