Community Adaptation Program Celebrates One Year in Monterey County

August 19, 2025

The American Red Cross Community Adaptation Program (CAP) is an initiative to enhance the ability of local and hyper-local organizations to provide services during disasters. The Red Cross leverages its expertise, partnerships and network to level up the impact of the grassroots organizations that know their communities best. By building the capability, capacity and continuity of these groups during blue sky periods, they are better able to provide vital services during trying times.

CAP came to Monterey County in July of 2024, when Gabriela Perez Albarracin joined the area from the Lake County, California. Under her leadership, the first year of CAP activity in Monterey County has had a number of successes and laid the groundwork for an impactful year two.

The Community Adaptation Program team together at the 2025 American Red Cross Northern California Coastal Region Gala. Pictured are Lucy Rojas (left), Gabriela Perez Albarracin (middle) and Maria Magaña (right).

CAP members Gabriela (middle) and Lucy (right) with President and CEO of Meals on Wheels of the Salinas Valley, Inc., Regina M. Gage (left), at the Central Coast Chapter Tiffany Circle Luncheon.

The first and clearest success was the identification of eight local organizations and the execution of Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) between the groups and CAP. The eight groups are Alliance on Aging, Meals on Wheels of Salinas Valley, Mujeres en Acción, Rancho Cielo, Center for Community Advocacy, ALL-IN Monterey County, Community Food Bank of San Benito, and the Blind and Visually Impaired Center. This group represents some of the leading organizations dedicated to health, nutrition, empowerment and education in the Salinas Valley and Monterey Bay area.

Signing the MOUs was a significant step for the first year of CAP, however the program also implemented a number of immediate enhancements (or maybe “to solidify the program’s commitment to its partners). One early enhancement was the donation of a new, upgraded walk in refrigeration system for Meals on Wheels. The new unit allows the storage of more meals at one time, meaning they can increase the number of people they serve. Also, by allowing more storage, the new fridge means Meals on Wheel can increase the diversity of the products they supply to their users.

Rancho Cielo received multiple enhancements including a new generator for their food truck and as well as workstations. The food truck is used as an on-site kitchen to feed students, but it also provides the capability to deploy as a mobile kitchen in the event of a disaster. Armed with the new generator, the Rancho Cielo food truck is capable of feeding hundreds of people a day in an emergency situation. The CAP team also delivered six advanced, solar-powered workstations, designed to act as a quick-deploy, self-sufficient emergency response centers. Through this partnership, CAP is supplying communities with dependable, renewable energy to maintain vital communications and operations during emergencies.

The Rancho Cielo team with the 100-gallon gas generator.

The CAP team in front the Rancho Cielo campus sign.

Rancho Cielo members sitting with the new workstations.

Another important and ongoing enhancement is the hosting of various grant writing bootcamps. These classes help the organizations tap into the various funding sources that exist to support local charity work. Having a trained grant writer involved has the potential to greatly influence the continuity of each group. So far, participants from Alliance on Aging, Meals on Wheels, and Mujeres en Acción have completed the bootcamp.

As the Community Adaptation Program launches into its second year in Monterey County, it is clear that the work of the team is already having an impact and laying the foundation for a safer and healthier community and looking forward to even more exciting enhancements to come.