Contra Costa Herald

News Of By and For The People of Contra Costa County, California

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Drive-thru Thanksgiving food and backpack giveaway by Boys & Girls Clubs of Contra Costa in El Sobrante Tuesday

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Contra Costa kids and families will have the opportunity to have a safe and socially distant Thanksgiving food drive-thru with local community members.

Moose Lodge 550 – With the holiday season approaching Boys & Girls Clubs of Contra Costa decided to host a Thanksgiving drive-thru event. On Tuesday November 24, 2020, Boys & Girls Clubs of Contra Costa will be taking over the Moose Lodge 550 parking lot and making it a family friendly drive-up Thanksgiving meal and backpack giveaway in a socially distant way! The event is a drive-thru event ONLY and will open to Contra Costa County families from 3:00 to 5:00 pm.

“We know times are tough right now for families throughout Contra Costa. Boys & Girls Clubs of Contra Costa is committed to doing whatever it takes to support kids and families,” said Keirstan Faulkner, Director of Education of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Contra Costa.

Our Thanksgiving event will include packages of turkey’s, mashed potatoes, vegetables, mac & cheese, bread, and some fun additional snacks! Families must drive in and remain in the car as they come to pick up their food.

Extra precautions have been put in place by Boys & Girls Clubs of Contra Costa to help ensure the health and safety of all guests wishing to participate in this year’s Thanksgiving Celebration.

If you are interested in participating or donating any food or supplies, please contact Keirstan Faulkner via email at kfaulker@bgccontracosta.org. Any monetary donations to the organization will go towards our COVID-19 relief fund so we can continue to support our community when they need us the most.

Thanksgiving Holiday Food Giveaway with Boys & Girls Clubs of Contra Costa is scheduled for Tuesday November 24th from 3pm to 5 PM PST.

Event Details:

What: Thanksgiving Holiday food giveaway with Boys & Girls Clubs of Contra Costa

When: Tuesday, November 24th, 2020

Where: Moose Lodge 550 at 4674 Appian Way, El Sobrante

For any additional information, please contact us at kfaulkner@bgccontracosta.org

We believe every kid has what it takes to be happy and successful. The mission and core beliefs of Boys & Girls Clubs fuel our commitment to promoting safe, positive and inclusive environments for all. For more information, please visit and get involved at https://www.bgccontracosta.org

Glazer names Walnut Creek-based Trinity Center 7th Senate District 2020 Nonprofit of the Year

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Trinity Center’s new home, part of the St. Paul’s Commons Community in Walnut Creek, California. Photo: Trinity Center website.

State Senator to honor group for its work welcoming vulnerable populations during COVID-19 on Wed., Nov. 18

Senator Steve Glazer, (D-7, Orinda), has chosen Walnut Creek-based Trinity Center as the 2020 California Nonprofit of the Year for his Senate district. Senator Glazer will recognize the nonprofit group in a livestream presentation on Wednesday, November 18.

The livestream will take place on Senator Glazer’s website: https://sd07.senate.ca.gov/ at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, November 18.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Trinity Center has provided a welcoming space for homeless and very low-income individuals at a level not seen before: It served 970 unique individuals and provided more than 56,000 services in 2019-2020.

Trinity Center, located at 1888 Trinity Avenue in Walnut Creek, is a place where vulnerable people can feel physically and emotionally safe, supported in their recovery, and part of a caring group that is focused on helping them escape the challenges of poverty.   Trinity Center operates during the day and offers services such as: meals, showers, laundry, clothing, and mail & telephone access, coupled with case management for benefits, housing, employment, and substance use counseling.

“I am proud to honor Trinity Center for its vital work in keeping people safe and providing them with much needed services during this trying time of the Coronavirus pandemic,” said Glazer. “Trinity Center’s work is a lifeline for people who otherwise might not make it. Nonprofit organizations like Trinity are doing heroic work that cannot be undervalued.”

