Second year of two-year grant doled out to local charities
Ten local nonprofits were awarded grants by Hollister’s city
council members Feb. 19. The money will help staff from local
groups continue operations.
Second year of two-year grant doled out to local charities
Ten local nonprofits were awarded grants by Hollister’s city council members Feb. 19. The money will help staff from local groups continue operations.
The grants will help feed needy families in San Benito County, provide shelter for women who survived domestic violence and fund a gang prevention program, among other needs.
City council members awarded staff from Community Pantry $20,000, according to documents from city council.
Staff from the Community Pantry distributes food to low income families in San Benito County.
Last month, they distributed food to 4,000 people, said Mary Anne Hughes, executive director of Community Pantry.
“We’re using it to pay rent,” Hughes said. “And it also is being used to buy food.”
A little over a year ago, staff from Community Pantry had to move out of a building at the airport that was rent free.
“The block grant is their way of helping us out with the rent,” Hughes said, referring to city council members.
The grants are the last of a two-year program, said Jeff Pyle, Hollister’s economic development manager.
Grants ranged from $900 to $20,000, according to documents from city council members.
“I think we did a pretty good job of matching up the dollars with what the needs are,” Pyle said. “This is a grant using money that the city has had for a few years.”
After the earthquake in 1989, Hollister officials loaned money to property owners as part of a program to rehabilitate commercial properties that were damaged, Pyle said.
When the properties were sold, the loans were repaid, Pyle said. City officials were repaid about $1,000,000, Pyle said.
In 2006, city council members decided to spend $250,000 of the money as grants for local nonprofits, Pyle said.
“It’s all from that original pot that was repaid back from properties that were damaged,” Pyle said.
Last year, city council distributed about $147,000, Pyle said. This year, city council members awarded nearly $112,000, based on documents from city council.
Staff from Emmaus House were also awarded $20,000, according to documents from city council.
“We’ll be using the money for our general operations and the services that we provide the women here,” Yarmuth said. “This will definitely help in our shortfall that we are going to be expecting this year.”
Even with the grant, staff from Emmaus are expecting a $70,000 deficit by the end of the year, said Dale Yarmuth, Executive Director of Emmaus House.
To make up for the shortfall, Yarmuth is applying for other grants, he said.
Last year, staff from Hollister Youth Alliance started a gang prevention program, said Diane Ortiz, executive director of Hollister Youth Alliance.
The $15,000 grant will allow staff to continue the program, Ortiz said.
“I’m very excited that we’re going to be able to continue this work,” Ortiz said. “We’ll be doing some work with parents, as well as some presentations and working with the youth as well.”
To fund the program next year, Ortiz will apply for other grants, she said.
