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Seaside Homeless Commission presents challenge coins to local nonprofits and volunteers
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Summary
The Seaside Homeless Commission recognized dozens of local volunteers and partner organizations with challenge coins at its December meeting, praising recent food and outreach work and promising follow-up delivery of awards to those not present.
The Seaside Homeless Commission honored local volunteers and nonprofit partners with challenge coins at its December meeting, thanking organizations and individuals for contributions to homelessness response, food distribution and youth services.
Chair Benjamin Strickland and commissioners presented coins to in-person recipients and noted several absent awardees who will receive tokens later. Recipients named during the meeting included Ray Adams Meher (representing CPY), Gwen Nash (World Outreach), Nick and Sarah Tortorelli (mobile shower units), Roxanne Wilson (coalition of homeless service providers), Chief Nick Borges (police department), Danny Bakewell Jr., Nicolette Hernandez (Hope's Cup Closet/Monterey Bay Christian Center), Eric Johnson, and John Holt (Stepping Stone Outreach Inc.). The chair said the tokens are intended to "recognize, affirm and encourage" community partners for work to reduce homelessness.
Ray Adams Meher, speaking for CPY, thanked the commission and described the group's youth-focused services and work helping families move from hotel rooms to more stable housing, saying, "from the bottom of our hearts, sincerely thank you for this honor." The chair and other commissioners also publicly thanked staff members Denise and Derek Elder for administrative support; commissioners said the commission would not function effectively without that staffing.
The coin presentations were accompanied by short photo opportunities and logistical notes about delivering coins to organizations not present. The meeting included public comments from local pastors and nonprofit representatives praising the commission's partnerships and reporting large-scale holiday outreach—speakers noted hundreds of families served during recent Thanksgiving distributions.
The meeting proceeded without a full board for part of the session; minutes from Nov. 5 were later approved by voice vote once a quorum was present. The commission also discussed continuing its ongoing advocacy plan at future meetings and closed with holiday wishes.