As a contracted Coordinated Assessment Referral and Engagement (CARE) Center since 2018, Trinity Center is an integral part of Contra Costa’s system of care for persons experiencing or at-risk of homelessness, providing for basic, immediate needs, and linking people with resources to regain stability and housing.

This is the fifth year of the California Nonprofit of the Year initiative, and with nonprofits doing more than ever to help their communities weather this COVID-19 crisis, their work should rightfully be celebrated.

“Nonprofits are often hidden in plain sight,” said Jan Masaoka, CEO of the California Association of Nonprofits (CalNonprofits). “With one in every 14 California jobs being at a nonprofit, honoring a California Nonprofit of the Year shows that elected officials recognize and celebrate the good work they see nonprofits doing in their districts. We urge everyone to appreciate the collective impact of nonprofits in our communities.”

About Trinity Center

Trinity Center is a non-residential program serving homeless and working poor adult men and women in Walnut Creek and Central Contra Costa County. We are a membership community that offers hope and support. We invite everyone to participate in our mission. For more information or to volunteer visit https://trinitycenterwc.org or call (925) 949-8712.

 

ConFire to hold Virtual Fire Prevention Open House this weekend

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Fun, Educational Annual Event Taken Off Concord Training Grounds and Into Residents Homes to Ensure COVID-19 Safety

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 31, beginning at 8 a.m.

WHERE: Online at www.cccfpd.org/annual-open-house

WHAT: Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (Con Fire) hosts its Annual Fire Prevention Open House Saturday with a wide array of educational and potentially lifesaving presentations for every member of the family.

This year, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are taking our normally live and all-day event off the Concord Training Grounds and into resident’s homes using a variety of information-packed videos.

Virtual open house content is available to media for reporting purposes ahead of public release. All open house content will be posted to the Con Fire website beginning at 6 a.m. Saturday.

We’ll appreciate media sharing this unique, COVID-19 inspired virtual event with Bay Area audiences using the attached flyer and linked video content.

ADDITIONAL INFO: Open house video here: http://bit.ly/2020OpenHouseWelcomeVideo

Images of past years’ attendees available here: http://bit.ly/2019OpenHousePics

CONTACT: Steve Hill, PIO, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, (925) 532-6512

About Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (Con Fire) — A recognized fire service leader — Con Fire provides fire and emergency medical services to more than a million people across its 304 square-mile District area, and through mutual aid, in and around the 20 cities and unincorporated communities of Contra Costa County, California. With few exceptions, county emergency ambulance transport services are provided by Con Fire through its unique sub-contractor Alliance model. In 2019, the District responded to nearly 78,000 fire and EMS emergencies and dispatched some 95,000 ambulances, providing expert medical care on more than 74,000 ambulance transports. The District, with 26 fire stations and more than 400 employees, is dedicated to preserving life, property and the environment.

Local non-profit My Angel’s Inc., to co-host free food distribution for 1,000 families in Pittsburg Friday

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My Angel’s Inc. partners with The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano, White Pony Express and The Pentecostals of the Bay Area to fight food insecurity in Eastern Contra Costa County

My Angel’s Inc., of far East Contra Costa County is joining The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano County and White Pony Express to distribute food for 1,000 families at The Pentecostals of the Bay Area, located at 310 Central Ave in Pittsburg, CA from 9 am- until food resources are gone, on October 30, 2020.

This FREE food distribution will include up to two boxes of food items. Everyone is welcome to attend the drive-through style event. This major food distribution event will follow CDC guidelines for social distancing. All attendees should wear a mask. Food will be distributed either directly into the trunk of a car or truck beds. Walk-Up distribution is also available. You do not need to be a resident of Pittsburg to participate in the Major Food Give-Away.

