Serving the children and families of East Bakersfield!

Abel Moreno

children_first1

CF serves the families of East Bakersfield.
4/12- Storytime at the Park 1-4PM
4/17- Food Dist. 4PM
4/26- Neighborhood Cleanup 10AM

📢 Hello, East Bakersfield! Get ready for our

📢 Hello, East Bakersfield!

Get ready for our third Storytime at the Park on 4/12/25—and this time, we’re making it even bigger! We’re extending the event by an hour to bring you even more fun, thanks to the generous support of @mendoza_party_rentals with a bouncy house 🏰 and @quebuena1057fm keeping the vibes going with great music! 🎶🎤

Our Book of the Month is Book Fiesta!, a story that celebrates Día de los Niños & Books 📚🎊. Not only will we read together with @ollincan.yolotl and get creative with arts & crafts with @thebmoa, but we’ll also enjoy delicious food from @vallarta.supermarkets, play games, and have fun outdoors with the whole family! We will also provide additional free books to giveaway to those who are interested in building their personal home libraries. (Food and Books are limited and on a first come, first serve basis)

🌟 Mark your calendars and join us for a day of reading, joy, and community fun! 🌟

#StorytimeAtThePark #DíaDeLosNiños #FamilyFun #EastBakersfield #BookFiesta #communityevent #literacyoutdoors #cultureofliteracy

English: Hello! Our third neighborhood cleanup i

English:

Hello! Our third neighborhood cleanup is this Saturday! Come out and join us for a short time to help keep East Bakersfield beautiful. DM us if you have any questions or if you're interested in participating. Hope to see you then!

Spanish:

¡Hola! ¡Nuestra tercera jornada de limpieza del vecindario es este sábado! Ven y únete a nosotros por un rato para ayudar a mantener el hermoso East Bakersfield. Envíanos un mensaje si tienes preguntas o si estás interesado en participar. ¡Esperamos verte ahí!
#eastbakersfield #neighborhoodcleanup #keepbakersfieldbeautiful #bakersfieldvolunteers

A big thank you to our incredible volunteers who s

A big thank you to our incredible volunteers who showed up yesterday! Because of your efforts, we were able to provide supplementary food for 271 families.

Special shoutout to @marthalicia_11 for showing up consistently for the past year—your bilingual and leadership skills shine through! And thank you @jvrobles5 for your continued support over the years; your help has been instrumental in making our food distributions run smoothly (:

We’re also grateful to @love2bekristina, @u.luv.jon, and the many community members who not only came to get food boxes but also jumped in to help with setup and distribution. This wouldn’t be possible without your time, effort, and heart!

Lastly, a big thank you to @mobiledumpsbakersfield for helping us haul away all the extra cardboard and pallets. If you ever need their services, be sure to check them out!

We’ll do it all over again next month! Mark your calendars for April 17, 2025. Help us spread the word to families in need and to those who want to volunteer. Until next time, East Bakersfield!
#eastbakersfield #fooddistribution #foodinsecurity #volunteerspirit

Yesterday, we had our first Family Nature Day of 2

Yesterday, we had our first Family Nature Day of 2025! 40 bright students from Williams Elementary School learned about the season of Spring and also learned about bearded dragon lizards!

To learn about Spring we first went off on a nature scavenger hunt inside the park. We then played a fun true or false game to test their knowledge of Spring.

Lastly, the students got to meet Lyle the Bearded Dragon 🐉!! Our wonderful Program Activity Coordinator Raeyana Ross led the way and the students had really good questions about Lyle and bearded dragons.

The students left with a book about bearded dragons to retain that knowledge. Left with a toy to play with because play time is essential! And hopefully left back to school a bit more curious about our world and the life within it.

Until next time, East Bakersfield!

This program is funded by the Outdoor Equity Grants Program, created through AB 209 and administered by California State Parks, Office of Grants and Local Services.

#eastbakersfield #outdoorequity #outdoorequitygrant #familynatureday #outdooreducation

Join us next week for our monthly food distributio

Join us next week for our monthly food distribution!

All are welcome to come and receive food boxes. One per family.

