MONTEREY COUNTY — Community Foundation for Monterey County (CFMC) created the Monterey County Storm Relief Fund on Jan. 10 to assist communities impacted by the 2023 winter storms.
The fund is a trusted repository for donations and 100% of gifts to cfmco.org/StormRelief will be used for grantmaking to local nonprofits for storm relief and recovery throughout Monterey County.
The CFMC awarded a total of $216,400 from the Monterey County Storm Relief Fund to date. The fund granted $95,000 the week of Jan. 16 to three community-based organizations: Community Emergency Response Volunteers of the Monterey Peninsula (CERV), Community Bridges and Casa de la Cultura Center.
CERV promotes and sustains preparedness, readiness and response to emergencies and critical events. The CERV grant provides financial support for farmworkers in Salinas, Salinas Valley and South Monterey County.
Community Bridges and Casa de la Cultura Center, both located in Pajaro, will provide economic assistance for North Monterey County residents in affected areas. Community Bridges delivers essential services and provides equitable access to resources. Casa de la Cultura Center, a trusted local resource since 1989, offers a variety of programs and services in Pajaro, primarily for the farmworker community.
The CFMC awarded an additional $121,400 on Jan. 24 to five nonprofit organizations: ACTION Council for storm relief for impacted communities; Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Monterey for storm relief for impacted communities; Community Association of Big Sur (CABS) for storm relief for Big Sur South Coast; Meals on Wheels of the Monterey Peninsula for emergency response meals, including Cachagua and Big Sur; and Wonder Wood Ranch for storm and mudslide repairs.
Grants were made possible by the Community Foundation for Monterey County, the Monterey Peninsula Foundation, host of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, with additional support from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Vistra Energy, CFMC donor advisors, individuals and businesses.
The CFMC expects to make additional grants to nonprofits as grant applications and donations are received. More information, guidelines and details are available at cfmco.org/StormReliefGrants.
“The need is great to support local families,” said Laurel Lee-Alexander, vice president of community impact. “Donations to the Monterey County Storm Relief fund will help nonprofits providing direct assistance and recovery.”
Additional support for those affected came from the Community Fund for Carmel Valley, an affiliate fund of the Community Foundation for Monterey County. The local advisory board activated their Carmel Valley Disaster Relief Fund on Jan. 11 and made an immediate grant of $15,000 to the Carmel Valley Rotary Club Foundation to provide gift cards to Carmel Valley residents affected by the storms.
Those wishing to contribute to the Monterey County Storm Relief can donate online at cfmco.org/StormRelief, mail a check payable to “CFMC” to the Community Foundation for Monterey County, 2354 Garden Road, Monterey, CA, 93940 with “Storm Relief Fund” in memo line or call 831-375-9712 weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Grants will be directed countywide.
Donations to the fund will provide emergency assistance and relief through local nonprofits for immediate needs, including food, emergency shelter, financial assistance to those evacuated and support for first responders, as well as recovery efforts.
