California Conservation Corps to help San Benito County food pantry

SAN BENITO COUNTY, Calif. (KION)

UPDATE 4/1/2020 1:40 p.m. Instead of the National Guard, the California Conservation Corps is now set to help Community Food Pantries.

The San Benito County Board of Supervisors allowed the Office of Emergency Services to request help from the National Guard Tuesday, but Wednesday the Office of Emergency Services was told that the California Conservation Corps will be coming instead.

The change would free up the National Guard to be used in other response situations.

The CCC is made up of workers who are mandated by the state to respond to natural or manmade disasters in California. They are self-contained and can work up to 14 days.

Ten people with CCC started helping at the food pantry Wednesday morning.

PREVIOUS STORY: San Benito County officials announced that the National Guard will be helping and supporting Community Food Pantries starting later this week.

On Tuesday, the San Benito County Board of Supervisors allowed the Office of Emergency Services to request the National Guard's help, and they will begin on Friday.

The county said the National Guard will help with sorting, packing and food distribution.

The National Guard has a local duty post at the Hollister Airport's National Guard Armory, but it exists in all 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia.

State Governors have the ability to call up members of the National Guard during times of emergencies or need. Some of what they do includes battling fires and helping communities deal with floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, snowstorms or other emergencies. Governor Newsom deployed the National Guard on March 20.

The National Guard has already been present on the Central Coast during the coronavirus pandemic. In Watsonville, members of the National Guard helped distribute food at Second Harvest Food Bank, and in Pacific Grove, they helped with coronavirus patients at Asilomar.