California Fire Foundation supports South Lake Tahoe Family Resource Center

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The California Fire Foundation and Sysco joined forces to help communities impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, and South Lake Tahoe was recently a beneficiary.

The two groups gifted over $5,000 in relief efforts to the South Lake Tahoe Family Resource Center for food for the families they serve.

This non-profit organization provides basic needs services, educational opportunities, family advocacy and bilingual counseling for children and adults in the South Lake Tahoe region.

“Just as California firefighters are on the front lines of wildfires and other natural disasters, so too are the many organizations supporting families and communities through the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Rick Martinez, executive director of the California Fire Foundation. “Our foundation has already supported
communities heavily impacted by disaster, and thanks to the support from Sysco, we are proud to continue that commitment and aid the South Lake Tahoe Family Resource Center in their ongoing efforts to help their communities.”

The Family Resource Center (FRC) focuses on the Spanish-speaking community in the region, which has been disproportionately impacted by this pandemic.

“So many are suffering in our community due to this unprecedented crisis and we have seen the need for our services increase dramatically,” said FRC Executive Director Bill Martinez. “We see the consequences of economic instability daily but thanks to the generous aid from California Fire Foundation and Sysco, we can continue our commitment to the families in our community and help them become a contributing part of the South Lake Tahoe community.”

Throughout the pandemic, FRC has provided rental and food assistance to over 200 impacted families. Their bilingual counseling program continues in full operation to serve the many community members that are under duress during these unprecedented times and food banks have offered much-needed relief to impacted families.

“As leaders in the food and service industry, we recognize the specific needs of organizations such as the South Lake Tahoe Family Resource Center,” said Spencer Richins, New Business Development, Sysco Sacramento. “We are grateful to have the opportunity to collaborate with the California Fire Foundation and aid their ongoing efforts with the state’s non-profits providing much needed relief in these most difficult of times.”

This aid from the California Fire Foundation is part of their ongoing commitment to provide funding and support for community-based organizations that are on the front lines helping those facing the greatest risk from COVID-19.

California Fire Foundation Press Release