More Highlights From Local Nonprofits of the COVID-19 Relief Grant

As we continue our stories from the community we would like to thank our donors, community leaders, and nonprofits for all they have done during this unprecedented time of COVID-19.

We, the Community Foundation for San Benito County (CFFSBC) and United Way of San Benito County, are grateful to provide COVID-19 Relief Grants to our local nonprofits. We are excited to share with you more examples of services our local nonprofits have provided with which these grant awards help make possible:

Hope Services nonprofit offers day services, training and employment, community living, and mental health services to children, adults, and seniors with developmental disabilities. COVID-19 has not stopped Hope Services from giving participants individual support, although it now runs a little different. Delivering learning materials to participants is accomplished while having proper PPE thanks to the COVID-19 Relief Grant. “The best part of my job is working with our clients and it has been really hard not being able to see them every day. Thanks to having PPE available to us, we are able to deliver packets to clients’ homes and see their faces,” said staff member, Jacqueline Lance.

YMCA of San Benito County, despite the COVID-19 crisis, continues its nonprofit services to those in need. Full days of care include Zoom meetings with teachers, schoolwork, and fun activities in the afternoon that get the kids moving. “While the day is fully booked, the greatest accomplishment of the program is that it has allowed the kids freedom to be kids and stay active. We appreciate the COVID-19 Relief Grant so much. We have been able to increase the staff to support and run the program,” said Crystal Canchola, Senior Program Director YMCA of San Benito County.

Partnership for Children nonprofit provides transportation and family support services for children with life-threatening conditions. COVID-19 has raised additional needs in many families due to the loss of income. Through mobilizing efforts and support from the COVID-19 Relief Grant, eight San Benito County families were able to receive additional support including, health and safety needs and housing stability. “The Community Foundation responded so quickly to our grant application that we were able to respond to our families almost instantly. The families’ responses were irreplaceable, they were so thankful to know that they would be receiving help soon, with supplies that they were having such a difficult time finding,” said Jennifer Ramirez, Executive Director, Partnership for Children. “The Community Foundation really recognizes and is aware of what the community needs.”

As our community starts to re-open, we realize that nonprofits are now faced with a different set of obstacles. Our COVID-19 Relief Fund is moving into the Recovery granting phase to expand the help we can provide to San Benito County nonprofits. The grant application and guidelines will be up on our website soon. Please consider donating to the COVID-19 Relief Fund to further help our local nonprofits in their recovery process.

If you would like to donate to the COVID-19 Relief Fund please click here, or call (831) 630-1924.