Ventura County Neighbors Support Fund

Since launching in July 2025, the Ventura County Neighbors Support Fund has served as an urgent, community-centered response to families facing critical humanitarian needs across Ventura County. Through this fund, Ventura County Community Foundation has partnered with trusted nonprofit organizations to deliver immediate, flexible assistance, helping neighbors access food, stabilize housing, secure transportation, and meet basic necessities during moments of crisis.

To date, the fund has distributed grants to more than 40 nonprofit partners working throughout the region. Grantees recently shared how that support is reaching families.

Friends of Fieldworkers has provided direct financial assistance for food, rent, and essentials to hundreds of children of farmworkers and their families affected by immigration enforcement and family separation. As Executive Director Dr. Martita Martinez-Bravo put it, "Farmworkers feed us," and this support helps sustain the agricultural workforce the county depends on.

Outreach Alliance of Ventura County used its grant to stock Care Closet Food Pantries at eight Healthy Start school sites in Oxnard and Port Hueneme. One mother of five, whose husband was deported last fall, received groceries after a school counselor connected her with the program. "Sometimes it is embarrassing to ask for help," she said, "but it is necessary because we do not have enough to provide for our children."

One Step A La Vez responded to 44 requests for humanitarian assistance from families in Fillmore and Piru. These families were facing the detention or deportation of a family member, reduced work hours, or a sudden loss of income. The organization provided rental assistance to 7 families, emergency food assistance to 28 families, and utility assistance to 8 families.

Harbor House provided emergency rental assistance to 34 residents from 13 households, helping prevent eviction. One recipient, a single father who won full custody of his two-year-old son, is now keeping his rent paid on time and providing a stable home.

Conejo Schools Foundation received a request at 2:06 p.m. for a student whose family was living in their car. He had missed school because he had no clean clothes. By 3:30 p.m., the team had purchased and delivered clothing, shoes, and socks. The student returned to school the next day, and his mother said she had never seen him so excited to go.

Managed by Ventura County Community Foundation and guided by a respected coalition of civic, business, nonprofit, education, and faith leaders, the Ventura County Neighbors Support Fund responds to critical humanitarian needs across the county. One hundred percent of contributions go directly to urgent needs, including food, shelter, rent, transportation, and critical services. Each grant helps preserve family well-being, support children, and strengthen the local nonprofit network during a time of profound uncertainty. This work helps our neighbors so we all have a better place to work, live, and raise our families. Ventura County Community Foundation is deeply grateful to donors for making this collective response possible and for standing with Ventura County neighbors when it matters most.

Links:

• Learn More Here