San Benito County Community Service & Support Digest

Carly Zanger of the Community Foundation for San Benito County Brenda Weatherly writes about the departure of Brenda Weatherly, who has served as director of donor and community services since 2018.

The California Department of Social Services announced that individuals and families affected by the recent severe winter storms in San Benito, Monterey, Santa Cruz, Kern, Mariposa, Tulare, and Tuolumne counties could be eligible to receive Disaster CalFresh food benefits.

More than 25 people gathered at the San Benito Health Foundation on April 6 for Monterey Bay Economic Partnership’s leadership breakfast featuring Rosa Vivian Fernandez, who spoke on health, housing and San Benito County’s role in advocating for funding. 

At Jovenes de Antaño Senior Services in Hollister, the loss of founder Paulina Valdivia can still be felt.

The fate of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) San Benito County Council #2890 is up in the air as infighting has led to the historical leadership change.  On March 30, LULAC State Director Jose Barrera announced in an email to Council #2890 members, that he appointed Hollister resident Irma Gonzalez as president. 

The newly founded San Benito County chapter of Toastmasters International offers practical advice and guidance.

VFW Post 9242 members, their wives, local business, clubs and churches helped northern San Benito County flooding evacuees on Jan. 4, and again Jan. 16 and 17.

In the heat of election campaign battles, there is an underlying challenge faced by rural school districts across the county. School districts in sparsely populated areas have a more difficult time filling school board positions than urban and suburban schools.

According to a new report, 29.4% of adults and 12% of children in San Benito County are experiencing food insecurity. The report, presented at the Community Foundation Epicenter, states food assistance in San Benito County has increased during 2019-20.

For those living in wildfire-ravaged regions, help might be on the way. Covered California recently announced an application window for victims of wildfires, as well as those who live in fire-prone regions, to apply for assistance.

The San Benito County Chamber of Commerce & Foundation announced the Man, Woman and Businesses of the Year to be honored Nov. 12 at Léal Vineyard’s Olea. This year is the chamber’s 101st Annual Awards Dinner.

Dr. Merrianne Burtch established BirchBark Foundation to assist people facing financial obstacles in caring for pets. “The vision driving our organization,” she said, “is that financial hardship should never cause the loss of any family pet.”

Mary Morales left behind her longtime home in San Juan Bautista for an assisted living facility in Monterey. But first the 87-year-old got to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for a new park she had been working on for more than 13 years.

Tens of thousands of Ukrainian immigrants call California home, and many of them are still processing the shock they’ve felt at the Russian invasion into Ukraine. For those hoping to help, these groups are providing aid to affected Ukranians.

On Feb. 17, the Community Foundation for San Benito County hosted a welcome event at Epicenter, a new building that will house 10 nonprofits starting in March. The 9,324-square-foot space, located in Hollister, can accommodate 17 groups.

Chamberlain Youth Services, an organization that has helped troubled youth for 58 years in San Benito County, has announced the end of their short-term residential program.

December 1 will kick off San Benito County's 12 Days of Giving fundraiser, benefiting several nonprofits.

Volunteers worked to landscape areas of Aromas Sports Park in a project supported by the local Rotary Club.

Partnership for Children has received a $105,000 grant to bring assistance to Central Coast families. The group provides transportation and medical care for children and their families.

A convoy of 55 cars and trucks organized by Catholic Charities of Monterey trekked from from San Jose to Hollister on Oct. 2, delivering thousands of donated food items, emergency supplies and household items for farmworkers affected by the pandemic.

The Community FoodBank of San Benito County tried out several locations when its mobile pantry program rolled out this spring. A new schedule beginning Sept. 20 targets the locations with the largest turnout.

With the recent receipt of grant funds from local organizations, the nonprofit Catholic Charities has $17,041 available for emergency rental assistance services to residents of San Benito County impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Shannon Imbronone’s Savage Designs has been named Small Business of the Year by the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce. She and other businesses and individuals will be honored at the Centennial Celebration, taking place Sept. 12 at Leal Vineyards.

Education leaders have launched CA Kids Fire Relief, a two-week, statewide effort encouraging students and school communities across California to provide financial and emotional support to students, families and schools impacted by catastrophic wildfires.

What may be the longest consecutively running wine tasting event of its kind in California will kick off Sept. 11 when the Gabilan Chapter Kinship Center’s 65th Annual Wine & Food Tasting takes place at Paicines Ranch.

A fundraiser for local nonprofits, the 2021 San Benito Community Auction takes place Aug. 27-30. Sponsored by the San Benito Community Foundation, the virtual auction lets participants bid on packages from local donors.

Good food and wine, a good cause, and a longtime tradition—it all comes together at the 65th Annual Wine & Food Tasting, a fundraiser for the Gabilan Chapter Kinship Center. Held at Paicines Ranch on Sept. 11, the event raises funds for the group’s efforts to “support children in finding their forever homes.”

Hundreds of thousands of veterans suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, and Fourth of July fireworks can be a trigger. Local vets share their experiences with BenitoLink reporter John Chadwell.

The Community FoodBank of San Benito County has taken its fight against hunger on the road with its new moveable pantry: a truck stocked with groceries to help those in need.

“We are getting more people applying for our help, particularly the nutrition programs and Meals on Wheels,” said Pauline Valdivia, executive director of Jovenes de Antaño del Condado de San Benito.