Emergency Assistance

The American Red Cross is a humanitarian organization, led by volunteers. The Red Cross provides relief and emergency services to all military victims of disasters, and helps people prevent, and prepare for and respond to emergencies. Serving the communities of Aromas, Bradley, Camp Roberts, Castroville, Chualar, Del Rey Oaks, Gonzales, Greenfield,  Hollister, Jolon, King City, Las Lomas, Lockwood, Marina, Monterey, Moss Landing, Pacific Grove, Paicines, Pajaro, Paraiso Springs, Prunedale, Royal Oaks, Salinas, San Ardo, San Juan Bautista, San Lucas, Sand City, Seaside, Soledad, Spreckels, Tres Pinos and the Ventana Forest Reserve ... to the San Luis Obispo County Line. The Monterey-San Benito Counties Red Cross serves over 465,000 people throughout Monterey and San Benito Counties. 

Call toll-free American Red Cross, 877-272-7337, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The number for the Monterey County chapter is 831-624-6921.

They are located at 942 Lupin Drive, Salinas, California 93906 and can be reached by calling 831-375-5730. Open 6 a.m. and closes 7 p.m.

United Way

The United Way of Monterey County is located at 60 Garden Court, Suite #350, Monterey, California 93940; 831-372-8026 x 103, fax: 831-372-4945.

United Way's mission is to engage the community and focus any and all resources to improve lives in Monterey County. They share a common vision of concerned and caring people together building a healthy, secure community.

UWMC supports programs that create real and lasting change and focuses funding on four impact priorities:

• Meeting basic needs – Helping county residents get their basic needs for food, shelter and safety net and providing hope for a better future.
• Moving people from crisis to stability – Providing the resources to prevent and resolve crisis such as domestic violence, mental health issues and chemical dependency and help people heal.
• Increasing self-sufficiency – Teaching people the skills needed to support themselves and their families and bolstering their independence.
• Developing successful kids and strong families – Helping families, children and youth to live safe, healthy lives, develop their full potential and contribute positively to society.

Monterey County 211 for emergency assistance. Call 211.

If you are in need of information regarding any of the services, please contact your Monterey Fleet and Family Support center at 831-656-3060.

The Army Emergency Relief serves all branches of service (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard). AER provides emergency financial assistance for service members, active and retired, their dependents, and widows and orphans of deceased service members. The assistance is provided by using the form of interest-free loans, grants or a combination of both. Although AER is a private nonprofit organization, its sole mission is to help service members and their eligible family members who are experiencing financial emergencies. AER is the Army’s emergency financial assistance organization. AER provides commanders a valuable assistance in accomplishing their basic command responsibility for the morale and welfare of all service members. AER funds are made available to commanders to provide emergency financial assistance to service members, active and retired, as well as their widows(ers), and eligible family members when there is a valid financial emergency. AER also processes applications for educational assistance for members of military families. AER is located at the General Stillwell Community Center ACS, Ord Military Community. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday 1 to 5 p.m. The phone number is 831-242-5501. If you need more information, contact your Fleet and Family Support Center at 831-656-3060.

The closest Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society is located at 22 Hancock Ave, Lemoore, CA 93245. 559-998-4045  8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can also contact the Fleet and Family Support Center for more information  at 831-656-3060.

• Financial assistance and counseling
• Quick assist loan 
• Education assistance
• Budget for baby
• Emergency travel
• Disaster relief
• Thrift shop and loan locker

If for any reason you should need emergency assistance while in transit, there are several options for contacts you can make:

• If you are near a Navy Installation in Monterey, call the Navy Fleet and Family Support Center 831-656-3060 to obtain referrals to the Navy/Marine Corps Relief.  If not available, you may call any military installation near you at that time; Army, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard. All are willing to provide assistance. Look in the phone book under "United States".
• Call the local branch of the American Red Cross. They will provide assistance or make a referral for your needs.
• You can also call 211 and they will give you resources to help with your situation. 211 is a national number and can help you in any state in the U.S. by dialing 211.