The MEA members below are asking for your help. Due to a catastrophic event or major health crisis, they must take an extended leave without pay from the City. Under Article 73 of the MOU, employees are able to donate annual leave hours to employees in need.
Please consider donating leave hours to help the MEA members below as they face some of the most challenging times in their lives.
Note: if no employees are listed, there are no requests at this time.
Regina Pangelinan
I’m writing to let you know I’m currently undergoing treatment for post-brain tumor removal (Craniotomy) and have been needing frequent time off. I’ve exhausted my annual leave as it comes, and am now relying on my accrued leave that we receive on paydays.
To help cover additional paid time away, I’ve applied to our company’s leave bank, have been approved and would be deeply grateful for any donations you can make. I am a single mother of two teenage children; their father passed away 4 years ago this coming May, and I have been left alone to raise my two beautiful children.
If you’re willing to donate leave hours, please contact HR or follow the company’s leave bank donation process here: https://sandiego.seamlessdocs.com/f/amld. If you’d like to speak privately or have questions, feel free to message me directly or reach out to HR; I appreciate discretion as I manage medical appointments and recovery.
Thank you for your support and understanding during this difficult time. Your generosity will make a meaningful difference.
Peter Flores
We are requesting your support for Peter Flores, a dedicated Parks and Recreation Department employee. Peter had a stroke and has been hospitalized since his stroke February 5 and will exhaust his available leave March 3, 2026.
To help his family members care for him and his medical expenses during this difficult time, we are asking employees to consider donating leave hours to his medical leave bank. Your donation will help ensure Peter remains financially stable and his family extends their thanks and gratitude for the thoughts, prayers, and visits and for any donations you make.
If you would like to contribute, please follow the City’s medical leave donation process ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbNloWs-7-A&feature=youtu.be). Thank you for your compassion and support for a fellow member of our City of San Diego and Parks and Recreation family.
Silvia Lopez
I am in need of assistance and hope that you will be able to contribute some of your leave time to me.
I have established a Medical Leave Bank for my parents. My annual leave is extremely low due to assisting in their medical visits, along with unexpected back and forth visits to the hospital. Having to take time off to care for them both, will deplete my leave time quicker than expected.
For whatever time you can contribute to my medical leave bank, I thank you whole heartedly.
Respectfully and greatly appreciated
Silvia
Payroll Specialist II
Julie Gregg
We are requesting your support for Julie Gregg, a long-time Parks and Recreation Department employee with over 27 years of service. Julie is facing a family medical emergency abroad and has exhausted her available leave.
To help her care for her loved ones during this difficult time, we are asking employees to consider donating leave hours to her medical leave bank. Your donation will help ensure Julie remains financially stable and able to focus on her family’s care needs.
If you would like to contribute, please follow the City’s medical leave donation process ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbNloWs-7-A&feature=youtu.be). Thank you for your compassion and support for a fellow member of our Parks and Recreation family.
Gilberto (Gil) Sanchez
Hi City of San Diego Team,
I hope this message finds you well. My name is Gilberto (Gil) Sanchez, and I have had the pleasure of working with the Office of the City Clerk for over 25 years. I am incredibly grateful for my time here, as the work is fulfilling and the interactions with colleagues both in and out of the office are truly appreciated.
Unfortunately, in March of 2025, I was involved in a car accident that resulted in a shattered radius and ulna in my left wrist, as well as a broken finger on my right hand. While I have exhausted my leave time, I am not yet able to return to work full-time. Additionally, I have recently developed issues with my shoulder and elbow due to the accident, and my doctors have extended my physical therapy for my wrist and recommended an evaluation and therapy for my shoulder.
I am eager to return to work as soon as the pain subsides to a manageable level. In the meantime, I would greatly appreciate any contributions of leave time that you can spare to support my recovery.
Thank you so much for your understanding and support.
Maria Gonzalez
Hello, my name is Maria Gonzalez. I’ve worked at the City for over 23 years and was a Navy Reservist for 22 years, where I served in Afghanistan for a year. I am scheduled to have the first of two major spinal surgeries in the coming months for complex regional pain syndrome. I’ve experienced continued medical issues for the past several years and used annual leave and furlough to cover time for doctors’ appointments and treatments.
I am proud of my years in the Library department and now, I am proud of the work that I do in SDCERS to help City employees with their retirement. However, for the past six months, I have been taking at least two hours per day without pay. I am not able to work a full eight-hour day because of the pain that I am in. I expect to exhaust my annual leave for these surgeries and the recovery time. Currently, I will not have enough time to cover the 29 days before I am eligible for long-term disability. I would greatly appreciate any donations of leave time you would be able to share with me. (May 29, 2025)
Christopher Miller
Dear City of San Diego Team,
I hope that this letter finds you and your family well.
My name is Christopher Miller, I have been a Code Compliance Officer for ESD for over two years. I am writing to you to share a deeply personal matter. Recently, I have been diagnosed with ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease (for baseball fans). ALS is a debilitating illness that will eventually paralyze me and cause my death. Most people diagnosed with ALS pass away within 2-5 years while the disease slowly takes away their ability to move, eat, and breath.
I am going through this with my wife Kimberly and my son Elijah. Elijah recently turned ten and Kim and I will celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary in June. I am trying to make the time that I have left on this earth special for myself and my family before this horrible disease takes away my ability to do the things I enjoy and eventually my life.
I know the city has a program, The Catastrophic Leave Program, which allows other employees to donate their time off to a bank that can be used to help others who need additional time off due to illness or other life events. I love my job and the team of people I work with. I hope to continue working for a long time while balancing out the time I have left with my family and friends. This program would go a long way to helping me do just that. I cannot thank you enough for considering my request. (May 2025)