San Benito Co. foodbank to get help from California Conservation Corps

The conservation corps is stepping in since the National Guard is already too busy.

SOME EXTRA HELP FROMTHE CALIFORNIACONSERVATION CORPS.ACTION NEWSREPORTER ALANI LETANGJOINS US NOW LIVE INHOLLISTER.ALANI WHY THECONSERATION CORPSINSTEAD OF THENATIONAL GUARD?#THE COUNTY HADREQUESTED THENATIONAL GUARDS HELPBUT...WERE TOLD THISMORNING...THE GUARD IS DEPLOYEDTO ANOTHER COVID-19-RELATED ASSIGNMENT.SO THECONSERVATION CORPS ISSTEPPING IN TO PROVIDETHE SAME ASSISTANCE.#MARIA THOMAS -COMMUNITY V FOODBANK OF SAN BENITOCOUNTY CEO CLIP#165800:06:48 OH WE AREFEELING GREAT ABOUT ITTHEY WERE HERE THIS AMPACKING ABGS, CLEANINGUP...SUPER GROUP AGROUP OF TENINCLUDING ONESUPERVISOR, CALIFORNIACONSERVATION CORPSMEMBERS GOT TO WORKWEDNESDAY AT THECOMMUNITY FOOD BANKOF SAN BENITO COUNTYIN HOLLISTER.COUNTY LEADERSORIGINALLY REQUESTEDHELP OF THE NATIONALGUARD SO THAT THECOUNTY CAN CONTINUETO FOLLOW THE 'STAY ATHOME' ORDER.DAVE WESTRICK-SANBENITO COUNTY PIOCLIP#1654 00:02:00 "BYHAVING TRAINEDPROFESSIONALS COME INAND HELP US WITH THISVERY NEEDED SERVICES INOUR COMMUNITY" BUTT TOMARIA THOMAS -COMMUNITY FOOD BANKOF SAN BENITO COUNTYCEO CLIP#1658 00:07:18THIS WAY WE AREN'T ASKINGCAN YOU PLEASE COME ANDHELP US.

WE HAVE ITCOVERED," THECONSERVATION CORPSDIRECTOR OFCOMMUNICATIONS TELLSUS THE DEMAND ANDDURATION FOR THENATIONAL GUARD TORESPOND TO FOOD BANKSACROSS THE STATE ISMOUNTING...AND THEGUARD HASTRANSITIONED SOME OFIT'S WORK OVER TO THECONSERVATION CORP TOIMPLEMENT...DAVE WESTRICK-SANBENITO COUNTY PIOCLIP#1654 00:02:53 "THEYARE A SELF-CONTAINED UNIT,THEIR MISSIONS ARE 14 DAYSAT A TIME.

THEY WILL TAKECARE OF ALL THEARRANGEMENTS FOR THEMAND ALSO ALL THESCHDEULING AS WELL," THECORPS MEMBERS WORK 5TO 6 HOUR SHIFTS...LOADING, PACKING...DISTRIBUTING FOOD.EACH MORNING THEYLEAVE THEIR HOMES...AND MEET INWATSONVILLE, LOAD UPA VAN AND HEAD TOHOLLISTER.SAN BENITO COUNTY ISEXCITED FOR ...THE ASSISTANCE INDEALING WITH AGROWING NEED IN THECOMMUNITY.MARIA THOMAS -COMMUNITY FOOD BANKOF SAN BENITO COUNTYCEO CLIP#1658 00:08:07 "IJUST THINK IT'S GREAT, ITWAS GREAT THEY WEREGOING TO SEND THENATIONAL GUARD WHOEVERCOMES THAT'S GREAT.

W EARE A SMALL ISLAND DOWNHERE IN SAN BENITO COUNTAND SOMETIMES FEELFOROTTEN BUT WECERTAINTLY HAVEN'T THISTIME,"HERE AT THE FOOD BANKTHEY TELL US THEY NEEDMORE FUNDS.DUE TO THIS CRISISTHEY'VE COME INTOEXTRA EXPENSES THATWEREN'T BUDGETED FORBECASUE THEY NEEDEDMORE SUPPLIES ANDADDITONAL HELP.THEY ARE ASKING FORFUNDS ..WOULD BE MOREHELPFUL...SINCE THEYDO HAVE A LOT OFACCESS TO FOOD.ERIN..##