Hollister
– San Benito County has been awarded nearly $40,000 this holiday
season to help provide for the food and shelter needs of the
community’s less fortunate.
Hollister – San Benito County has been awarded nearly $40,000 this holiday season to help provide for the food and shelter needs of the community’s less fortunate.
“This money is very helpful for us every year,” said Mary Anne Hughes of the Community Pantry.
The money comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which is awarded to Community Services and Workforce Development. Community services then parcels out the $39,606 into smaller grants that local nonprofits will apply for.
“The money is available to anyone who provides food and shelter assistance in the county,” said Maria Fehl, CSWD deputy director.
Much of the funds is used to help people who suffer an unexpected financial hardship and can’t pay their rent for a few months.
“If they come to us, we’ll go in and pay their rent, their back rent, whatever it takes to keep their family in the house and make sure they are not evicted,” Fehl said.
The community pantry also receives about $10,000 from the program, which goes directly to purchase food for people who may only use the pantry’s services occasionally.
“We’re a membership program,” said Mary Anne Hughes, pantry executive director. “Our members don’t pay anything, of course; it just helps us keep track of them. But we also accept walk-ins, and this money helps us cover people we don’t know about or don’t expect.”
The walk-ins are becoming more and more frequent every year, Hughes said. On an average month, the pantry serves between 10 and 12 walk-ins, and more than 100 every year.
“This time of year is especially busy,” she said. “The vouchers from Fishes and Loaves (a local Catholic charity that works with the hungry) are mostly all gone for the year, so they are referred to us. But we don’t turn anyone away.”
Other agencies that work to provide food and shelter for the needy are welcome to apply for a grant. Applications are available at 1111 San Felipe Road, Suite 108, and must be submitted by 5pm on Jan. 22. For more information call 637-9293.
Danielle Smith covers education for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or [email protected].