My Angel’s Inc. is an Antioch based not-for-profit organization committed to nourishing those in need. Founder, George Guevara, saw a radical increase in food insecurity throughout Contra Costa County after the pandemic shut businesses down and left many individuals without a consistent source of income. He began to deliver food to many of Contra Costa’s unhoused population and then extended his mission to include partnerships with local food distribution agencies to co-host major food distribution events. My Angel’s Inc. is an increasingly vital asset to providing food to people in need.

My Angel’s Inc. is committed to continually addressing issues pertinent to food insecurity and will continue to collaborate with community-based organizations to help alleviate food insecurity and the struggles that accompany homelessness, and inadequate access to necessary resources, including housing, medical care, mental health wellness, and addiction.

Contra Costa County seeks nominations for Humanitarian of the Year

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Tamisha Walker of Antioch was the recipient of the Contra County Board of Supervisors’ 2020 Humanitarian of the Year Award. She was chosen for her community organizing and advocacy for individuals reentering from the criminal justice system. She is the co-founder and Executive Director of the Safe Return Project, a Richmond, CA based organization invested in securing the freedom of formerly incarcerated individuals. Photo: CoCoCounty

Student and adult Humanitarians to be recognized at 43rd Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Ceremony Jan. 19, 2021

By John Fout, Community & Media Relations Specialist, Contra Costa County Office of Communications & Media

Contra Costa County will commemorate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the 43rd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Ceremony and invites the community to a virtual live-stream of the community event on Tuesday, January 19, 2021. In the spirit of Dr. King’s work and the theme, “Silence is Not an Option,” the County is now seeking nominations for a student and adult Humanitarian of the Year.

Contra Costa County’s Board of Supervisors will recognize two individuals, (1) a community member and (2) a student leader, as individuals whose dedication to others embodies the spirit and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the January event.

We encourage East Bay residents to nominate an adult or a student whose accomplishments and service impact Contra Costa County, its residents and communities, and reflect the spirit of Dr. King’s work and achievements. The nomination period is now open.

The deadline to submit candidates for consideration is Monday, November 30, 2020. To submit online nominations and learn more about the County’s celebration, including previous ceremonies and winners, visit the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Ceremony website.

Sexual and Domestic Violence Town Hall Saturday hosted by The Yellow Heart Committee

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Moderators include Assemblywoman Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, NBC Bay Area’s Candice Nguyen

Citizens will have opportunity to be a party to political leaders discussing sexual assault prevention and survivor empowerment

Zoom – This town hall is to allow survivors, politicians, and non-profit leaders to engage and brainstorm tangible policy changes and actions to support survivors. We look forward to holding a space to hear potent testimonies of the struggles victims have endured post attack, to listen to the demands of victims, and to address the flaws in our criminal justice system. This will be a platform for a conversation and a chance for leaders to reflect on the direct impact they could have on victims’ lives through their policy decisions.

“I knew we needed to get the people who can make change happen in the same room,” said The Yellow Heart Committee Founder N’dea Johnson. “Getting people together, especially during COVID, is never easy. But the work we’re doing, and the education we’re spreading, it’s just too important to wait.”

The virtual town hall is scheduled for October 17th, 2020 at 4 PM PST/7 PM EST. It consists of three panels: Urgency of the Issue, Reimagining Support for Survivors, and Addressing Necessary Policy Changes. In addition, there will be testimonials from survivors, and a panel of political figures. They are listed below.

Speakers:

US Congressman Eric Swalwell

US Congressman Mike Thompson

CA State Assemblymember Rob Bonta

CA State Assemblymember Shirley Weber

Panelists:

CA State Assemblymember Tim Grayson

SC State House Candidate Dr. Jermaine Johnson

Antioch City Council Member Monica Wilson

Oakland City Council President Rebecca Kaplan

President of Alliance For Hope International Casey Gwinn

CEO of Love Never Fails Vanessa Russell

President of SF Pride Carolyn Wysinger

Moderators

CA State Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan

NBC Investigative Reporter and Survivor Candice Nguyen

Suisun City Vice Mayor Wanda Williams

Event Details:

What: Virtual Zoom Town Hall

When: Saturday, October 17, 2020

Where: Zoom. Register Here: https://bit.ly/3mJ9yiv

For any additional information, please contact us at yellowheartcommittee@gmail.com

The Yellow Heart Committee is an organization that is mobilizing to help survivors of trauma through policy making and community outreach. For more information, please visit and get involved at https://www.yellowheartcommittee.com/

Bay Area church with Contra Costa members sends thank you messages to firefighters, encourages others to do the same

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Photos courtesy of San Francisco Zion Church.

