San Mateo County Strong

The SMC Strong Fund is now closed & this account no longer actively managed. We thank all who generously gave during the pandemic to help families, businesses.

[San Mateo County Strong @SMC_Strong]

Puente de la Costa Sur is the only organization providing social services to farmworkers, first generation immigrants and Latino seniors and children on the South Coastside.

[San Mateo County Strong @SMC_Strong]

To hear more about #SMCStrong success stories and find out what you can do to help other businesses, visit https://t.co/HvB4JExaJI.

[San Mateo County Strong @SMC_Strong]

@Hapagpilipino specializes in on the one thing that brings us all together: food. They are there for all the most important days in life like weddings or a birthdays, with a mission to make celebrations even happier.

[San Mateo County Strong @SMC_Strong]

After the shutdown, it was Hapag Pilipino who needed the support. With the #SMCStrong grant they were able to afford the basics like rent and utilities so they can stay in business for future celebrations.

[San Mateo County Strong @SMC_Strong]

Thank you for all your help rallying behind our small businesses. Visit https://t.co/9mJKzry72O to learn how you can come together with us to help more small businesses like @47HillsBrewing and @SouthCityCider.

[San Mateo County Strong @SMC_Strong]

If the pandemic taught us anything it's that if we come together, we can overcome any challenge. Like so many other businesses, @47HillsBrewing and @SouthCityCider have been hit hard by the lack of in-person business during the pandemic.

[San Mateo County Strong @SMC_Strong]

With a little help from the #SMCStrong grant, they were able to transition their focus onto retail sales and survive. These two small businesses were able to join forces to help each other and the community.

[San Mateo County Strong @SMC_Strong]

Thanks to the awesome work of Newton Center, the next generation's future is looking bright. You can do your part to help build back a brighter future for your community by visiting https://t.co/HvB4JExaJI.

[San Mateo County Strong @SMC_Strong]

As a nurse working the night shifts, Celine Tamir understood firsthand the struggles of working parents. That's why she founded Newton Center – she wanted to ensure every family had the option of a quality, affordable after school program to take care of their children.

[San Mateo County Strong @SMC_Strong]

As the pandemic raged on, many kids were unable to do online schooling and left behind. To prevent these students from falling further behind, Newton Center used their #SMCStrong grant to start learning hubs that provide a safe, structured environment for students to learn.

[San Mateo County Strong @SMC_Strong]

Today, all three restaurants are open and thriving again. And the food is as delicious as ever.

Many restaurants had their toughest year during the pandemic. Donations to #SMCStrong helped pave the road to recovery but more help is needed at https://t.co/HvB4JExaJI.

[San Mateo County Strong @SMC_Strong]

Chef Manuel Martinez’s restaurants @LVMarRWC, @LaVigaSeafood and San Agus are among the most beloved on the Peninsula. But like countless other restaurants, the pandemic and shelter-in-place orders brought impossible decisions and an uncertain future for the award-winning chef.

[San Mateo County Strong @SMC_Strong]

Before COVID, Chef Martinez had 50 employees across his three restaurants, but the shutdown forced him to lay off all but four. It was the hardest day of his career.

Chef Martinez used his #SMCStrong grant to begin hiring back his staff and start the road towards a new normal.

[San Mateo County Strong @SMC_Strong]

Thanks for helping us help organizations like Puente through your generous contributions to https://t.co/9mJKzry72O

[San Mateo County Strong @SMC_Strong]

Puente de la Costa Sur is the only organization providing social services to farmworkers, first generation immigrants and Latino seniors and children on the South Coastside.

[San Mateo County Strong @SMC_Strong]

Executive Director @RitaMancera said it best: “They’re never first for anything, so when local farmworkers were at the front of the line to receive the vaccine, it was a really big deal."

We couldn't agree more.

[San Mateo County Strong @SMC_Strong]

The #SMCStrong grant came at just the right time. Without it, there'd be no Food Hub and Pie Ranch would've faced painful layoffs. Instead, Pie Ranch now has a popular and needed food security program, thanks to community donations to https://t.co/HvB4JExaJI.

[San Mateo County Strong @SMC_Strong]

@PieRanch is known up and down the Peninsula for its youth programs and farmer training. Last March, when the reality sunk in that the community farm could no longer provide these core services safely, a quick pivot was needed.

[San Mateo County Strong @SMC_Strong]

At the same time, the need for food in local communities was exploding. @PieRanch stepped up and opened its Food Hub to source food from small, local organic farms and package it for distribution to people in need.