All are welcome to volunteer starting at:

2PM-4PM for setup
4PM - distribution
5:30PM - cleanup
*times may vary

See you next week lovelies!

#eastbakersfield #fooddistribution #foodinsecurity #volunteerwork #givingbacktothecommunity

At yesterday’s Storytime at the Park event, I ha

At yesterday’s Storytime at the Park event, I had the chance to ask two young readers a few questions—one in English and one in Spanish—about the book we read and their thoughts on the event.

Their responses were so thoughtful and touching. It was a beautiful reminder of how reading comprehension is key to building literacy. The ability to confidently express what a story means, how it connects to our own lives, and how it fosters gratitude for what we have is invaluable.

A huge thank you to Michael and Uriel for sharing your reflections in these video testimonials! You both have bright futures ahead. ✨

#literacymatters #eastbakersfield #readingoutloud #readingcomprehension

Our second Storytime at the Park took place yester

Our second Storytime at the Park took place yesterday, and what a heartwarming experience it was! We came together to read in English and Spanish, reflect on the story, create art, play, and share a meal. Strangers became friends, and together, we made new core memories.

A huge thank you to @bako.lit.society for being our guest readers this month! @celspalacio and @bohons_ brought the story to life, seamlessly transitioning between English and Spanish—you are both superstars!

Shoutout to Miriam from @thebmoa for leading our arts and crafts station! The kids loved making postcards of love and gratitude chains after reading From North to South, a powerful story about family separation and deportation.

We’re also grateful for @sleepycavazos, @ana_raey, and @carlos_bello__ for volunteering—whether it was running the sound system, handing out sandwiches, or helping clean up, your support made everything run smoothly. And of course, special thanks to @sleepycavazos for keeping the vibes on point! 🎤🎵🎶

Mark your calendars—our third Storytime at the Park is happening on 4/12/25! In the meantime, check out these upcoming Storytime at the Park events:
📚 3/15 – @lovefromabovecommunity at Patriot’s Park
📚 3/22 – @bzpbakersfield at Heritage Park
📚 4/5 – @3g_activities at Saunders Park

Peace out East Bakersfield ✌🏽

#LiteracyMatters #EastBakersfield #ReadingOutside #CultureOfLiteracy #bakersfieldevents

Good morning, good afternoon or good evening depen

Good morning, good afternoon or good evening depending on when you’re reading this!

Our second Storytime at the Park event is on March 8, 2025! Join our guest readers @bako.lit.society as they read From North to South by Rene Lainez in English and Spanish. We will follow up our readings with some engaging arts/crafts activities related to the book with the assistance of @thebmoa.

Snacks and refreshments will also be provided along with a portable restroom. Looking forward to another great event!!
#eastbakersfield #cultureofliteracy #readingcommunity #readingoutdoors #bakersfieldevents

Another neighborhood cleanup in the books today! A

Another neighborhood cleanup in the books today! A small but mighty crew came out to clean the streets/alleyways on Williams, Brown, Monterey and Haley streets. Thank you to board members @tere_quintana10 and @carlos_bello__ for joining us! As well as 2024 summer intern @with.belenn , @lucid_being_ and Christina! We were able to pickup 45lbs of trash today! Please join us next month for our next cleanup on 3/29/25! Until next time, East Bakersfield ✌🏽💚
#eastbakersfield #cleanup #volunteering

Join Us for a Neighborhood Cleanup This Saturday!

Join Us for a Neighborhood Cleanup This Saturday!

Looking for a way to give back? Come out this Saturday from 10:00–11:30 AM and help us beautify the streets surrounding our pocket park! We'll provide all the supplies—you just need to bring comfortable clothes, sturdy shoes, and a willingness to make a difference.

Every small effort adds up, and together, we can create a cleaner, more beautiful community. If you're interested in volunteering, feel free to reach out. We’d love to have you there! 🌿#eastbakersfield #neighborhoodcleanup #community #volunteering #bakersfieldvolunteers

Celebrating Our First Storytime at the Park Event

Celebrating Our First Storytime at the Park Event on 2/8/25!

We’re so grateful for the amazing collaboration with the @bookitbakersfield team from @forddreambuilders — their students and advisors were incredible partners, and it was a joy to work together from start to finish!

