Area nonprofits allocated Neighborhood Reinvestment Program grants

The Dec. 14 meeting of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors included a 5-0 vote to allocate $79,700 of Neighborhood Reinvestment Program funding from the Fifth District budget of Supervisor Bill Horn to three projects.

North County Veterans' Stand Down will receive $50,000 to help cover costs of that Jan. 27-29 event; the Camp Pendleton Armed Services YMCA was allocated $25,000 to purchase toys for the children of military members, and the Fallbrook Smiles Project will be given $4,700 to purchase personal protective gear for agricultural workers.

The Neighborhood Reinvestment Program is intended to provide grants to non-profit organizations for the furtherance of public purposes at the regional and community levels.

In addition to non-profit organizations, county supervisors can also fund schools and fire departments, and supervisors can also use money from their budgets to supplement other county funding for specific county projects such as parks, roads, and libraries.

Each county supervisor recommends the allocation of his or her Neighborhood Reinvestment Program funds, although those allocations must be approved by a majority of the board.

North County Veterans Stand Down was formed to support local homeless veterans. The Stand Down event, which will be held at Green Oak Ranch in Vista, provides veterans with basic needs and access to supportive services including medical and dental care.

The expenses the Neighborhood Reinvestment Program grant can cover include lighting, carts, postage, printing, ink, paper, signage materials, tables and chairs, hand-held radios, a public address system, extension cords, fencing, office supplies, tape, wrist bands, clothing racks, shade pop-ups, trash cans, trash can liners, sleeping bags, hygiene kits, pillows, and blankets, and the funding can also be used to pay for the rental of generators, golf carts, and a passenger van with a wheelchair lift.

"For the first time a Veterans' Stand Down will be held in North County, and I couldn't be happier for our veterans in need," Horn said. "This grant for $50,000 will help cover the costs of providing basic needs and support services for homeless veterans for three days in January. It will be a great event."

The Camp Pendleton Armed Services YMCA programs and services are intended to enhance the lives of active-duty military members and their families. The YMCA branch began a Santa's Workshop toy drive for military dependents in 2012.

"Every year I look forward to visiting Santa's Workshop at the Armed Services YMCA and supporting their great work," Horn said. "This grant for $25,000 will help stock the shelves with toys for military families and make their Christmas a little brighter."

The Fallbrook Smiles Project supports migrant workers who are employed in agriculture. The Neighborhood Reinvestment Program project will be a one-year pilot program for approximately 45 participants each month.

Personal protective items reduce the risk of workplace injuries which would impact a worker's earning ability, and the program also provides an incentive for workers to undergo health screenings for issues such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

The gear which includes safety goggles, ear plugs, gloves, dust masks, and sanitizing hand wipes will be handed out in kits, and the workers may exchange those for replacement items when they are screened by nurses on a regular schedule. The screening and workplace safety improvements will not only benefit the health and safety of the workers but can also potentially reduce the burden on local emergency medical services providers.

"North County's farming industry relies heavily on agricultural workers, so I am happy to support the Fallbrook Smiles Project with a $4,700 grant," Horn said.