How Fresno EOC is Teaming up with Partners to Provide Vital Supplies in a Pandemic

Fresno EOC, a Community Action Agency which operates 35 programs serving the most vulnerable populations in Fresno County, received its latest donation from SupplyBank.org on April 21. Donations were delivered by a new partner, the Central Valley Opportunity Center (CVOC), a truck driving school out of Madera, which is expected to help pioneer new models of collaboration.

The agencies held a news conference to celebrate the partnerships at Fresno EOC offices on Mariposa Street. Fresno EOC’s CEO, Emilia Reyes, expressed her appreciation for the generous donation of $274,000 worth of cleaning supplies, personal protective equipment (PPE), diapers, and wipes that will be distributed to clients. “With these vital donations from SupplyBank.org, in partnership with the California Department of Community Services and Development (CSD), we are able to provide more help to Fresno County residents, so they have access to much-needed health and safety supplies.”

SupplyBank.org says the ongoing donation effort is in response to the pandemic, related supply shortages, and price gouging. The non-profit, in partnership with the California Department of Community Services and Development (CSD) established the COVID Response and Poverty Reduction Program to ensure Community Action Agencies (CAA) throughout the state have the materials they need. Since December 2020, the program has distributed $6.6 million worth of supplies to Community Action Agencies in California.

The donation to Fresno EOC will be distributed among staff in more than 35 of its programs, including WIC, Head Start 0 to 5, Food Services, and the African American Coalition. Marcie Santana, Coordinator for the African American Coalition, Fresno COVID-19 Equity Project, touched on the need for these generous donations. Her team consists of frontline workers who go out into the community to test, vaccinate, and educate people to stop the spread of COVID-19. She says they reach about 450 people each week. “These quality items, including masks and diapers, have been invaluable in order for us to do our work. These much-needed supplies are given out to community members who may have barriers in accessing them. So, it is very important that we are able to go out into the community and service the people who are the most vulnerable and the people who are out there struggling.”