Keeping kids out of harm's way and away from gangs. That's the mission of the Kern County Sheriff's Activities League. SAL said thanks to the citizens and businesses who have bought into that mission at their 2011 Appreciation and Awards Dinner.
SAL is a non-profit. It depends on volunteers and donations to keep the program going. At the special dinner, those who help got to meet many of the kids who are benefiting from their efforts.
Photographs of the kids at events and doing community services filled the banquet hall. It was for the many who have given their time and money to see how they are helping.
"Most of our kids are at-risk kids," explained John Money, former director of the Lamont SAL. "They come from bad neighborhoods so they are trying to do good so they enjoy the fact that they can get out and get to do stuff. And, we do fun stuff too."
Or on this night, take home an award, like 11-year-old Mercedes Flores did, for Outstanding Girl of the Year in the Lamont SAL program.
"It does many things because it makes me look from a different point of view, and it also helps me learn like what not to do and why it's wrong," said Flores about the SAL program.
"Oh, it's phenomenal," said Wendy Dohner, owner of B & B Barbecue in Kernville. "The kids are amazing. My niece alone, when she does something in school her concern is now not that daddy knows, it's does Deputy Levick know? Is Deputy Garcia going to find out?"
Wendy Dohner won Sponsor of the Year for the Kern Valley SAL program. She and her business raised more than $5,000 for the program in 2011.
"Oh, I definitely think these kids would be doing who knows what, you know, in the nighttime or whatever, but they've got something to look forward to," said Dohner.
The kids give back through community service, like picking up litter and removing graffiti. They learn respect, something volunteers and sponsors consider priceless.
"It's rewarding to see what they can accomplish with a little bit of help," said Money.
Wendy Dohner says this was her first year as a sponsor. She's already planning a car wash to raise money for this year.
