After such a challenging 2020, I think we can all get behind Happy New Year! While we still face some serious challenges, I'm confident we can overcome them if we work together, and look out for each other.

 

This month I am dedicating the City of Benicia This Week to one of the very unique, very Benicia strengths: Volunteerism. The dedicated volunteers of the many, many organizations committed to making Benicia a better and more caring community are a great credit to our city. They have been there for our community every step of the way since the outbreak of COVID-19. They have put themselves in harms way (volunteering out in the community, providing food and basic necessities, working alongside our public safety staff, working on the roads and freeways to keep our city clean and inviting, and the list goes on and on.)

 

I know they will continue their efforts, and even redouble them, in this most critical of moments as we deal with this surge, the surge upon the surge that we now face. That said, they could use your help. We have included a fairly comprehensive list of volunteer groups working in our community. If you find one on the list that particularly strikes a chord with you, please consider supporting them financially or by volunteering. Any group not on our list, please reach out to us.

 

Sadly, I do need to shine a light on one very special and important volunteer organization, The Kyle Hyland Foundation for Teen Support. We had a young middle school student at Benicia High School commit suicide this week, and a few days before that another young man attempted suicide. To say these times are difficult for our community’s children would be a vast understatement. I know parents and educators in our community are doing everything they can to try and balance the safety of our community in regards to COVID-19 and the mental health of our youth, but it is not easy. The Kyle Hyland Foundation is dedicated to working with our community’s youth on just these issues. Please consider that supporting them is one way of helping support our community in addressing this incredibly difficult issue. I also want to take a moment to thank Barbara Gervase, the founder of the Kyle Hyland Foundation for her unwavering commitment to our children and families, especially given the difficulties of keeping up the fight during this pandemic.

 

Thank you to all of our amazing community warriors working every day to make our community better. And thank you for your interest in the City of Benicia This Week! If you enjoy reading this weekly message, please share and encourage your friends, family, and coworkers to subscribe or text jointhisweek to 22828 (messaging and data rates may apply).