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LEAP Central Coast
By Katrina McDowell on Feb 3, 2025 in Giving
Yardi-supported nonprofit LEAP Central Coast, established in 1971 in Goleta, Calif., provides trauma-informed childcare, family support services and community resources to ensure children and families thrive. Its two children’s centers serve children ages three months to five years old, preparing for kindergarten and beyond.
The Family Resource Center provides support for anything its community members may need. It operates the only registered diaper bank in Santa Barbara County. It distributes healthy groceries at its monthly free food distributions, offers free classes and webinars on various topics and connects families with essential social services.
In early 2025, LEAP plans to open a new Children’s center in Lompoc to expand its reach. Long-term, LEAP aims to grow programs that address critical needs, including:
- Immigration informational webinars
- Financial literacy classes
- Monthly food distribution
- Vaccine clinics
LEAP is committed to recruiting skilled educators to deliver high-quality care and education. Funding from Yardi supports and maintains vital services like the diaper bank, which distributes 6,000 diapers monthly. Funding also contributes to sustaining and expanding family resource programs, funding important work at the children’s centers and meeting the growing needs of its community.
“We’re incredibly grateful for Yardi’s belief in our mission,” expressed Darcy Brakeman, development assistant for LEAP. She continued, “Their support fuels our ability to respond to community needs with compassion and efficiency. With partners like Yardi, we can continue to create lasting change for families across Santa Barbara County.”
Simon’s Venture
His distress was apparent when Simon joined LEAP’s Children’s Center at six months old. His physical and social-emotional development was significantly delayed, and he had difficulty settling or connecting with his caregivers. LEAP learned Simon’s single mother struggled to support their small family despite working two jobs.
Through the nurturing, trauma-informed care of his teachers at the Children’s Center, Simon underwent a remarkable transformation. His teachers provided the responsive, attentive care he needed, helping him form secure attachments—a critical milestone for his development. Within a year, Simon met all key physical, cognitive, and social-emotional developmental benchmarks. In addition, Simon’s mother received critical support through LEAP’s Family Resource Center, including diapers, food, and housing referrals – helping ease stress and stabilize their family.
Today, Simon is a happy, healthy 18-month-old who communicates in two-word sentences, plays joyfully with his peers, and eagerly runs into the classroom each morning, greeting his teachers with waves and hugs. The consistent care he received gave him the emotional security and healthy relationships he needed to flourish.
Simon’s story is a testament to the profound difference high-quality, trauma-informed childcare can make in a child’s life. At the Children’s Center, he found the stability and care needed to overcome early challenges and thrive developmentally. Today, Simon’s joy and progress reflect the power of creating a safe, nurturing environment where every child can succeed.
Volunteer Opportunities
LEAP welcomes volunteers at its monthly healthy food distribution. Each month, they provide groceries to over 250 families. Discover more and sign up here.
LEAP also invites volunteers and community members to host a diaper drive. Its diaper bank provides thousands of diapers and wipes to babies in need. By hosting a diaper drive at your home, workplace or community event, you can help ensure no baby goes without the essentials. To get started, contact Kara Shoemaker at [email protected].
Check out LEAP’s social media channels, Facebook page, Instagram, and LinkedIn and sign up for its monthly email newsletter today!
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