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January 2025
Recently at our Lompoc Children’s Center ribbon cutting, I watched the faces in the crowd – longtime supporters, new community members, elected officials, and dedicated staff. In that moment, I saw what resilience really looks like. It’s not just about being strong individually; it’s about the web of relationships we weave together, holding our community strong.
On December 5th, we held the ribbon cutting for our brand-new child care center in Trinity Church of the Nazarene in Lompoc. Thank you to Travis Caldeira, State Senator Monique Limón, Joan Hartmann, Jeremy Ball, and Esmeralda Estrada for helping us celebrate.
November 2024
Uncertainty is stressful for everyone, adults and children alike. LEAP’s role is to ensure that our children and our families have a safe and trusted organization to support them, not only with childcare and social services, but also with their fears. Take care of yourself, and, please, be extra kind to those around you. You never know who needs a little extra kindness.
This month, we have announced the 2025 LEAP Awards, which will take place on March 13th, 2025. We are also accepting families onto our waitlist for our brand new Lompoc Children’s Center.
October 2024
Try something new, might like it, too. This was a mantra in my house when my children were growing up. Change can be hard, and many children, even many adults, can feel anxious and hesitant when confronted with something new – a new food, a new idea, a new perspective. But, if you try something new, you might like it!
Change can be scary, and LEAPing into the unknown is hard. But, like we say in my family, Try something new, might like it, too. What new thing will you try this month?
September 2024
It takes courage to try something new. Back in 2020, my friend Wendi called to see if LEAP (then IVYP) would consider starting a diaper bank. We knew that there was a need for diapers in our community. After all, research shows that one in two families struggle with the high cost of diapers.
What we didn’t know is how we would pay for or sustain a diaper bank. How would adding this resource for families impact our staff’s capacity? Where would we store diapers? I didn’t know the answer to any of these questions, but we agreed it was important to try.