Hello to fellow friends and community,

I am writing this message to share with all of you as I begin a GoFundMe account for a dear friend of mine. Many of you may already know her. She is not only a wonderful and caring person who is always there to help lend a hand, but she is a pillar of our community. When I sat down to write this message and started gathering all the different things she has helped to contribute to San Benito County, even I was amazed!

Her name is Sandy Patterson. Sandy has contributed so much to our county. Not to mention how much she has done to help so many of us watch our fur babies when we need someone responsible and reliable to watch them when we go out of town. I know that she is the only one I trust to care for mine, as I know she will care for them as though they were her own. That is why I am trying to help her now. Sandy has been involved in multiple organizations here in Hollister for many years. She even graduated from high school here in Hollister. Some of the organizations include belonging to the Girl Scouts and being a 4-H Club Leader. A major accomplishment of hers includes being the first female hired as a Deputy Sheriff Coroner in the San Benito County Sheriff’s Department on September 1st, 1985. She just recently completed a year with the San Benito County Civil Grand Jury and is currently a member of the Community Action Board, which helps with the homeless in San Benito County. She is also the District 1 representative in San Benito County for the Republican Central Committee and belongs to the American Legion Auxiliary - Unit 1000. Several other organizations she has worked with are the Willow Grove School Board, the Peace Officers Research Association as the Central Coast chapter secretary for 4 years, and the Event Coordinator for the Silicon Valley International Peace Officers Association. She has also worked at the Saddle Horse Show and Rodeo for many years.

However, in the last year and a half, Sandy has gone through much heartache. Her beloved husband Dale, another pillar of our community, both a retired firefighter and Vietnam Veteran, passed away on August 7, 2023. As she was struggling to get by after his passing, both financially and emotionally, while she continued to help her fellow friends and community, devastation struck again. On December 22, 2024, her beautiful mobile home caught fire, starting in the kitchen when she was not home, with her beautiful fur babies trapped inside. Her 2 dogs and 4 cats were rescued by firefighters and brought out unconscious and with severe smoke inhalation, where they were put on oxygen and revived. The kitchen was a total loss, along with ceilings, belongings, appliances, and the roof. Now she has been staying with friends and family while her home is being repaired, not to mention replacing many necessary furniture and other belongings and trying to come up with money to help in the rebuilding and repairing process along with the veterinary bills she incurred for her precious fur babies. To say she is in need of your help is putting it mildly. She is struggling. Please find it in your heart to help.

I can tell you from my own experience of both my husband passing away and the destruction of my home in a natural disaster, I know exactly how she feels and what she is going through. That is why I plan to donate to Sandy’s GoFundMe account. Because whether you realize it or not, every little bit helps and is so appreciated. Sandy has given so much to her community, let’s show her that we can give back to her in her time of need.