Our first book was I Can Do Hard Things/Yo Puedo Hacer Cosas Difíciles by Gabi Garcia, a beautiful story that encourages positive affirmations to help kids face life’s challenges with confidence. It was a hit, especially with the related art activities led by Miriam from @thebmoa, which attendees got to take home!

A special highlight: participants created handprints on four little libraries built by the @bookitbakersfield team, which will be installed throughout East Bakersfield. You can already find one at the David Nelson Pocket Park — ready for the community to enjoy!

✨ Save the date for our next Storytime at the Park: March 8, 1-3 PM! Expect another great book, arts, and crafts fun.

A big thank you to @3g_activities, @hmakesithappen, for their support at the event and to our other Storytime at the Park friends @lovefromabovecommunity and @bzpbakersfield — give them a follow to support their upcoming events!

An additional shoutout for the hygiene kits, books and stuffed animals provided by @wswfoundation !! Thank you for always providing us with thoughtful resources.

Photos by: @bookitbakersfield

#cultureofliteracy #eastbakersfield #endilliteracy #storytimeatthepark #community

Next Thursday marks our second food distribution o

Next Thursday marks our second food distribution of 2025! We invite you to join us—whether as a volunteer or by spreading the word to those in need. Our distribution offers two options: a walk-up line for individuals without transportation and a drive-thru line for those with vehicles.

If you'd like to sign up as a volunteer in advance, simply use the link in our bio or visit our website. Navigate to the "Food Distribution" tab and click on the registration form to secure your spot. Your support helps us serve the community! #eastbakersfield #fooddistribution #foodinsecurity #volunteering

Mark Your Calendars! Join us for our first-ever S

Mark Your Calendars!

Join us for our first-ever Storytime at the Park next Saturday 2/8/25 from 1-3 PM! The first 20 families in attendance will receive a free copy of our Book of the Month, I Can Do Hard Things!

A huge thank you to @forddreambuilders and their @bookitbakersfield team for providing additional books, as well as snacks and refreshments for attendees!

This free community event is designed to inspire a love of reading while creating a fun, interactive space where families can read, learn, and play together.

Special Activities:

📖 Interactive Art Activity – Led by @thebmoa instructors, inspired by I Can Do Hard Things / Yo Puedo Hacer Cosas Difíciles.

🎨 Little Library Box Art Station – In partnership with Ford Dream Builders’ ‘Book It’ team, families will help decorate four new Little Library boxes, which will be placed throughout East Bakersfield. One will be installed at David Nelson Pocket Park and another at Jefferson Elementary School, helping expand book access for local families.

We can’t wait to see you there!
#eastbakersfield #endilliteracy #cultureofliteracy #bakersfieldevents #communityevents

Hello, Bakersfield! We’re excited to bring Stor

Hello, Bakersfield!

We’re excited to bring Storytime at the Park to a park near you! In partnership with @3g_activities, @lovefromabovecommunity, and @bzpbakersfield, we’ve organized a monthly series of events that promote literacy, mindfulness, creativity, and fun for families in our community.

Inspired by the @kernliteracycouncil model launched last fall, we recognize the growing need for family-friendly activities as our city faces increasing rates of illiteracy. Together, we’re creating engaging spaces where children and families can learn, grow, and connect.

Join @3g_activities this Saturday at Saunders Park from 1–4 PM! Check out the flyers for more details, and feel free to reach out with any questions about the individual events.

Help us spread the word! We can’t wait to see you this Saturday and in the months ahead!

#Community #LiteracyMatters #ReadTogether #EastBakersfield #Collaboration

Today, on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we hosted a

Today, on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we hosted a community art event to honor his legacy and reflect on the profound impact of his work. Special thanks to @thebmoa for leading the creative activity and to @bookitbakersfield for participating and partnering with us on an exciting new project next month (stay tuned!)

We’re also incredibly grateful to @aerotek, @eddie_sagal, Andrew, Zach, Pedro, and Ingrid for not only helping serve but also assisting with trash cleanup in the park and surrounding neighborhood—all while joining in the art activities.

