Children's Resource & Referral of Santa Barbara County

09/10/2026

💛

A gracious donation from Children's Resource and Referral of Santa Barbara County has enabled Fighting Back Santa Maria Valley and the Partnership of Community Schools to secure essential items for SMHS students and families.

Through this community partnership, a van load of much-needed items was donated, including bassinets, school supplies, Mommy Box Kits, playpens, bottle warmers, baby wipes, diapers, baby wash, lotion, diaper cream, and hygiene kits.

These contributions go far beyond the items themselves. They represent a community coming together to ensure that families have access to the basic necessities they need to thrive. Community partnerships like these are essential to the ability to serve the whole child and support the whole family.

Providing a box of diapers, a hygiene kit, or essential supplies to a family may seem like a small act, but it can remove a significant barrier and allow families to focus on what matters most, supporting their children and helping them succeed. This work directly aligns with our district’s Community Schools initiative, which is centered on connecting families with resources, strengthening partnerships, and addressing the needs that can impact a student’s ability to learn and succeed.

"When our schools and our community organizations work together, we can do more than educate; we can connect families to resources, strengthen our communities, and create conditions where every student has the opportunity to thrive. This work is very important, and we are so grateful for the support that Children's Resource and Referral has given us to be able to make this work possible" Nancy Pacheco, Community Schools Lead, Santa Maria High School

"We are incredibly grateful for the Children’s Resource Center and all their staff for their generosity and continued commitment to supporting local families and students. Donations such as these make a meaningful difference and help ensure that our students and their children have access to essential resources and support." Jessica Tafolla, Program Specialist with Fighting Back Santa Maria Valley

"As a Community Liaison, my role is centered around connecting students and families with resources and support to help them overcome barriers. These items will provide meaningful assistance to our families and make a genuine difference in their lives. Thank you again for believing in and investing in our students, our young parents, and our families. We are truly grateful for your kindness and generosity." Alondra Zarate-Zavala. Community Liaison.

Media Contact: SMJUHSD Public Information Officer Kenny Klein

09/09/2026

Our dessert table is about to be a whole event of its own. 🍰🍪🧁✨

A HUGE thank you to the incredible local bakers and dessert makers who so generously donated their time, talent, and some seriously delicious treats to our Party with a Purpose this Saturday!

Every cookie, cake, churro, pastry, and sweet creation helps make the evening extra special while supporting Heart to Home Resource Closet and the children and families we serve throughout Santa Barbara County. 💛

And if you still have not gotten your tickets, this is your sign. 🎟️ Saturday is almost here, and this is one party you do NOT want to miss! Live music, great food, incredible desserts, community, and a purpose worth showing up for.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/crrs-party-with-a-purpose-benefit-concert-featuring-bullfrogg-blues-band-tickets-1989106697678

Come hungry. Come ready to dance. Come ready to make a difference. 💃🎸🍰

Get your tickets now and join us this Saturday, September 12!

09/07/2026

🎸 THIS SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12! 🎶

Santa Maria and Orcutt have a full day of fun ahead, so make a day of it! Spend the afternoon at the Santa Maria Air Show or the Orcutt Car Show, then head to Party with a Purpose and spend your evening with us at the Blast Stockyard!

We have an incredible lineup of musicians taking the stage throughout the night, including Lisé Meyers, Luis Oros, Elijah Banta, Maddie Banta, and our headliners, the BULLFROGG BLUES BAND! And there may be a few special guests joining the fun along the way. 👀🎶

🎸 Guitars
🎵 Bass
🥁 Drums
🎻 Violin
🎷 Saxophone
🎶 Harmonica
✨ Plus special guests throughout the night

This is going to be one of those nights where the music just keeps coming.

If you have not purchased your tickets yet, now is the time. Come for the music, the food, the community, and most importantly, the purpose behind it all.

❤️ Proceeds benefit CRR’s Heart to Home Resource Closet, providing essential clothing, comfort items, hygiene supplies, and other necessities to children entering foster care throughout Santa Barbara County.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/crrs-party-with-a-purpose-benefit-concert-featuring-bullfrogg-blues-band-tickets-1989106697678

Great music. Great food. Greater impact.
We’ll see you Saturday! 🎶🐸❤️

09/07/2026

Sometimes a supply grant brings more than supplies. 💚

CRR was grateful to receive a generous supply grant that helps us continue providing essential items to children and families throughout our community. Did you know that CRR distributes more than 16,000 diapers every single month to families who need them!?

But this delivery came with an unexpected surprise.

Included were hundreds of “Let Them” shirts, inspired by The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins. Those shirts will now go on to serve another purpose, providing clean, comfortable clothing to unhoused members of our community.

Of course, in true CRR fashion, we had to have a little fun with them first. 💚📚☀️

Because sometimes the best kind of giving keeps moving. A grant becomes diapers. A shirt becomes dignity. A donation becomes one more opportunity to remind someone in our community that they matter.

We are incredibly grateful for partnerships that allow CRR to meet practical needs while continuing to show up for families with care, creativity, and a whole lot of heart.

16,000+ diapers a month. Hundreds of shirts. Countless moments of care.

And yes, we may have taken “Let Them” a little literally. 😉💚

09/05/2026

💛 10,400+ DIAPERS. HUNDREDS OF ESSENTIAL ITEMS. ONE COMMUNITY SHOWING UP FOR FAMILIES. 💛

These photos tell the story of what happens when generosity is paired with strong community partnerships.

Children’s Resource & Referral of Santa Barbara County is incredibly grateful to Baby2Baby for a generous supply grant that allowed CRR to provide a significant distribution of essential items to Fighting Back Santa Maria and the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District.

