Kelly Clarkson Show gives 1,000 new laptops, free WiFi to Monterey County nonprofit
Updated: 4:53 PM PST Dec 6, 2021
since the start of the pandemic, We’ve been proud to feature incredible people who stepped up for others when they needed it most. Our next guest has been passionate about keeping his beloved city of Selena’s fed through all of this? So he spearheaded an effort to get food to his friends, neighbors and complete strangers that makes him a red human. Let’s welcome Jesse. Tell us about growing up in Selena’s, Your community. Tell us a little about it. Absolutely. So Salinas California. We are known as the salad bowl of the world because we’re surrounded by all these bountiful crops and fields. Um and actually the ag industry, it’s really a, it’s really the backbone of our economy and it’s a big part of my family history as well. Um My father actually, when he was younger, that’s what he did. He worked out in the fields um and he was, his life was basically the american dream, but as he got older, he was able to uh start his own business. He started a restaurant, family style mexican restaurant called Rosetta’s armory cafe in downtown Salinas. Uh me, He started it back in the 1970, unfortunately my dad passed away back in oh seven. Um and when that happened, my mom and I, we kept the restaurant going for for a while longer and then a few years ago we both decided that we were ready to move on. My mom wanted to retire and I was looking for a new challenge. I was looking to change careers and so we ended up selling the restaurant, wow, okay, so do you, do you feel that kind of tied to your community in Jersey? Like, No, no, no, I should buy New Jersey. I said bye. I mean, I’m sure the people there are nice, but I’ll see him again. I know what my thing is is like, I think my small town vibe, I think I, I love that charming. I love that field. That’s the part that I miss like from my hometown and you just know all the people and it’s, there’s something like comforting about that. After you sold the restaurant, you continue to stay deeply connected to your community, right? Yes. I found a wonderful position with the boys and girls clubs of Monterey County. Um, it was an administrative position, but I gotta tell you kelly, I worked with such a passionate, hard working group of people that really care about these kids lives and everyday that I come into work. I’m just, I feel so blessed. I get the chance to actually see these kids, their faces light up knowing that this space is theirs and even it’s not just the kids, but their families as well. They are very relieved to know that we’re working with them to help them build great futures in a safe place for them to go. Exactly, yeah. So when the pandemic hit, you led an effort through the boys and, and girls club to keep families fed. So can you tell us about that. Absolutely. So we were very fortunate to receive a contract with the USDA farmers to families food box program. So every week we’re receiving over 700 produce boxes and these boxes contain not just produce, they had fresh veggies, a very protein grains, a lot of really great household staples. And then once we were able to identify the people who need it most, then it was a matter of, okay, let’s let’s load everything up. And so I was there with my team, we were loading up our vans, delivering food boxes straight to these communities. How much food were you able to distribute in total for 2020? We distributed over 100 50,000 meals. Oh my God, that’s a lot of ground like boots on the ground getting that done as well. So while focusing on the community, you dealt with your own financial crisis has a lot of people did the last two years, right? Oh, absolutely. I mentioned when we sold the restaurant, so when we sold it, the, we made an agreement with the buyer that he would pay us back over a certain number of years assuming that he would be able to reopen and make money. Well, unfortunately he was unable to reopen the restaurant and you know, I knew how many small business owners and restaurant owners were suffering at the time. So we made a deal with him. We said, look, we’re not gonna kick you out. We know you have a vision, we want to see you fulfill that vision. So we made an agreement, but part of that was that we weren’t receiving any income during that time, but we’re still looking forward to seeing him fulfill his vision. Oh, 100%. And that’s so kind. I know a lot of people had to be, it just showed a lot of, you know, Grace, a lot of kindness. Like for people being like, okay, I know you can’t do right now. It’s a global pandemic. Like it’s kudos to you for for giving him that option as well, giving him that opportunity because we all need that. But we’re so inspired by you and so our friends at Comcast To thank you. Comcast would like to give you and your family $10,000. Oh yeah, just you. That’s just you and that’s not all. So $10,000 just for you. And then that’s not all Comcast knows how important it is for all students to be connected to educational resources with their Internet essentials program households can get high speed Xfinity internet service for less than $10 a month by a computer for less than 100 and $50 and get access to free digital skills training. So to help the students at Boys and Girls Club of Monterey County Comcast is donating 1000 new Dell laptop computers and a year Xfinity internet service to the kids. Wait, there’s even more, there’s even more Comcast is awesome. Y’all Comcast is also donating $40,000 to the club, along with free wifi at the building as part of the lip zone from Comcast program thing. All these, we were very excited about it. All these announcements are part of project up. Comcast $1 billion.10 year effort to help advance digital equity and build a world of unlimited possibilities for everyone, which is an incredible thing. So thank you. Comcast. Thank you so much for all you’re doing is beautiful. I love that. We’ve got to highlight you keep doing you.
Kelly Clarkson Show gives 1,000 new laptops, free WiFi to Monterey County nonprofit
Updated: 4:53 PM PST Dec 6, 2021
On Monday, The Kelly Clarkson Show announced a big surprise for a Salinas-based nonprofit helpings kids. On her show, Clarkson spoke to Jesse Juarez, of Salinas, and his effort to feed the community during the pandemic. Juarez worked with The Boys and Girls Clubs of Monterey County to deliver more than 151,000 meals and snacks and 11,000 food boxes to those in need. He did this while his own family struggled. At the end of the segment, Clarkson surprised Jesse with $10,000 for him and his family and she gifted The Boys and Girls Clubs of Monterey County with $40,000, free WiFi, 1,000 new laptops and a year of high-speed internet. The gifts are courtesy of Comcast. Watch KSBW 8’s report Monday at 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. to see the moment when the kids learn the news. Or watch Kelly Clarkson announce the gifts when her show airs again at 9 a.m. on Central Coast ABC on Tuesday, Dec. 7.
On Monday, The Kelly Clarkson Show announced a big surprise for a Salinas-based nonprofit helpings kids.
On her show, Clarkson spoke to Jesse Juarez, of Salinas, and his effort to feed the community during the pandemic.
Juarez worked with The Boys and Girls Clubs of Monterey County to deliver more than 151,000 meals and snacks and 11,000 food boxes to those in need. He did this while his own family struggled.
At the end of the segment, Clarkson surprised Jesse with $10,000 for him and his family and she gifted The Boys and Girls Clubs of Monterey County with $40,000, free WiFi, 1,000 new laptops and a year of high-speed internet.
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You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
The gifts are courtesy of Comcast.
Watch KSBW 8’s report Monday at 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. to see the moment when the kids learn the news.
Or watch Kelly Clarkson announce the gifts when her show airs again at 9 a.m. on Central Coast ABC on Tuesday, Dec. 7.
