Santa Barbara Boys & Girls Club Merges with County Clubs

By John Palminteri, KEYT News

A breakthrough agreement has been made with the United Boys & Girls Club of Santa Barbara County and the Santa Barbara Boys & Girls Club. They are joining together.

Previously, the clubs have operated separately.

The announcement was made [Monday] at the Santa Barbara site on Canon Perdido St.

Overall about 5000 kids will be helped with the club’s services from Carpinteria to Lompoc.

The clubs have been offering special healthy meals for children who are homeschooling due to COVID-19, and also out for the summer.

There are many outreach plans in the works and solutions for the personal distancing requirements necessary in the months ahead.

“All we really want is to help the kids in our community and we are better at this together  that we are separate,” said Tony Vallejo, president of the board for the United Boys & Girls Club of Santa Barbara County.

Discussions began eight months ago.  The kids were the top priority no matter where they were from in the county.

The Santa Barbara Boys & Girls Club has operated under its own budget for years.  Joining the other clubs means it will be with Carpinteria, Santa Barbara Westside, Goleta, Buellton and Lompoc.

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