Health Projects Center Receives $5,000 Grant to Support Unpaid Family Caregivers in San Benito County
- Jul 28
- 2 min read
This funding will provide important in-home respite care, stress-relief resources, and support for local families caring for loved ones with cognitive and neurological conditions.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HOLLISTER, Calif., July 28, 2026 – Health Projects Center (HPC) has received a $5,000 Program Project Grant from the Community Foundation for San Benito County. This grant will help provide respite services for unpaid family caregivers in San Benito County.
The grant will help meet an important need for family caregivers who are not eligible for state or federal respite funding. It will pay for temporary in-home care so caregivers can attend medical appointments, handle personal tasks, run errands, or simply take a break from their caregiving responsibilities.
"We've all heard the instruction on an airplane to put on your own oxygen mask before helping someone else. For family caregivers, that's often easier said than done," said John Beleutz, Executive Director of HPC. "Caregivers spend so much of their time focused on the needs of a loved one that they rarely give themselves permission to rest and recharge. This grant allows us to provide much-needed respite support so caregivers can take a break, tend to their own well-being, and return to their caregiving role healthier, stronger, and better equipped to care for others. Taking care of yourself isn't a luxury. It's an essential part of being able to continue caring for the people who depend on you."
With this grant, HPC will offer in-home respite care to more unpaid family caregivers in San Benito County through its Del Mar Caregiver Resource Center. The program aims to lower caregiver stress, boost confidence, and give families the tools they need to care for loved ones safely and well.
In addition to respite care, caregivers in the program will receive information and tools to support self-care, connect with local resources, and manage caregiving challenges. These include educational materials about chronic conditions, caregiver stress, grief, and loss. By offering these resources, the grant supports families beyond respite hours and strengthens HPC’s in-person caregiver support group in Hollister. Supporting caregivers helps improve the health and quality of life for those they care for.
“Caregiving can be rewarding, but it can also be physically and emotionally demanding,” said Jessica Mattila, MSW, LCSW, Clinical Supervisor of the Del Mar Caregiver Resource Center. “Even a few hours of respite can make a meaningful difference by helping caregivers recharge, manage stress, and return to their caregiving responsibilities with renewed energy.”
This project is funded in part by a Program Grant from the Community Foundation for San Benito County.
To find out more about how the Del Mar Caregiver Resource Center helps family caregivers, visit www.delmarcaregiver.org.
Family caregivers who need support can sign up through CareNav or call (800) 624-8304.
About Health Projects Center
Health Projects Center (HPC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1980. HPC serves Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz, and San Luis Obispo Counties with care management, caregiver support, and workforce development. Our community programs help people age with dignity at home. We offer services in English and Spanish for older adults, family caregivers, and health workers. Each year, we support over 1,800 families at a much lower cost than institutional care.
Media Contact:
Bailey Faustina
Communications & Development Manager
Health Projects Center
(800) 624-8304
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