BGC Brief Special Edition

Never could we imagine that schools would close, and our Boys & Girls Club would be compelled to reinvent itself overnight by addressing emergency child care needs and the dramatic increase in the number of children with food insecurities. The pivot meant moving from providing engaging after-school programs staffed by an enthusiastic and talented team where everyone socialized shoulder to shoulder, to training children to socially distance in their activities with frequent hand-washing in a sanitized environment, facilitated by mask-wearing adults.

What has not changed is who we are as the Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County. We are committed to being our very best with a caring, compassionate staff who is committed to providing critical services that support families and specifically children during this pandemic.

Despite personal and professional risks, we chose to stay open to provide critical childcare with expanded hours (7:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m.) and to expand our Meal Program (supper plus a prepackaged, next day breakfast) served seven days a week. Our team has stayed vigilant and part of the solution to the challenges presented by rapid changes to the “New Normal” impacting our community.

To our donors, partners, champions, and advocates, we are overwhelmed with heartfelt gratitude and humbled by the immediate response of support for our services. Our “pivot” was not in our budget or operation plans, nor was the urgent need for protective equipment and supplies. Not one day has gone by without a Boys & Girls Club friend reaching out to us with new information regarding Covid-19, resources for underwriting our new service environment, and encouragement for the essential services that our front line staff provide.

Our partners have inspired us to be courageous and creative in breaching barriers to meeting essential needs in Kern County. With an unwavering commitment to our children, we will continue to be a beacon of hope with a resilient spirit, dedication, and passion for our mission. There is no higher honor than to serve people in need.

With our friends standing by our side, your local Boys & Girls Club will stay steadfast in its commitment to the children of Kern County.

Thank you for your support,

Zane Smith Executive Director

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Board of Directors Kristin Monsibais, President of the Board Williams Adams & Company, CPAs Theresa Bush, Vice-President Aera Energy LLC Amir Zabrani, Treasurer Wells Fargo Bank Matt Damian, Secretary Tri Counties Bank Alex Balfour Cushman and Wakefield/Pacific Commercial Realty Advisors Shane Bryan Trovato Wealth Management Jason Cohen UBS Financial Services, Inc. Justin Cummings Rio Acai Bowls Rob Duchow Southern California Gas Company Michael George Valley Strong Credit Union Rasmus Jensen Valley Republic Bank Shawn Kerns California Resources Corporation Larry Koman Koman Homes Jonathan Mueller ServiceMaster at Bakersfield Emily Salters California State University, Bakersfield Zane Smith Executive Director

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“Hope is Not Cancelled” along with “Whatever It Takes” both fully express the attitude and actions of our team every day as they work with the children in our care and serve the people in our food lines that wrap around the blocks at our five food distribution sites.

Our top priority is ensuring that our Clubs are healthy and safe for our children and staff. New processes, including temperature checks, personal sanitizing, environment sanitizing, and social distancing, have been implemented as part of the Club’s DNA. Following guidelines from state and local officials, our Clubs must limit attendance at each location based on square footage and reduced staff ratios. Now confined to small groups of eight kids per staff person, the Club is focused on enriching activities in technology, fine arts, fitness and performing arts, while addressing the social/emotional needs of children

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impacted by all of the uncertainty outside of our doors.

While the experience has temporarily changed for kids, the resiliency and determination that define the Boys & Girls Club are still evident.

Children are laughing and finding joy as they paint, build robots, practice monologues, and learn new choreography for their music video shoot.

We have not gotten lost in all of the transitions…finding the joy in our everyday experiences is the motivation driving our team to be the best our Club can be.

Providing 800 to 1,000 suppers per day after school for children suffering from food insecurities throughout Kern County was the “norm” for the Club before COVID-19. With all of the socio-economic challenges facing families during this pandemic, the Club had an opportunity to dive deep.

The Club expanded our program to include a prepackaged next day breakfast passed out with supper, increased to seven days per week, and increased food production to meet the need with children out of school and parents facing financial hardship. Almost overnight, our commercial kitchen and the Nutrition Program team restructured to add more food preparation specialists, food van drivers for distribution, and the “Grab and Go” hosts

to pass out meals to lines of people in cars and arriving on foot. Our numbers doubled almost instantly and continue to grow. In May, we served an average of 2,800 meals per day, seven days a week.

We continue to evolve the food program by procuring additional equipment, including a donated refrigerated truck, to keep our milk and perishables safe. We challenge ourselves to create menus that are both nutritious and tasty while building a rapport with the families that we have met through this program.

With COVID-19 creating so much uncertainty, we are working hard so that families know that we care about them and that they can count on us to serve them with compassion, dignity, and respect as our community moves through this crisis together.

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Creating a quality virtual Club House so that Boys & Girls Club kids can stay connected during prolonged social distancing practices of the COVID-19 pandemic has been an integral part of the Club’s “Pivot” in meeting the critical needs of children in Kern County.

After a few short weeks of engaging credential teachers and STEM experts in planning and developing, we were able to launch our first-ever Virtual Summer STEM Academy.

