The Highlands Park Senior and Community Center of San Lorenzo in Ben Lomond has received $15,000 from Pacific Gas & Electric to purchase and install a generator that will allow it to remain open during power outages. It’s part of a plan to make the center a place where residents can gather in emergencies.
“We are in the process of registering the center as an emergency response location so we can offer community members a safe place to gather, reduce isolation, recharge devices and access programs like Meals on Wheels,” said Coco Raner-Walter, board president for Highlands Park Senior and Community Center. “Our mission statement is all about engaging and involving our community, and the generator is our primary expenditure to do this during bad weather and extreme events in our valley. We are very happy that PG&E wants to help us meet our goals.”
In a release, PG&E noted that the San Lorenzo Valley is often affected by powerful winter storms and high wildfire risk in the summer.
“We are so grateful that our customers in the San Lorenzo Valley understand the risk and take measures to protect themselves in all seasons and conditions. Supporting the Senior and Community Public Center will help connect our most vulnerable customers in San Lorenzo Valley to resources and programs when they need it most,” said Teresa Alvarado, vice president for PG&E’s South Bay and Central Coast region.
The center already serves as a vaccination clinic, vote-by-mail polling location, a cooling center and a key location for community meetings.
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