Monterey County Local News: Community Service & Support


All Local Community Service & Support News articles contributed by our local media allies and other local newsrooms.

Image caption: Kerry Wood, CEO of the Sacramento Region Community Foundation, says the organization researches areas of need to help donors direct their contributions.
What Is a Community Foundation?

By channeling funds to a number of nonprofits working on various issues in a given region, community foundations help solve big problems throughout California.

Image caption: There are more than 300 community service districts in California.
Community Services Districts, Explained

Community service districts can do most anything a city government can do. Here’s how they work and how to start one.

Image caption:
Celebrating Veterans Every Day

About 1.8 million veterans live in California. Here are some organizations dedicated to serving the needs of those who served America.

Image caption: Stand Down events provide veterans with valuable resources including housing assistance, medical care, and a solid community of support.
Veterans in Need ‘Stand Down’

At hundreds of Stand Down events throughout California, veterans agencies and organizations come together to deliver life’s necessities.

Monterey County Weekly logo From Monterey County Weekly...

01/23/2025
Image for display with article titled CASA Volunteers Help Make a Positive Impact on a Child’s Life.

Celia Jiménez here, thinking of the people who have guided me and believed in me since a young age. That made me think about CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) and the work that they do to provide a stable figure for children who are in foster care.

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01/21/2025
Image for display with article titled Nearly 1,000 People in Seaside March to Commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

A diverse and buoyant crowd of nearly 1,000 people from around Monterey County gathered for a 1.1-mile march through the heart of Seaside on Monday, Jan. 20, to mark Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Salinas Valley Tribune logo From Salinas Valley Tribune...

01/16/2025
Image for display with article titled Greenfield Youth Receive Free Bikes for Dia De Los Reyes

Greenfield Community Science Workshop, in partnership with the Transportation Agency for Monterey County and the City of Greenfield, hosted the Dia de los Reyes (Three Kings Day) Bike Giveaway on Jan. 4.

Monterey County Weekly logo From Monterey County Weekly...

01/13/2025
Image for display with article titled Monterey County Firefighters Support Los Angeles Firefight, Plus Ways You Can Help.

As massive wildfires devastate entire neighborhoods in and around Los Angeles, local agencies from Monterey County have joined in the firefight.

King City Rustler logo From King City Rustler...

01/02/2025
Image for display with article titled Operation Santa 2024 Brings Christmas Cheer to Hundreds of South Monterey County Families

The spirit of Christmas was alive and well earlier this month at the Salinas Valley Fairgrounds in King City, as nearly 600 families from South Monterey County gathered for the annual Operation Santa event.

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12/26/2024
COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS ARE proving that they play a vital role when it comes to public safety in California. The California Reentry Institute, directed by Collette Carroll to help potential parolees, has graduated more than 230 incarcerated individuals in San Quentin Rehabilitation Center.

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12/25/2024
Image for display with article titled CASA Is Turning 30 – And Is Seeking 30 New Volunteers to Aid and Uplift Kids in Foster Care.

Moving can be a distressing event in any kid’s life, especially if they are experiencing neglect or abuse. Having a steady presence in their life while navigating the court system and an uncertain future can have a positive lifelong impact.

Monterey County Weekly logo From Monterey County Weekly...

12/18/2024
Image for display with article titled Measuring Progress on the County’s Post-Flood Recovery Plan in Pajaro.

Sara Rubin here, thinking about the relativity of time. For example: Is recovery in Pajaro moving fast, or slow? The answers vary widely depending on your perspective.

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12/18/2024
Image for display with article titled Community Foundation for Monterey County Announces Recipients of Nearly $2 Million in Grants for Pajaro Recovery.

As part of the Pajaro recovery plan, Monterey County set aside $2 million from a $20 million state allocation to support the town of Pajaro in the form of community grants that will focus on resilience efforts.

King City Rustler logo From King City Rustler...

12/17/2024
Image for display with article titled Rural County Representatives of California Raise Money for Community

Read on to learn which Monterey County nonprofits were recipients of a share of $84,750 raised by the Rural County Representatives of California.

Salinas Valley Tribune logo From Salinas Valley Tribune...

12/09/2024
Image for display with article titled Friendsgiving Lunch Brings Holiday Warmth to Monterey County’s Most Vulnerable

Interim Inc. hosted its annual Friendsgiving Lunch on Friday at the OMNI Resource Center in Salinas, welcoming more than 147 clients and community members, including individuals experiencing homelessness or living with mental health challenges.

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12/08/2024
Image for display with article titled Doing Good: Kiwanis International

Founded as a business organization in 1915, the Kiwanis Club now serves millions of children worldwide.

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12/04/2024
Image for display with article titled The Carmel Youth Center Is Forging a New Path After a Crisis Interrupted Programming.

Of the more than 200 youth centers that crooner and movie star Bing Crosby – and founder of the original Pebble Beach golf tournament – opened across the country to provide activities for pre-teens and teens, only one remains, the Carmel Youth Center. It was his very first center, launched 75 years ago in 1949 while he was living in Pebble Beach. In 2023, it nearly became the last one to shutter.

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11/27/2024
Image for display with article titled When There’s Nowhere Else to Go in the Final Days, Jerry’s Place Offers Safe Refuge at No Cost.

Over the years, oncologist Dr. John Hausdorff and his colleagues at Pacific Cancer Care noticed that some patients needed hospice care but had no viable place to go in their final weeks of life

Salinas Valley Tribune logo From Salinas Valley Tribune...

11/27/2024
Image for display with article titled Greenfield’s First a Day of Thanks Community Dinner a Resounding Success

GREENFIELD — The city of Greenfield came together in a remarkable display of unity and gratitude this past Sunday for its inaugural A Day of Thanks Community Dinner at the Veterans Memorial Hall.

Monterey County Weekly logo From Monterey County Weekly...

11/17/2024
Image for display with article titled The Arts Make for a Thriving Community, but More Investment Is Needed to Make Sure It Continues for Future Generations.

Agata Popęda here, with another arts and culture cover story in this week’s edition of the Weekly. For years I’ve been learning about the structure and the network of arts in Monterey County, starting with a map of galleries, even though I still find new ones. Then there are annual traditions, including artists opening their studios, allowing art lovers into private houses, garages and everywhere where art happens.

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11/14/2024
Image for display with article titled Monterey County Gives! Is Now Live. Make Your Donation to One or Many of the 206 Participating Nonprofits.

Bradley Zeve here. Community is an idea that most everyone I know cherishes and wants more of—a deeper sense of place, commonality and connection, a definition that includes a feeling of fellowship with others as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests and goals.

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11/14/2024
Image for display with article titled Concours d'Elegance Announces Record Amount Raised for Local Charities.

Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance is known for showcasing the world’s finest automobiles, most worth in the millions. As it turns out, however, this year’s event may be remembered for a figure that has nothing to do with cars.

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11/04/2024
Learn more about the annual fundraising day on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, this year falling on December 3.

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10/30/2024
Image for display with article titled A Group Sets an Ambitious Goal to Raise Money for a Chinese Pavilion in Pacific Grove.

An effort to remember and honor the Chinese immigrants who are a part of Pacific Grove’s history is gaining steam, with approximately $100,000 raised toward the construction of a pavilion, moon gate and garden in Elmarie Dyke Open Space next to the town’s historic Chautauqua Hall, to be completed by this time next year.