Getting your
Trinity Audioplayer ready...#### More grant funding After several people asked the Los Gatos Town Council on June 2 to grant $20,000 to a San Jose-based nonprofit that provides housing support, legal immigration services and educational programs, the council allocated more money to the town’s community grant program.
Amigos de Guadalupe is asking every municipality in Santa Clara County to contribute. Jeremy Bruce, a support staff member for the nonprofit’s 24/7 Immigration and Customs Enforcement hotline, said the nonprofit had previously asked for funding from Santa Clara, Sunnyvale and Mountain View, but no commitments had been made yet.
Bruce spoke over Zoom about the need for the money and asserted that Santa Clara County has been “greatly impacted” by immigration enforcement.
“Los Gatos should approve a one-time $20,000 grant to help immigrant families, to provide educational support, potential legal support, to ensure people are given their due legal rights, that they are protected, that they know what their rights are and that they are provided with potential life-saving emergency care,” said Los Gatos Anti-Racism Coalition President Jeff Suzuki.
Some council members expressed concern that the money would not be used to directly help town residents. Councilmember Mary Bedame said, “I could see that it’s needed in other communities, but this is more of ‘what if’ right now for Los Gatos, so when we dole out the money, I want something that’s needed now that serves the greater community of Los Gatos.”
The council eventually approved allocating $20,000 to the town’s sustaining grant program and allowed applicants to amend their proposal to account for the increase funds. The council will review applications again in August. According to an email from the Los Gatos Anti-Racism Coalition, the yearly limit on the one-time community grant program was increased by $30,000.
Shop for a Cause
The Butter Paddle in Los Gatos is partnering with Beyond Text Bookstore on July 12 to raise money for children and families in need in Santa Clara County.
On that day, Beyond Text will donate a portion of its sales to the nonprofit Butter Paddle, which benefits Pacific Clinics, which provides mental and behavioral health services to children and families throughout Santa Clara County.
Beyond Text is located at 318 N. Santa Cruz Ave. The fundraiser will run from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.