Join Grey Bears to Support Tina Forest's Memory

Tina Forest was the longest-tenured Grey Bears employee, with 16 years of service. A fierce advocate for recycling in Santa Cruz County, she had a tough exterior, compassionate interior and unmatched sense of humor. She is described by her kids as their inspiration and her employees as the best boss they ever had. Tina could see the best in people and helped many find their hidden potential.

A fighter to the end, Tina succumbed to multiple heart and other surgeries on June 10, 2023. She leaves behind the "love of her life," her husband Jeff Belt, two children, Cassidy and Marina, her mother Filomena Bettencourt, and four siblings.

She always said Grey Bears helped her survive her darkest days when she was a struggling single mother. She gave everything she had every day as our Recycling & Recovery Manager and it is our turn to pay it forward to assist in raising funds to offset her significant final medical and other expenses.

Tina and Jeff Belt met at Grey Bears and from all accounts it was love at first sight. They had big plans to continue to fix up their home in Castroville, Jeff building, planting and tending to the chickens and grounds and Tina sprucing things up with her seasonal crafts and home projects.

Jeff is contending with a crushing double whammy- the loss of his life partner in crime and significant bills from Tina's previous heart surgery and this latest round of additional surgeries and weeks in the hospital.

Please help us wipe out Jeff's worry about paying for medical and other final expenses and support holding together their home as Tina would have wanted.

Thank you in advance for your generous support. It means the world to Grey Bears and Jeff.