It was endearing to welcome a new family to the area who stopped by to participate, as well as another family who joined in. Together, we engaged in meaningful conversations about Dr. King’s message and the ongoing struggles with poverty and discrimination he so powerfully addressed during his time.

“Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

Until next time, East Bakersfield ✌🏽
#EastBakersfield #Community #martinlutherkingday

Happy Friday, everyone! 🎨✨ We’re excited t

Happy Friday, everyone! 🎨✨

We’re excited to collaborate with @thebmoa to host a community art project this coming Monday in celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day! 💛✊ This is a chance for us all to come together, reflect on Dr. King's incredible legacy, and express our thoughts and creativity through art.

✨ What to expect:

All materials will be provided.
We’ll be working collaboratively on one large shared canvas, creating a powerful piece of community art.
Everyone is welcome—bring your imagination and your voice to this meaningful event! Let’s honor the spirit of unity and love that Dr. King inspired in us all.

We can’t wait to create with you! 🖌️ #MLKDay #CommunityArt #celebratetogether #eastbakersfield

Join us next Thursday for our first food distribut

Join us next Thursday for our first food distribution of 2025! Spread the word to those in need! Spread the word to those who would like to volunteer from 2PM-6:30 PM. Setup: 2-4PM; Distribution: 4PM-until food runs out; Cleanup: 5:30-6:30PM. Reach out if you would like to volunteer. See you all next week! #eastbakersfield #foodinsecurity #fooddistribution #community #volunteer

Happy New Year everyone! To kick off 2025, we are

Happy New Year everyone! To kick off 2025, we are hosting our first Neighborhood Cleanup of the year this Friday with @volunteerbigkern! We extend a warm invitation to local residents and community volunteers to join us in the collective effort to pick up litter in the vicinity, covering Brown, Williams, Monterey, Lake, and Haley Streets. All necessary equipment is provided, and participation is open to everyone. The program's overarching goal is to instill a sense of pride and ownership among local residents, fostering a community-driven commitment to the cleanliness of their neighborhood. Join us! #eastbakersfield #neighborhoodcleanup #keepbakersfieldbeautiful

One of the standout moments for Children First in

One of the standout moments for Children First in 2024 was providing every student at Williams and Jefferson Elementary Schools with a $20 voucher for their annual Book Fairs. Thanks to the Virginia and Alfred Harrell Foundation, this project allowed us to put books directly into the hands of 1,043 students, sparking joy and supporting a culture of literacy in East Bakersfield.

Check out this video showcasing the process and the excitement of the children we serve! Like BCSD, we are dedicated to fostering a love for reading, and this initiative was one of the ways we achieved that goal this year.

Looking ahead, we’re determined to replicate this success in 2025 but we need your support to make it happen! Visit childrenfirstbakersfield.org/donate to help us continue empowering children and building a brighter future for East Bakersfield.

Together, we can keep inspiring young readers! #eastbakersfield #literacymatters #bookfairs #cultureofliteracy

Spreading Joy and Literacy in East Bakersfield! T

Spreading Joy and Literacy in East Bakersfield!

Thanks to a generous community grant from @kernfamilyhealthcare, we had the privilege of giving gifts to every kindergartener at Williams and Jefferson Elementary Schools today! Each student received a custom-made hoodie designed by the talented @jenwillco to promote a culture of literacy in East Bakersfield, along with other essential items.

We are so grateful to all the amazing volunteers who got the process rolling at yesterday’s food distribution and to the dedicated parents at both schools’ FACE Centers, who helped finish assembling the gift bags this morning. Your teamwork made this possible!

A special shoutout to Sonia and the @wswfoundation for donating stuffed animals, which were gifted to the TK students—such a thoughtful and heartwarming addition!

Hearing from staff members that many of these children might not have received a present otherwise truly touched our hearts. Knowing we could brighten their day, even for a little while, means the world to us.

We are deeply grateful for our enduring partnership with Williams Elementary and excited about our growing connection with Jefferson Elementary. We are here for you, committed to supporting your students and families however we can.

#CommunitySupport #PromotingLiteracy #EastBakersfield #PartnershipsMatter #kindnessinaction

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