PG&E Donates to Food Banks
With food insecurity affecting one in five Californians, The PG&E Corporation Foundation is providing $1.32 million to local organizations on the front lines of hunger relief. The funding will help more than 50 food banks, tribal food banks and senior meal programs across 45 counties provide the equivalent of approximately 3.13 million meals to families and individuals in need. Grant amounts consider county poverty and unemployment levels, using the California Department of Social Services’ formula, to promote equity among counties with higher need.
“Food banks are often on the front lines when a crisis strikes, and meeting a sudden surge in need requires more than food alone. It takes the resources, people and partnerships to respond quickly and effectively,” said Stacia Levenfeld, CEO of California Association of Food Banks. “We’re deeply grateful for partners like PG&E who understand that in times of need, we are stronger and better prepared when we respond together.”
The grants come as food insecurity remains a persistent challenge across California. According to the California Association of Food Banks, one in five Californians, about 8.8 million, reported experiencing food insecurity, despite the state producing nearly half of the nation’s fruits and vegetables. Food banks across the state are serving record levels of need as families continue to face increased costs for housing, groceries and other essentials. Communities of color, seniors and working families are disproportionately affected, with many turning to food assistance for the first time. The Food Bank Coalition of San Luis Obispo County recieved $21, 650 and the Food Bank of Santa Barbara County received $27,230, among others.
In addition to the support for local food banks throughout PG&E’s service area, the company has agreements with 25 food banks in high fire-risk areas to provide food replacement during and up to three days after a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS). These PSPS events may be called when dry, windy weather is forecast, and PG&E may need to turn off power in certain areas to prevent wildfires and keep customers safe.
You can find a food bank in your county at PGE.com. Check with your local food bank to learn if they have income restrictions. Food is available while supplies last.
Meals on Wheels delivers meals to seniors enrolled in the program. Seniors who are enrolled and experience a public safety power shutoff will receive an extra meal for each day of an emergency outage. Readers can register at mealsonwheelsamerica.org.
PG&E also opens Community Resource Centers during PSPS events to provide basic supplies, charging stations and information to customers. Transportation support, hotel accommodations and discounts may also be available. You can learn more here and sign up for outage alerts.
Annual Day of Hope Shatters Records, Raising $681,057
The spirit of generosity on the Central Coast has reached a new pinnacle. Dignity Health announced that the 13th annual Day of Hope event raised a record-breaking $681,779 with all proceeds benefitting Mission Hope Cancer Center, marking the most successful fundraising effort in the event’s history. This monumental achievement was officially unveiled during a celebration on Tuesday, September 22.
This year’s fundraising total represents a remarkable 44% increase over the 2025 outcome of $473,215, demonstrating an unwavering commitment from the community to support those battling cancer.
“Day of Hope is a profound testament to the compassion of our community,” said Sue Andersen, president and CEO of Marian Regional Medical Center and Arroyo Grande Community Hospital, in a press release. “The support we’ve received goes far beyond a financial gift; it represents a wave of hope for those facing a cancer diagnosis. We are deeply grateful to everyone who contributed; your generosity ensures that our patients and their families have the expert care and unwavering support they need throughout their healing journey.”
The impact of this year’s success is distributed across both campuses to ensure local care remains world-class.
For the event total, the Marian Regional Medical Center Foundation raised $542,057 to support Mission Hope Cancer Center’s Santa Maria location and the Arroyo Grande Community Hospital Foundation raised $139,722 to support Mission Hope Cancer Center’s Arroyo Grande location.
Even though the official Day of Hope event has concluded, community members are still encouraged to make donations in support of local cancer patients and families receiving care at Mission Hope Cancer Center in Santa Maria and Arroyo Grande. For more information on how to contribute, contact the Marian Regional Medical Center Foundation at (805) 739-3595 and the Arroyo Grande Community Hospital Foundation at (805) 994-5421.
Poly Receives Land Donation
The historic 390-acre Brughelli Ranch, located just south of the San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport, will become Cal Poly’s newest agricultural land following the Brughelli Estate land donation to the university.
Brughelli Ranch is a working agricultural property in San Luis Obispo, rich in history, productive farmland and water resources. For Cal Poly, the gift offers hundreds of acres of farmland near campus where students can apply classroom knowledge in real-world environments and collaborate with growers, industry partners and researchers.
“This is an extraordinary opportunity to provide our students with a place where agriculture, conservation and natural resource stewardship come together,” said Cal Poly President Jeffrey D. Armstrong in a news release. “The ranch has been cared for by generations before us, and now Cal Poly will continue that stewardship while preparing students to care for California’s working landscapes in the future.”
For 150 years, the ranch has supported leafy greens agriculture, livestock, irrigated cropland and dry farming with additional plantable acreage available. About 60% of the ranch is defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as prime agricultural land, including 100 acres of irrigated Class I soils that support a broad range of crops. Existing irrigated-land leases with established farming operators continue to support active agricultural operations and provide a revenue base.
