JUSTIN Vineyards and Winery announced this week the donation of $60,000 to three nonprofits in Northern San Luis Obispo County.
The donations were made through the Justin Community Grants program for the nonprofits to put towards emergency relief in combatting the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"During these uncertain times, JUSTIN is deeply committed to supporting local organizations that are providing relief and championing the well-being of our region," said Clarence Chia, senior vice president of marketing for JUSTIN. "We commend the vital work these organizations are doing to address the needs of the homeless, families with increased food insecurities, and students participating in distance learning."
A committee of employee volunteers selected the following three organizations to received the grants:
- El Camino Homeless Shelter (ECHO) - $30,000 for ECHO's outreach program to reduce the spread and impact of COVID-19 within the homeless and at-risk communities. ECHO works closely with the Public Health Department to provide these essential services.
- San Luis Obispo County Food Bank - $20,000 to address the increased food insecurities in the region due to COVID-19 through food distribution in North County. The donation will enable the purchase of an additional 140,000 meals.
- 'Paso Robles Childrens Museum - $10,000 to support the Paso Robles Children's Museum's effort in creating and distributing special "Curiosity Kits" containing fun, educational STEAM activities for children in Kindergarten through 6th grade. Through the grant, the museum will be able to provide 1,000 Curiosity Kits to students.
Organizations can request a community grant by visiting this website. Since 2013, JUSTIN has contributed over $550,000 to local organizations through grants and employee-directed donations.