Torrey Pines Museum Gift Shop

In 2012, San Diego Woodturners (SDWT) and its program Turn Around for Vets (TAV) began a mutually beneficial relationship with the Torrey Pines Museum. SDWT club member Tom Lightner noted an article in the San Diego Union Tribune about trees being removed, due to beetle damage, from our local Torrey Pines State Forest Reserve. Tom contacted the forest manager, Darren Smith, who allowed SDWT to gather wood. The gathered wood is turned into beautiful bowls, pens and small Torrey Pine “Christmas” trees which are brought to the museum where donations received for these items help support TAV. Thus began a community program which thrives today.

The Sand Dollar Gift Shop

The San Diego Woodturners (SDWT) and its program Turn Around for Vets (TAV) maintain a communal relationship with The Sand Dollar Gift Shop operated by the Naval Officers Spouses Club (NOSC).  The shop is conveniently located in Naval Medical Center (NMC) which is only steps away from where SDWT volunteers teach wood turning to America’s veterans as a way of supplementing their medical care. The Sand Dollar Gift Shop is thrilled to receive and display the veteran’s wood turnings in exchange for donations that foster continuation of the Turn Around for Vets program.