The San Benito County Board of Supervisors has approved
allocation of $20,000 to Community Pantry in light of a potential
deficit and spiking unemployment numbers.
The San Benito County Board of Supervisors has approved allocation of $20,000 to Community Pantry in light of a potential deficit and spiking unemployment numbers.
Supervisors voted 5-0 on Tuesday to give the funds to the Community Pantry for its Emergency Food Program. The money will come from the county’s contingency fund.
Community Pantry attributed the necessity – for what’s considered a one-time request – to spiking unemployment rates and more families being in need. Limitations on how much food the group buys can affect the general nutrition levels of families using the services, she said.
Community Pantry also announced in February it had faced a possible $50,000 deficit by the end of June because the organization had been serving about 60 percent more residents since moving into its new location about a year ago.
“This is a real emergency,” said Mary Ann Hughes, Community Pantry executive director.
Hughes noted at the meeting how unemployment for February is 10.7 percent for the region and asked for the one-time help to provide assistance to people in need.
