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Having lost its two major funding sources, Jovenes De Antano is at a crossroads after decades of service to Hollister’s senior community.
At the May 19 Hollister City Council meeting, Jovenes executive director Danny Barrera Jr. and a group of seniors shared their concerns regarding the organization’s future after it lost its food service contract and transportation funding.
Barrera said the city had given them notice to vacate their space at the Pauline Valdivia Memorial Community Center by June 30. He pleaded with the council for more time to find a new location.
But a Jovenes board member contradicted Barrera and said the organization aims to continue operating out of the Community Center location and providing some services for seniors in San Benito County.
City Manager David Mirrione said the council discussed a potential community center lease with the organization in closed session following the public portion of the May 19 meeting.
Jovenes De Antano was the service provider for meals and transportation for seniors but recently lost its bid for funding. Jovenes board member Tami Cook-Erickson said the organization will transition from a government-funded nonprofit to relying on private donors.
She said a transition of service providers will occur July 1, when Martha’s Kitchen takes over operations. The meals will continue to be served at Valdivia Memorial Community Center, she said.
“The elderly community members that utilize both the congregate dining and the Meals on Wheels will not have a disruption of food services to them,” she said.
Martha’s Kitchen Executive Director Bill Lee said he is attempting to secure a lease at the Community Center. He declined to comment on the transition process and confusion about services expressed by clients at the May 19 Hollister City Council meeting.
Cook-Erickson said the boards of both nonprofits are in direct communication to make sure “nothing falls through” and to work on transitioning some Jovenes De Antano staff to Martha’s Kitchen.
The Seniors Council of Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties awarded the contract to San Jose-based Martha’s Kitchen for the meals services.
Jovenes also lost a competitive grant for transportation services to Illinois-based Transdev Services, Inc. Jovenes had been the grantee of those multiyear funds until now.
Cook-Erickson said Jovenes is in lease negotiations with the city of Hollister for space at the Community Center, which the organization has been occupying rent-free for more than 30 years in exchange for the services it provides to seniors.
Mirrione said at the May 19 City Council meeting that the city has provided the space for Jovenes since 1989 and that the organization has not been charged for utilities.
Cook-Erickson said Jovenes’ goal is to continue to provide social events for the seniors such as loteria (Mexican bingo), bingo and tax assistance days. She said the organization is also looking to add art and computer classes.
“It’s going to be a community center that has multiple nonprofits in it that take care of our seniors,” she said. “So actually as much as there is confusion and distress, it’s going to be a better partnership moving forward as we bring more services to our seniors in that location.”
At the council meeting, many seniors spoke in support of the 50-year-old Jovenes De Antano and the services it has provided over the years.
Cook-Erickson said Jovenes will continue to provide services through June 30 and that confusion has likely arisen because of the emotional nature of the services.
“It’s unfortunate that these changes are causing a little bit of duress but we will get through this and we will serve our seniors as we always have, with them as the No. 1 priority,” she said. “They will be the No. 1 priority for Martha’s Kitchen also.”
For questions about services, residents can call Jovenes at 831-637–9275, Martha’s Kitchen at 408-293-6111, or Seniors Council at 831-688-0400.
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