Yuma fundraiser honors veteran Herb Townsend at Black Bear Diner
Black Bear Diner’s Dine and Donate sent a portion of sales to Herb Townsend’s family, turning one meal at Yuma Palms Mall into immediate community help.
A meal at Black Bear Diner became a simple way for Yuma residents to help Herb Townsend’s family, with diners asked to use the code on the flyer so part of their check supported the fundraiser at Yuma Palms Mall. The Dine and Donate event ran Monday, May 18, from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., giving the community an all-day window to turn breakfast, lunch, or dinner into direct support.
Townsend was 76 when he died on Wednesday before the fundraiser was published. He spent several years in the Air Force, later worked as a deputy at the Fresno Sheriff’s Department, and was an original member of the K9 Ops Foundation, a role that connected him to Yuma’s law enforcement and veteran circles. That background gave the fundraiser a wider meaning than a single restaurant promotion. It was a way to help a family after a sudden loss while recognizing a man whose life crossed military service, policing, and K-9 support work.
The K9 OPS Foundation has long focused on helping local K-9 units with costs that city budgets do not fully cover. Its support has gone toward equipment, training, and veterinary expenses for dogs serving in Welton, the Yuma Police Department, the sheriff’s department, and San Luis. In earlier coverage, Townsend described that footprint this way: “We have one in Welton. We have two in Yuma Police Department. We have two at the sheriff’s department. We even have one down in San Luis...” His work with the foundation helped tie the fundraiser to the broader network of agencies and handlers that depend on private donations to fill funding gaps.
Black Bear Diner’s Dine & Donate program is built for exactly this kind of local response, allowing an organization to raise money by inviting friends and family for dine-in, delivery, or carryout. In Yuma County, that low-barrier format matters because it lets residents contribute without a ticketed gala or large campaign, just by stopping in for a meal. The approach fits a pattern seen across the area, where familiar food events have become a practical tool for emergency fundraising and community support.
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