From our team organizing and preparing boxes at CRR, to carts filled with supplies, to partners loading an entire van, every step represented one shared goal: getting meaningful resources into the hands of local children, youth, and families.

Through this distribution, CRR provided more than 10,400 diapers, ranging from newborn through Size 7, along with:

🍼 10 bassinets
🎒 240 school supply kits
💛 10 Mommy Box Kits
🧸 10 tummy play pens
🍼 10 bottle warmers
🧻 54 packs of baby wipes
🧼 Baby wash, lotion, diaper cream, and hygiene essentials
👕 Boxes of clothing
✨ Changing mats, dish kits, and additional family necessities

And sometimes the impact is visible before a single item is distributed. It is in the boxes stacked floor to ceiling. It is in a van filled until there is almost no room left. It is in staff from different organizations carrying boxes together. It is in the care taken to prepare beautiful Mommy Boxes so that a parent receives not simply supplies, but something that feels thoughtful, dignified, and special.

Behind every number is a family.

A parent who does not have to choose between diapers and another household expense. A baby whose basic needs are met. A student who has supplies for school. A young parent who knows there are people in this community willing to stand beside them.

We are deeply thankful to Baby2Baby for investing in children and families, and to Fighting Back Santa Maria and the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District for helping turn resources into real, local impact.

This is community partnership at its best: resources moving, organizations collaborating, and families being strengthened. 💛

09/01/2026

September is here, and CRR is out in the community! 💛✨

From family fun and hands on learning to live music and community connection, September gives us so many opportunities to bring our mission to life. We hope you will join us along the way!

📅 September at CRR:

🌙 September 4 | Pajama Night
CRR Discovery Museum | 6 PM to 9 PM
Come in your favorite PJs for a special evening at the Museum!

🎶 September 12 | Party with a Purpose Benefit Concert
Blast 825 Stockyard, Old Orcutt | 4 PM to 8 PM
Join us for live music, dinner, dancing, and an evening of giving back. Proceeds support CRR’s Heart to Home Resource Closet and children entering emergency foster care throughout Santa Barbara County. 💜

🍓 September 19 | Old Town Orcutt Farmers Market
Old Orcutt | 4 PM to 7 PM
Stop by and say hello to the CRR team!

🎨 September 26 | Orcutt Chalk Festival
Old Orcutt | 10 AM to 3 PM
A colorful day of creativity, connection, and community!

At CRR, our work extends far beyond our walls. It happens wherever children, families, providers, and community come together. Together, we can make a difference.

We cannot wait to see you this September! 🌻

08/29/2026

Approximately 43 parents and caregivers stopped by our booth, and every conversation felt intentional and meaningful. Many families were learning about our services for the first time, and we were glad to reconnect with familiar faces and strengthen relationships with our community partners.

Days like this are exactly what CRR’s initiative Family Voices for Brain Building Futures is about. When families tell us what they are navigating, what they need, and what is working, that shared knowledge shapes how we support early brain development across Santa Barbara County. Strong connections build strong brains, and it starts with listening.

One highlight was the information shared by Alpha Resource Center about IEPs. The presentation created a safe and welcoming space for parents and caregivers to share their experiences, ask questions, and talk openly about the challenges of navigating the IEP process.

Events like these remind us of the importance of showing up, building connections, and making sure families know they are supported and have resources available to them. We are grateful to have been part of such a meaningful day! 🌟

08/26/2026

🎶 ONLY TWO WEEKS AWAY! 🎶

Party with a Purpose is almost here, and tickets are limited!

Join us September 12 for an incredible evening of live music featuring the Bullfrogg Blues Band, dinner, dancing, and community, all while supporting Children’s Resource & Referral’s Heart to Home Resource Closet and the children and families we serve. 💚

📅 September 12
⏰ 4:00 to 8:00 PM
📍 The Blast Stockyard, Old Orcutt
🎟️ $55 per person, $25 children under 12, dinner included

https://bit.ly/CRRPWP?r=qr

Great music. Great food. Greater impact.

We are officially in the final countdown. Grab your tickets before they are gone and come Party with a Purpose! 🎸💚

08/21/2026

What a beautiful day of family, connection, and community in Lompoc! 💙

Our team had a wonderful time at the Lompoc Family Resource event at Ryon Park, joining more than 200 community members in celebration of National Breastfeeding Month.

Nearly 100 children and families stopped by our CRR booth to connect with our team, learn about available resources, and enjoy a little fun along the way! The park was filled with children playing, families spending time together, outdoor activities, free books, diaper distribution, and a special raffle featuring lactation supplies and new mom kits.

We are grateful for opportunities like these to meet families right where they are, share resources, answer questions, and strengthen the connections that help children and families thrive.

Thank you, Lompoc, for another wonderful day together! 💙🧡

08/20/2026

☀️ A wonderful day at the Old Orcutt Farmers Market! 💙🧡

We always love hosting the Kids Zone and creating a fun, welcoming space where children can play, explore, and simply be kids while families slow down and enjoy time together.

One of the best parts of the day was connecting with so many families who already know CRR and the work we do throughout our community. We heard excitement about Party with a Purpose, our upcoming PJ event, and, most meaningfully, appreciation for the services and support our team provides to children and families every day.

These moments remind us that community work is built one conversation, one connection, and one family at a time. We are grateful to be part of a community that continues to show up for its children. 💙

Thank you, Old Orcutt Farmers Market, for another beautiful day of connection, play, and community! 🌻

FamiliesFirst KidsZone PartyWithAPurpose