Galen Kusic, Editor

The Benicia Community Action Council continues to positively impact lives by helping those in need.

“You know we’re busy,” said Executive Director Viola Robertson, who has run the non-profit since 1980. “It’s like a one-stop shop.”

The CAC features a beautiful commercial kitchen downstairs, where fresh meals are cooked five times a week for seniors for the low price of $4.50. Between 30-40 meals are typically delivered to homebound seniors daily. Over 350 meals are delivered each month. The meals actually cost around $11 to prepare, but are subsidized for seniors.

“Our volunteer drivers are fantastic,” said Senior Meals Coordinator Nancy Wold. “They’ll take the food in if we need it, if they order more than one, they’ll put it in the freezer. They’ll do a check if someone ordered food and no one comes to the door. It’s a good deal for the homebound seniors.”

Robertson designs the menu herself with the help of her friend, a nutritionist at Kaiser. She reviews it to make sure it’s healthy before she puts the menu out. Last week, Robertson cooked a Black History dinner with barbecued ribs, links, collard greens, etc. The seniors were ecstatic to have such a wonderful meal.

“We got our own kitchen because we wanted to have a better meal for the seniors,” said Robertson. “It’s cooked right there, it’s not bulk. My seniors seem to like the meals. It’s fresh cooked everyday.”

People from the community garden bring in fresh produce and the food bank donates items each Monday. The CAC relies on the Benicia community to pitch in and help out, allowing the CAC to give back.

Part of giving back is the CAC’s annual Thanksgiving dinner at the Benicia Clocktower for between 4 – 500 people. The Lions donate 18 turkeys and Soroptimist donates money to buy hams. Elected officials and city staff serve the food. The cooking is all done at the CAC.

“If there’s something we can do for anybody, we do it,” said Robertson. “We try not to send them to another agency, we try to do it ourselves.”

Robertson is the only full-time employee at the CAC. The CAC is located at 480 Military East, where the non-profit has called home since 1999. The building was acquired when Robertson put in a grant and was awarded $75,000.

Last year, Valero did a fundraiser for the CAC and they were able to pay the mortgage off on the building. That freed up around $1,000 a month, which goes right back into making sure the CAC runs smoothly and provides as many services to its clients as humanly possible.

“Volunteers can always help,” said Robertson. “We always need someone to answer the phone. The biggest challenge is keeping this office afloat.”

While donated canned foods are always welcome, Robertson doesn’t use it if it’s too old. She recommends donating flour, sugar, cereal, crackers, pull-top tuna – something of quality that can be given out. If she won’t eat it, she won’t serve it.

She cites that last Dec. it was a very tough time because Raley’s corporate decided to cut donations to the CAC and give to the Contra Costa Food Bank instead. That left the CAC hanging at an extremely critical point.

When word spread that the CAC was only receiving five turkeys for Christmas dinners and 163 families were in need – Benicians stepped up to the plate and donated turkeys and money to make it happen.

Another service offered at the Benicia CAC is tax prep. Last year alone, the non-profit did 195 families’ taxes. The CAC is currently looking for someone to help with taxes this year because of the new complicated changes. Anyone is welcome to come in and get their taxes done, regardless of income.

Robertson notes the most rewarding thing about her work is knowing people are taken care of.

“I know what they’re going through,” she said. “Being able to deal with it when they come in here and help them is very rewarding. We get a lot of nice thank you cards from people that we’ve helped.”

After being at the CAC for over 38 years, it is a struggle to consistently help people – but by stretching dollars and making things work no matter what, the Robertson and the CAC has survived and continues to help anyone in need.

Homeless folks often come to the CAC for help as well. When there are leftover meals, the homeless are welcome to come by and pick up a meal.

The CAC now has a can where people can donate change in the office. If you’re passing by the office and have some loose change during business hours, stop in and donate. All the proceeds will go towards providing Christmas meals for families.

The Benicia CAC is open Mon. – Fri. 9 – 4:30 p.m. Look out for this year’s fashion show fundraiser coming up in April. Last year’s event raised $15,000 toward providing senior meals.