{"id":373586,"date":"2026-06-24T22:08:08","date_gmt":"2026-06-24T22:08:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/373586\/"},"modified":"2026-06-24T22:08:08","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T22:08:08","slug":"boys-and-girls-club-of-kern-county-marks-60-years-and-brings-back-resource-fair","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/373586\/","title":{"rendered":"Boys and Girls Club of Kern County marks 60 years and brings back Resource Fair"},"content":{"rendered":"

As summer break approaches, the Boys & Girls Club of Kern County<\/a> is marking a major milestone while also preparing to help hundreds of local families with basic household needs.<\/p>\n

KBAK<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

The club recently celebrated its 60th anniversary with an open house at the Armstrong Youth Center in east Bakersfield. The event featured a 1960s theme to recognize decades of service and gave kids and families a chance to explore programs and resources offered through the club.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know, when it first started, it had carpeted walls and just different things. Now we have sports rooms and technology centers and STEM labs and fine art rooms, just so much more than when we first started, and it’s really just to meet the needs of what our kids are needing and creating opportunities for them,\u201d said Natalie Martinez, the club\u2019s Director of Outreach.<\/p>\n

KBAK<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Next up is the club\u2019s annual Resource Fair, scheduled for tomorrow at the Armstrong Youth Center on Nile Street from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Martinez said the goal is to provide families on the east side of town and across Kern County with supplies to help them through the summer and as students head back to school in August.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat we are doing is laundry detergent items to get them through for the rest of the summer, so when the students go back in August, they have some items: shampoo, conditioner, laundry detergent, body wash, that way they can go ahead and get through the summertime,\u201d Martinez said.<\/p>\n

KBAK<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Martinez adds that she is \u201choping and praying for 300 families\u201d and will have 20 vendors on site, each offering resources for families. She said the event will also include a food project box that provides \u201c30 days worth of food and supplies for their family.\u201d<\/p>\n

The giveaway is first come, first served, with one box per family. <\/p>\n

Martinez tells me, some families typically begin lining up as early as 2 p.m. and urged people to prepare for the heat. \u201cPlease, please, please, it\u2019s very, very hot, so please bring water, bring an umbrella, just be safe, and make sure you have, you\u2019re hydrated for the line,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

In addition to the resource fair, the Boys & Girls Club i<\/a>s also showcasing student artwork as part of their annual Art Fest in October. This year’s theme is 70s music, featuring pieces inspired by musicians and artists including Devo, Pink Floyd, Donna Summer, AC\/DC and David Bowie. Perez said the artwork on display is created by students and includes their names and ages, with some pieces still in progress.<\/p>\n

KBAK<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Martinez, who said she has been with the Boys & Girls Club for more than 20 years, described the organization\u2019s growth over that time.<\/p>\n

\u201cI started off as an area program director at that time we had 32 locations. Now we are number three in the nation. We have 75 locations,\u201d she said, adding that the club now has \u201cover 800 staff.\u201d<\/p>\n

For more information on the Resource Fair and the rest of the upcoming events at Boys & Girls Club website. <\/a><\/p>\n