With school starting up again this month, we’re shining a spotlight on local organizations that contribute to our children’s overall well-being—especially during these trying times. The following are groups of people who’ve come together to see that no child is left behind, despite financial circumstances or stressful living conditions, by assisting in education and providing resources and opportunities that are often hard to come by.

Folsom’s Hope

1100 Blue Ravine Road, Folsom, 916-425-5013, folsomshope.orgWhat they do: STARS After School programs offer a safe, loving place for kids where they get help with homework, are provided a healthy snack, enjoy recreational activity, and receive exposure to the arts. Their mentoring programs connect at-risk children with a caring, supportive adult mentor in a safe, supervised environment once a week during school lunch hour. They plan to build a Family Resource Center adjacent to Theodore Judah Elementary School meant for tutoring and mentoring children, and counselling and educating parents.
How you can help: Volunteer opportunities include one-on-one mentoring, after-school tutoring, homework help, and in-class help. They also need donations for the new resource center.3941 Park Drive, Suite 20, El Dorado Hills, 530-535-8781, countonkids.orgWhat they do: Their Leadership Squad (youth that attend events) has completed 50 community service projects that benefited 28 different organizations, including local shelters, food banks, and schools. As of February 2020, they’ve had 2,200 participants join events, 921 of those being youth. Programs include “Superheroes Clean Up The Town,” making care kits for homeless children, an in-school community service curriculum, and week-long kindness camps.
How you can help: Sign up to volunteer in the community (events scheduled to resume next month) or donate at countonkids.org/donate.

Boys & Girls Club of El Dorado County Western Slope

Various locations throughout El Dorado County, 530-295-8019, bgce.orgWhat they do: Every child experience focuses on academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. In the last year, the club has served over 140,000 scratch-made meals, delivered thousands of hours of STEM learning, fine arts, computer instruction, music, sports, gardening, cooking, financial literacy, and recreation programming, and provided one-on-one mentoring to hundreds of children.
How you can help: Make a donation or volunteer one hour a week at the club.

Boys & Girls Club of Placer County

679 Lincoln Way, Auburn, 530-889-2273, bgcplacercounty.orgWhat they do: They offer critical services to young people in areas like education, character development, career exploration, sports and recreation, the arts, and community service. They are committed to their Youth Development Strategy of instilling in their members a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging, and the power of influence. A new Clubhouse in Roseville will begin serving youth in 2021. They hope to have their Golf Tournament fundraiser at Winchester Country Club on August 18.
How you can help: Contribute to “Fund a Need,” which sponsors members who aren’t able to pay the $10 membership cost. They have a number of volunteer opportunities as well.

My Mother’s Voice

8331 Sierra College Boulevard, Suite 206, Roseville, 916-770-6887, mymothersvoice.orgWhat they do: They concentrate on schools where the poverty rate is high and most of the students don’t speak English as their first language. Their “A Book of My Own” program gives every child a brand-new book every month along with backpacks filled with supplies for home and school. They’ve also assisted during the pandemic—providing rent support, medical, and social service referrals, and over 8,300 meals to families.