The Red Phone is back again investigating the major problems and the minutia of life in San Benito County. Calls continued this week to the Crimson Crusader, listening as always to the people of our area. The Red Phone took a calls about helping seniors pay the bills, Hollister’s weekly farmers market; and got the run-around from the cannery on its clamorous summer season. What’s your question, comment or concern? Call the Red Phone, get some action.
Helping hands
A caller expressed interest in a Free Lance item she read detailing where local seniors can find help paying their rent.
“A while back, I think it was in the Free Lance, I read something about aid for seniors to pay their rent,” she said. “I think it helped seniors who are on social security who need help paying their rent. If you could you please print something about that, I would appreciate it.”
It appears as though the item the caller read printed before the Red Phone’s time at the Free Lance. Regardless, the Crimson Crusader found some help for seniors. It appears as though the caller was referring to Community Services Workforce Development, a federally-funded, non-profit in Hollister. The organization provides assistance for seniors facing a three-day eviction from their home and will pay up to $800 of the first month’s rent for seniors moving into a new home. The group also provides assistance with Pacific Gas & Electric bills.
Another local non-profit, Jovenes de Antano, has a number of assistance programs, though none assist with rent payments. The center does provide food programs where seniors can travel to the center in Hollister on 300 West St. for meals and another program that delivers meals and checks on the welfare for seniors who have trouble getting around. The Linkage program links seniors with help that allows them to live at home as long as possible before moving to a full care center. The Family Caregiver Support program provides help and a support network for the care givers assisting their elderly loved ones. Community Services Workforce Development phone number is 831-637-9275 and Jovenes de Antano’s is 831-637-9275.
Farmer’s Fun
One respondent commented on the return of the Farmers Market to Hollister for the summer.
“I’m glad the Farmer’s Market is going on,” she said. “The fish was fresh, there was a lot of people selling fresh vegetables and they had a lot of plants for pretty cheap. My only complaint is that it’s pretty small and they need to have more vendors selling stuff.”
Still holding for the cannery
The Red Phone, in its quest to answer a question about whether cannery noise will be under control this season, has had the run-around from San Benito Foods, owner of the cannery. The local office forwarded the Red Phone first to in-house managers who deferred it to Johnnie Martin at corporate headquarters in Vancouver, Wash. Martin, who would not answer the Red Phone question, forwarded it to Matt Jones who did not return calls by press time. The Free Lance staff will investigate in an article next week, and Red Phone will continue the hunt. San Benito Foods corporate office can be reached at 360-696-4356. If you call them, tell them to call the Red Phone.
