St. Clare's Corner

St. Clare's Corner opened in 1982 to provide household goods, clothing, and food to families in need who live in the general neighborhood of our Companions of the Way Community in Salinas. Clare's is open during the winter months of high unemployment, October- May. By offering this assistance, Clare's serves as a necessary buffer to help families through these difficult months. Clare's continues our vision of neighborhoods of mutual aid. Since our Salinas community has many seasonal farm workers, the need is great. We serve about 260 families, weekly, every year.

The primary objective of St. Clare's Corner is to offer friendship and presence to our neighbors, and others who may come to us, through a weekly distribution of donated and purchased food, etc. All items are distributed free of charge. Neighborhood volunteers spend hours each week sorting and assembling food bags.

Food Bank for Monterey County is our partner in St. Clare's Corner, allowing us to participate as one of their food pantries, and helping us apply for FEMA funding to purchase and distribute food to our neighbors. 

Clare's is open one day per week, and then on an emergency basis as needed. It is open to anyone and everyone who comes with no requirements, identification, or limit on the number of visits. Persons can receive aid every week if needed. The majority of persons who come are poor women and children who live in our general neighborhood.

How You Can Help

Even with FEMA funding, we still run out of funds every year for Clare's - these families really need a lot of support.  We find that most of our funding goes toward the purchase of rice and beans.  These dry goods are nutritious and our families use them as a mainstay through the winter. We could really use a direct connection to wholesale bulk rice and dry beans. Please give Jill a call at 831-578-4198 if you have any information on a rice and beans connection.

We can always use your monetary donations to fund St. Clare's Corner - your investment helps feed lots of families that live in poverty.