Reserve a table at the Neighborhood House Association's 'Virtual Gala'.

A sign of the times, I suppose. The San Diego Food Bank's Chris Carter released stats Aug. 4 showing an eye-popping increase in demand for help from the county's residents. Demand in La Mesa, for example, was up 102 percent this spring and summer compared with the same period last year. Spring Valley was up 69 percent, and Chula Vista, up 34 percent, for the same period. Carter says rising prices, layoffs, stagnant wages and foreclosures are forcing residents to seek help. If you can help, call the Food Bank at 858-527-1419 ... Feeling important, are you? It's time to "file" your papers to serve as the honorary mayor of Alpine. It costs $1 per vote, and supporters can vote early and often. So, stuff the ballot box, please! Proceeds help local youth and schools through the education committee of the Alpine Chamber of Commerce. Honorary mayors help with fundraisers, and appear at ribbon cuttings and chamber events. Grab an application at intranet.alpinechamber.com. The winner is to be announced Dec. 2 ... San Diego County's oldest and largest nonprofit social services agency, the Neighborhood House Association, is conducting its second annual "Virtual Gala." The agency launched the online fundraiser to cut its costs, and succeeded, raising 200 percent more compared with previous live galas. Last year, folks raised more than $170,000. So browse on over to nhagala.org and make a donation, or better yet, "purchase a table." Tidbits. Downtown San Diego's Oceanaire Seafood Room wins the Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence for the fourth year in a row ... The Multi-Cultural Convention Services Network holds its second annual multicultural familiarization tour Sept. 18-21. Attendees include reps from the National Black Police Association, Hispanic Hotel Motel Association, National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators & Developers, the Gospel Music Workshop of America, National Black Public Relations Society and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, among several other groups ... The Century Club raised $2.7 million for local nonprofits during the year ending April 30. This record-breaking fundraising, an increase of 12 percent from 2007, benefits 140 organizations, schools, charities and military programs in the San Diego area. Club signature events, including the Buick Invitational golf fest and the Diamond in the Rough Gala, generated nearly all of the charitable proceeds.

Tune in to Mark Larson's Friday morning shows on San Diego 1700 AM to catch Insider Tom York's weekly business report.