Women Building Better Communities

New JLB Actives Dedicate Sheriff’s Activities League Laundry Room

As you know, new members of the Junior League of Bakersfield go through a provisional training which involves all of the provisional members working together to complete a project to benefit our community. The Spring 2008 Provisional Class chose to help the Sheriff’s Activities League (SAL) by building a much needed laundry room in its East Bakersfield Community Center.

The SAL program in East Bakersfield focuses on mentoring children who are at risk of becoming criminals or gangsters, through a variety of sports programs, events and daily functions including help with school work. The SAL East Bakersfield Community Center is currently working with over 120 children between the ages of seven and 18, most of whom are practically raising themselves due to their parents’ drug or gang problems.

Our goal was to provide the Community Center with a laundry room to be used by SAL volunteers to launder the children’s clothing and sports uniforms, as most of the children do not have laundry facilities in their homes. It will also be used to teach the children how to launder their own clothing; a step toward good personal hygiene.

We are very happy to report that thanks to the hard work of our provisional class and the extreme generosity of our Junior League members, we were able to go above and beyond our initial goals for project SALLY. Due to your kindness and donations, as well as some great deals scored by the provisional class, we were able to provide SAL with not one, but TWO sets of washers and dryers, a wardrobe cabinet, shelving, storage, laundry baskets and months worth of laundry supplies!

The entire project came together during our SALLY workday, which was April 26th. Many of the provisionals met at SAL’s Community Center to assemble and install all of the elements of the laundry room. Although it took about six trips to Home Depot and drilling through a cement wall, the workday was a huge success. The laundry room, immediately put to full use, was officially dedicated by Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood on June 9th.

The dedication was an extremely rewarding and emotional ceremony where Junior League members toured the finished laundry room as well as met some of the kids and volunteers who have benefited from the facility. A highlight of the afternoon was learning from SAL volunteer April Brannan, who spoke with tears in her eyes, that the laundry room has already been used to clothe over 22 children this summer. April also said that SAL’s ability to assist children with their clothing needs has had a measurable impact on the children’s attitudes and school attendance.

With gratitude, Spring 2008 Provisional Class

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A Birthday Celebration with Arts and Crafts at the Homeless Center

By Cece Mazzei

The January Birthday Party was colorful, messy, and lots of fun for the kids at the Bakersfield Homeless Center as the children created Rice Krispie Treats on a Stick, sculpted Clay Creations, and painted Wooden Picture Frames to hold a favorite photo. Our Junior League volunteers joined in the Friday afternoon activities, snapping photos of the excitement and helping the kids with the paint, glue, and clay. All hands were quite colorful and ready for washing by the end of the party! What could be more fun? Hopefully you had a chance to see some of the artwork and pictures on display at the February General Meeting.

Three of the children who had January birthdays were honored at the party. As all the kids gathered around, everyone sang out the Birthday Song with every bit of air in their lungs, and all eyes were on the gifts. What could they be? When the song finished, wrapping paper and bows went flying, eyes widened, and the cheering wouldn’t stop. What a special moment for those birthday kids! Thanks to all of the Junior League participants and Homeless Center staff who made the afternoon a success, and keep your eyes and ears peeled for the next opportunity to participate at a birthday party… See you there!

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