Caravan brings masks, food to farmworkers in Monterey County.
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Darlene Tenes, a San Jose event planner in San Jose who also runs the Latino lifestyle brand CasaQ, has turned her attention toward organizing an entirely different kind of event: A caravan to bring needed supplies such as food and face masks to people working in the fields in Monterey County.
After hearing about a similar effort recently organized by Central Coast Assemblyman Robert Rivas, Tenes thought it would be something she could replicate in San Jose. She reached out to people on her neighborhood e-mail list and got a great response, and ended up taking a few carloads of supplies down Saturday. Then, like any good organizer, she decided to scale up the project, opening it up to the entire community by sending it out on her CasaQ e-mail list.
The response has been huge so far, Tenes said. The San Jose Woman’s Club has opened its doors to accept “no-contact” dropoff donations at its clubhouse, at 70 S. 11th St., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Clothes aren’t needed, but people can donate nonperish
able food items; hand sanitizer, personal hygiene products including toothbrushes, toilet paper and shampoo; and face masks. The Latina Golf Association called to donated 300 N-95 masks, Tenes said.
“They especially need N-95 masks, not only because of coronavirus and allergies but the pesticides,” she said. “They are essential workers, which people forget.”
Right now, Tenes said, she needs volunteers to help take and sort donations on Friday and trucks — especially box trucks — onto which the donations can be loaded Friday afternoon and trucked to the Salinas area Saturday morning. Tenes is working with Catholic Charities of Monterey County and the Alisal Health Center in Salinas to distribute the goods to workers. But she also plans to have the caravan give a “thank you” parade to workers in the fields while they’re there.
Tenes said all vehicles going have to register in advance and she’s not making Saturday’s departure point public to make sure the humanitarian event isn’t hijacked by people just looking to get out of town for the day. If you can volunteer, email her at darlene@casaq.com; you can get more information and register to participate at farmworkercaravan.eventbrite.com.
“I was expecting to get backlash, but surprisingly I’ve gotten nothing but positive response,” Tenes said. “So many people are saying they are so glad we’re showing appreciation for these essential workers.”
FROM STAGE TO KITCHEN >> There’s not much cooking at the Center for the Performing Arts these days, but Broadway San Jose General Manager Gretchen Feyer is marshaling fans to put their idle time to good — and delicious — use by contributing a recipe to the Broadway San Jose Family Cookbook.
Anyone — from kids who cook to professional chefs — can submit a recipe inspired by one of the shows from Broadway San Jose’s upcoming 2020-21 season, which includes “Disney’s The Lion King,” “Tootsie” and “Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” One submission in each of three categories — Most Inventive Recipe, Most Unique Ingredient and Best Photo/Video — will win a Broadway San Jose swag bag. Entries must be received by May 29, and you can get all the details at broadwaysanjose.com/ cookbook.
The company also has launched a fundraising drive for Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, which has been working overtime to keep people fed during the coronavirus pandemic. You can donate to that effort at broadwaysanjose.com. “Much like musical theatre, food nourishes the mind, body, and soul,” Feyer said. “While our doors are temporarily closed, we wanted to come up with ways for our patrons to stay involved with us and our community.”
SHIFTING GEARS FOR GOOD >> South Bay businesses and nonprofits are continuing to pivot their operations to help others during the coronavirus pandemic. Hermitage Brewing Co. in San Jose donated more than 550 gallons of beer to Blume Distillation in Watsonville to make hand sanitizer that will be distributed to first responders. The brew was hauled off Monday morning, but don’t worry, Hermitage still has plenty of beer on the shelves of grocery stores and other retail outlets.
Meanwhile, Family Giving Tree — which normally provides low-income kids with supply-filled backpacks and holiday gifts — has turned into an emergency provider of school supplies.
“We have been making and delivering bags of the needed supplies and schools have been passing them out when families come to pick up their free lunches,” said Jennifer Cullenbine, Family Giving Tree’s founder, CEO and “Queen Elf.”