Posted: Tuesday, 20 October 2009 10:36AM

OAKLAND, Calif. (KCBS) - A continued high rate of unemployment and a new round of home foreclosures bearing down on California communities, corporations are stepping in to help those in need.

In particular, some hefty checks are being written in the East Bay to help charitable organizations manage a flood of new clients.

The latest check is going to the East Bay Community Foundation, courtesy of Bank of America, to the tune of $250,000. During the past year, Bank of America, Chevron, Kaiser Permanente, One California Bank, PG&E and the Foundaiton have given upwards of $6.7 million to places like St. Vincent De Paul of Alameda County, which serves 1,000 meals per day.

"What you're seeing is folks that are used to a lower income, middle income lifestyle, they've been hit," explained Phillip Arca, executive director of the Alameda County St. Vincent's facility, of the heavy load of customers.

KCBS' Janice Wright reports

A grateful St. Vincent patron, Fred Watson, used to have a six-figure income. "Underemployed, losing my home and wondering what to do next," he described his current situation. The Pleasanton man said he never thought he would find himself visiting the local soup kitchen for meals. He warns it can happen to anyone. "I talk to my neighbors, I watch my neighors, their cars are in their driveways and they're not going to work."

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