At a time of deep unrest and uncertainty, when social and economic divides are greater than ever and so many are struggling to make ends meet, it’s never been more important to reach out to each other and take part in solutions that lift everyone up. Santa Barbara County is home to an extraordinary project that is working to change the landscape of poverty and hunger here and across the country and, with it, we have a unique opportunity to get involved and make a difference — for our neighbors, our communities, and ourselves.
Founded in North County’s Los Alamos by The Los Alamos Foundation, Summer in the Park is a groundbreaking program helping to lift families out of poverty by providing daytime care for all the town’s children while creating jobs and opportunity for local students and under-resourced parents. The only recreational summertime care program in town, Summer in the Park is an all-day camp offering healthy meals, educational programs, mentorships, sports, field trips, mental health monitoring, leadership coaching, and more. It provides job training and life skills for local high school students, creates structure and support for kids, and empowers parents, who can take on essential employment through the summer knowing their children are safe and nourished.
Replicable across the country, Summer in the Park and its innovative model of meeting critical needs while creating jobs results is measurable and durable change for the entire community. Hundreds of children have received nutritious meals and the lasting benefits of nurturing, structured care off the streets. Having experienced the care and support of their community, they routinely return as counselors to help guide and uplift the next generation of kids, creating a self-reinforcing cycle of positive impact and potential. And so far, every student counselor at Summer in the Park — many of whom found their first job there — has gone on to a college career. This is the power of meeting needs at the root level.