The farmstead fronts Buckley Road and extends between Davenport Creek Road and Jespersen Road. Irrigated cropland occupies the northern portion of the ranch, while additional dry-farm and plantable acreage extend south and west across gently rolling terrain. The San Luis Creek and Buckley Creek cross portions of the property, and the ranch’s water infrastructure includes four interconnected wells and a 7-acre reservoir.
The Brughelli land is permanently protected through an agricultural conservation easement, established in 2015 by the Ercole and Naomie Brughelli Trust in partnership with the city of San Luis Obispo and the Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County. The property is also enrolled in the Williamson Act, reinforcing its long-term agricultural identity. The property will be managed in accordance with the conservation easement, Williamson Act requirements, the donor’s intentions and Cal Poly’s Learn by Doing mission.
The ranch’s history dates to a U.S. government land patent acquired by John Anderson in July 1875. William Buckley later acquired the ranch, followed by Dave McKeen around 1882. Aurelio Brughelli began working on the ranch in 1928 and acquired it two decades later from the McKeen estate.
Aurelio’s son, Ercole Charles Brughelli, was born on the ranch in 1928 and remained closely connected with the land throughout his 95 years. Ercole grew up there and, after serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean War (where he received a Purple Heart), he returned to the family farm. He married Naomie Jones in 1965. For the next 40 years the couple managed the ranch, often working with local youth interested in agriculture and the environment. Following the deaths of Naomie in 2008 and Ercole in 2023, the Brughelli estate trustees have managed the ranchland.
“The Brughelli Ranch and Cal Poly both have deep roots in San Luis Obispo — and when it came time to decide how to ensure our land’s vitality into the future, Cal Poly was the clear choice,” said Brughelli Trustee Mark Amos. “We are excited to see how future Cal Poly students will learn on this land and then take that learning forward into their careers and positively impact California, the nation and the world.”
‘Out there: A National Parks Story’ Forms New Partnerships
Filmmaker Brendan Hall, director of the award-winning documentary, “Out there: A National Parks Story,” announced the next wave of nonprofit partners and alliances that will benefit from a portion of the film’s rental and purchase proceeds ($5 from each rental and $8 from each purchase). At the time of rental or purchase, viewers can choose which participating nonprofit or alliance partner will receive their contribution, further expanding the filmmaker’s mission of supporting public land preservation, education and conservation efforts.
The new partnerships represent a cross-section of America’s public lands community, from organizations supporting more than 70 national park sites across 12 states to stewards of a 1,000-mile National Scenic Trail, historic battlefields and heavily traveled urban trails. Collectively, these organizations reach millions of park visitors and students each year and have invested hundreds of millions of dollars and countless volunteer hours in conservation, education and public-land stewardship.
The new nonprofit partners include:
• Central California State Parks Association (California) partners with California State Parks in San Luis Obispo County to support interpretation, education and volunteer efforts while fostering stewardship of the Central Coast’s natural and cultural resources.
• Western National Parks (National) supports over 70 national park sites across 12 Western states through education, research, visitor services and community engagement. Since its founding in 1938, the organization has provided more than $176 million in support.
• Expeditions in Education (National) connects students and educators with national parks and public lands through free lessons, live broadcasts and hands-on learning experiences. Since 2020, its programs have reached more than six million students, bringing the stories, science, history and people of public lands into classrooms across the country.
• Oregon Parks Forever (Oregon) supports programs and projects that enhance visitor experiences and expand opportunities for everyone to enjoy Oregon’s parks, forests and natural spaces, serving as a fundraiser, partner and catalyst for projects that preserve these places for generations to come.
• Ice Age Trail Alliance (Wisconsin) supports Wisconsin’s Ice Age National Scenic Trail, a roughly 1,000-mile trail tracing a landscape shaped by the state’s most recent glacier. Staff, members and volunteers help steward the trail and connect people with Wisconsin’s glacial landscape.
• Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail (Virginia/Washington, D.C. region) works in partnership with the National Park Service to keep the Mount Vernon Trail safe and welcoming through trail maintenance, resource protection, education and community events.
• Friends of Kennesaw Mountain (Georgia) works in partnership with the National Park Service to support Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, raising funds for trail improvements, living-history programs and projects that enhance access and visitor experiences for more than 2.5 million annual visits.
• Valley Forge Park Alliance (Pennsylvania) is the philanthropic and stewardship partner of Valley Forge National Historical Park, supporting preservation, education, park programs and community engagement while encouraging citizen stewardship.
“From the beginning, “Out there: A National Parks Story,” has been about more than visiting beautiful places,” said Hall. “It’s about the people who dedicate their lives to protecting these places and the connections that inspire all of us to care for them. These partnerships allow the film to continue that work beyond the screen.”
The film began with Hall’s 2016, 10,000-mile road trip through America’s national parks and has since reached audiences through film festivals and sold-out community screenings across the country. The film is now available to rent or purchase via its custom-built platform at www.outthere.film.
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