By Greg Bernard

In light of the COVID-19 outbreak that has devastated communities around the world, churches and religious institutions have had to shut their doors and services for several months. Congregants have been unable to gather together to fellowship or worship, leaving members feeling isolated and disconnected from their community.

But one church has found that the best way to re-engage members is to get them involved in giving back. San Francisco Zion Church, a Christian church that serves the Bay Area, held a letter-writing campaign for the firefighters of the Greater San Francisco Bay Area this past weekend. Members who participated in the letter-writing campaign hailed from cities and counties across the Bay Area and Northern California: from Contra Costa, Solano, Alameda, San Francisco, and as far as Sacramento.

Local church members and their children wrote cards for the brave men and women who have been fighting the State’s worst wildfires in over a century. Some of these heartwarming letters found their way to Contra Costa’s Fire Departments. The words of encouragement were warmly received, with some firefighters commenting that it was the first public appreciation they’ve gotten for their service in the fires.

Their next major volunteer campaign will be in collaboration with the Red Cross. According to the World Health Organization, blood donations have been in short supply since the beginning of the pandemic. As a result, San Francisco Zion Church resolved to partner with the Red Cross to host a series of blood drives. The first of these drives will begin in November.

“We’ve received over 30 recognitions from local businesses and neighboring cities in the Bay Area in the past few years for our volunteering,” says Adam, a resident of Antioch and member of San Francisco Zion Church. “Next week, we’re raising support for the families affected by the fires and reaching out to the elderly who suffer the most when they are socially isolated from their family members. With everything that’s going on right now, there’s so much need for volunteers.”
For the past five years, San Francisco Zion Church has been active in volunteering and helping people throughout the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Members of the church hope that their volunteerism and donation drives will encourage other churches and organizations in the area to gather together and contribute.

Rep. DeSaulnier to host telephone town hall on coronavirus, the classroom, and our community Thursday

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Rep. Mark DeSaulnier

Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11) will host a telephone town hall to discuss coronavirus, the classroom, our community, and what comes next when school resumes in Contra Costa on Thursday, July 23rd at noon.

Congressman DeSaulnier will be joined on the call by Dr. Bill Walker, former Director of Health Services and current Director of Legislative and Governmental Affairs for Contra Costa Health Services, as well as Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools Lynn Mackey. During the event, Contra Costa residents will have an opportunity to ask questions about the upcoming school year and local districts’ plans for instruction.

Coronavirus, the Classroom, and our Community Telephone Town Hall
Thursday, July 23, 2020
12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. PT

This event is open to the public.

To RSVP and submit a question, click here: https://tthm.wufoo.com/forms/teletownhall-with-congressman-mark-desaulnier/

Happy Independence Day from the Herald – enjoy over 20 minutes of past years’ fireworks

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Another portion of the fantastic fireworks show in Antioch, tonight, at the Contra Costa Event Park (fairgrounds). Anything else you see or hear making our city sound like World War III, again this year, are illegal fireworks.

Posted by Antioch Herald on Thursday, July 4, 2019

A portion of the great Antioch fireworks show, tonight, sponsored in part by the Antioch Herald. This wasn’t even the finale!

Posted by Antioch Herald on Thursday, July 4, 2019

Watch the complete Antioch July 4th Independence Day fireworks show! Sponsored in part by the Antioch Herald. Good job, Celebrate Antioch Foundation.

Posted by Antioch Herald on Tuesday, July 4, 2017