Through scheduled virtual classes, video instruction, and online challenges, children residing in rural areas of Kern County meet with our engaging and knowledgeable team.

Exciting activities using programming and everyday household items are the basis for accessible activities such as rocket building, science experiments, and coding challenges.

A virtual bridge to a wealth of high yield learning activities has been established for children separated by vast distances and COVID-19 protocols. Most importantly, our children have access to positive and supportive role models to guide and mentor them through this crisis.

As sheltering protocols have been in place and evolved, some of our most talented kids in the community lost the various

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avenues for performance. Whether it was the musical/performance opportunities at school, private lessons, or the shows on stages at local community theaters, our young performers’ dreams of singing, acting, dancing, and entertaining were put on hold. Recognizing the benefits, both academically and socially, in the performance arena, the Club created a central table for local performing arts instructors and music instructors to come together as a unified group focused on delivering virtual workshops/performances for children and teens.

Under the name “Stage Door Academy” by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County, a virtual platform was created for two theater productions that would include acting, singing, and dancing.

Daily group instruction/rehearsals, as well as private lessons and coaching, have been scheduled, culminating in filming socially distanced scenes and musical numbers engineered to create a seamless production.

For added value, children will receive a professional headshot, printable program, cast member shirt, and a CD of all performances.

Learn more at bgclubsofkerncounty.org/virtual-clubhouse

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CORPORATE/ORGANIZATION/ Steven and Diane Fritz Anthony Galagaza FOUNDATION GIFTS Active 20-30 Club of Bakersfield Affinity Truck Center Bakersfield North Rotary Foundation Ben H. & Gladys Arkelian Foundation Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County Foundation Calpine Pastoria Energy Chevron USA Harry and Ethel West Foundation Kern Community Foundation Raising Cane’s Sea Research Foundation Tri Counties Bank Wells Fargo Foundation The Women’s and Girls’ Fund

Cathleen Gandara Johnathan Garcia Phil and Sue Gaskill Renee Goodwin Jay Greenstein Joe and Kate Gregory Robert and Jerry Haner Alice Hays Matthew Hewett

INDIVIDUAL GIFTS

Justin and April Ahart Timothy Ashlock Ariel and Abby Auffant Laura Avila Alex M. Balfour Anthony Ballantyne Larry and Kay Bardin Adam Belter Cathy Bennett Michelle Bennitt Bruce Beretta and Melissa Fortune Clarissa Berthiaume Amy Betancourt Aimee Blaine John and Jean Browning Charles and Theresa Bush Chris Caratan Ann Carey Luis Castro Henry Chatman Susan Chichester Chuck Church Doug and Janet Clary Jason Cohen Gary and Donna Cross Azucena Cruz Mickey Cushine Mike and Maggie Cushine Matt Damian James DeCosta Veronica Deleon Omid Deylami Robert and Emily Duchow Kevin and Vanessa Emo Armand and Joanie Fitzgerald Rosalva Flores Greg and Heather Frank Christine Frazier Whitney Friesen

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Susan Jennings Larry Koman Mary Ann Krating Allan Krauter and Anna Agenjo Robin Kroeger Bernie and Lynn Lebeau Judith Loos Andrew Lopez-Landeros Christopher Lowe Gregory and Jo Ann Marling Erlinda Martinez Juana Martinez Terrie Martinez Michael McGoven Teresa Mejia Brian and Valerie Mendiburu Kimberly Mesfin Jessica Millan Chris and Jovan Molina Alex and Kristin Monsibais

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Jonathan and Mary Anne Mueller Beth Nahama Kurt and Luisa Neher Denise Newton Anthony and Donna Oehlert Shannan Ogilvie Dale Oprandy Danny and Nalani Ordiz Teresa Pannuto Jess & Rosa Perez Lanette Phillips-Watson Kyle and Mikin Plummer Anindya Poddar Eugene Punelli Larry and Sandy Reider Randy and Mary Richardson Mike and Danette Rinehart Jose Romo Tracy Rossettini Stella Rous Justin and Emily Salters Jim and Robin Scott Sam and Lorraine Siador John and Christina Sistrunk Paul Skarphol Alan Smith Zane and Amy Smith Wesley and Kristen Sodergren Cecilia Solis Gary and Evelyn Stevens Carol Sugimori Herb and Barbara Thompson Jen Thompson Thomas and Judy Tupper Josh and Susan Wall Deborah Wood Lynette Zelenzy

CORPORATE/ ORGANIZATION/ FOUNDATION IN-KIND GIFTS Dead Horse Holler Distillery See’s Candy Splash Fabric

TRIBUTES

In Memory of Michelle Nixon Machado By: Allan Krauter and Anna Agenjo In Honor of Truman and Vincent Carey By: Ann Carey In Honor of Robin Paggi and EJ Rutledge By: Justin and April Ahart

www.bgclubsofkerncounty.org/donate

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801 Niles Street PO BIN 5J Bakersfield, CA 93385

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