Our mission is to support the community by providing branches of educational support, resources, opportunities for personal development, community involvement, and more. In fulfilling our mission, we hope to encourage the community to create a cycle of giving back to spread a message of universal community empowerment as well as creating more branches of support.
Branches of Community Services (501c3) founded by the efforts of the Late Douglas “Mr. Doug”& Betty “Mrs. Betty” Conner in Downtown Pittsburg in the early 2000’s. Mr. Doug and Ms. Betty started by serving free home cooked lunches every Saturday to their neighborhood children as well as the homeless. Mr. Doug and Mrs. Betty have resided in Downtown Pittsburg for over 60 years. Even though the Conner’s were on a fixed income, they provided these lunches solely using their retirement income for years. Each and every Saturday children from the community would come and assist the Conner’s with serving the lunches. During these years, they also began hosting backpack giveaways as well as an annual toy drive for the Downtown Pittsburg community. Their passion to give back and help those in need is what kept them going year after year. During the years they had a couple sponsors who read about the Conner’s in the newspaper and started assisting the Conner’s with annual donations and extra help at the events. The Conner’s have received many community awards such as “Woman of the Year” in Contra Costa County as well as they have been featured in the local newspaper for their efforts. Betty Conner has always said that if God can provide for her, she’ll provide for others. The Conner’s hosted all of their giveaways out of their own home. They were very passionate about their community which was shown by their willingness to help their community and selfless actions. Mr. Doug even fought to have the first lighted crosswalks and speed bumps placed in the East 9th street area in Downtown Pittsburg. Unfortunately in 2009, Douglas passed away. After his untimely passing, Mr. Doug was honored by the Mayor of Pittsburg along with the community by having a cement plaque placed at the local park across from the Conner’s residence.
After his passing, their granddaughter Tanicia Currie, who shares their passion for giving back, stepped in to help continue their great deeds with her grandmother Betty. When Ms. Currie stepped in, she was able to build relationships with local businesses to assist with their efforts. Combined, The Conner’s and Ms. Currie have hosted many charitable events from Fashion Shows to Free Saturday lunches for the neighborhood kids to Backpack giveaways and Annual Toy drives. In 2019, Ms. Betty passed and joined her loving husband in heaven. Their amazing organization and spirit lives on. With The Conner's untimely passing, none of this would continue to be possible without the amazing team Branches has built over the years. Branches has an amazing group of supportive community members who serve as our board members who also share a passion for giving back to the community. The Branches team currently consists of: Tanicia Currie (President), Danae Braggs (Secretary), Shaun Smith (Branches Board Member), Marcus Wright (Branches Board Member), Tre’nah Currie (Board Member), Paula Tensley-Jett (Branches Board Member), Terrell Lawson (Longtime Volunteer/Team Member), and Teyanah Currie (Longtime Volunteer/Team Member). In 2024, Branches welcomed 2 new amazing board members, Joetta Basso and Monica Ramos-Estrada. Both Joetta and Monica were volunteers for many years with Branches.
The Branches Team together brings their experience, passion, and desire to assist those who are in need within the community and beyond. Since 2010, they have been able to gain support from several local businesses within the community. In late 2014, Betty and Ms. Currie decided to officially establish their efforts as a non profit organization naming it Branches of Community Services. The word “Branches "represents the different services and support their organization offers and plans to offer in the near future. By officially establishing their organization, part of their goal is to be able to grow their efforts beyond their local community as well as gain support from more community members. Year after year the organization continues to grow and bless more children and families in their community and beyond. Sadly in March of 2019, Betty Conner passed away but her memory lives on, and the legacy she and her husband founded continues to bless their community. Betty and Douglas Conner truly started something great, simply from ultimately spreading a message of love.
Branches now annually provide backpacks, school supplies, Christmas gifts, and much more to 600+ children. The vast majority of our fundraisers and events are hosted within our Pittsburg community, and we believe in providing opportunities for those within our community and beyond.
As an organization, we truly feel blessed to be able to bless so many within the community, and we look forward to continuing to grow. Branches thanks each and every person who contributes to making our efforts a success.
We honor those amazing people who blessed Branches over the years with their love, hard work, selflessness, dedication, skills, and passion for their community. We honor Douglas & Betty Conner ( Branches Founders), Miranda O’hare (Branches Board Member), Hank Segrove (Longtime Volunteer/Team Member), Brooke Jeffrey (Longtime Volunteer/Team Member), and Jeremy "Chef Black" Foster (Branches Chef, Longtime Volunteer/Team Member). We miss each of them as they are now our guiding angels.
Affectionately Called "Mr. Doug" By His Neighborhood Children
For 38 Years, Douglas Resided With His Wife, Betty, On East Street .
Believing In Community And Enabled By Their Faith In God, They Gave Back By
Serving Free Weekend Lunches, Donating School Supplies And Providing
Christmas Gifts To Local Families And The Homeless.
A Member Of The Neighborhood Watch, Douglas Fought For A Safer Place For The
Children. Due To His Persistence, The First Lighted Crosswalk And Speed
Bumps Were Installed To Slow Down Traffic.
"Mr. Doug" Will Always Be Remembered
As A Great Man And True Role Model For Us All.
Thank you for visiting. Become a part of Branches and be the change needed in our community