Youth Enrichment Services Provides Basic Needs to 100,000 Children Year-Round

ALL>> Throughout the past three years, Santa Claus Inc. (SCI) has been running a pilot program called Youth Enrichment Services, also known as Y.E.S. Y.E.S. provides free access to families with children in need of school supplies, clothing, shoes and emergency shelter to the most impoverished children throughout San Bernardino County. Y.E.S. programs expanded services year-round with outstanding results. SCI has been serving the Inland Empire for 65 years specific to seasonal distribution to impoverished children. SCI's Youth Enrichment Services program expanded distribution to meet the growing daily needs of the communities' most vulnerable people – children living in dire circumstances. Each year, 100,000 children are served from the distribution warehouse in San Bernardino, California. Both SCI and Y.E.S. program have the same mission, “To provide critical services to youth in the Inland Empire by empowering children, thereby strengthening the family unit through a variety of year-round and seasonal community-based programs.” After three-years running as a pilot program, Y.E.S. is now partnered with more than 50 nonprofits, four school districts, social service and foster care agencies, and local law enforcement departments to deliver basic need items during critical times of need. SCI’s partners and volunteers champion the mission with passion and through united collaboration. Y.E.S. has five sub-programs that enable services to be tailored to the needs of each family seeking help, including Accessible Services Action Policing, Adopt a School, Belongings, Birthdays in a Bag and Christmas Distribution. Accessible Services Action Policing, also known as A.S.A.P, in partnership with local law enforcement officers, provides 24/7 access to critical need items, and temporary hotel stays for families encountering homelessness. Adopt a School partners with local low-income schools to provide essential school supplies, clothing, shoes and other support that enriches the educational experience. The Belongings program partners with social services and foster care agencies to provide new incoming foster children with personal and basic need items as many youths enter foster care with no belongings. Birthdays in a Bag ensures families living in poverty and shelters that house families with children can celebrate each child’s special day. Every child has a life worthy of celebration. Christmas Distribution is now a 65-year flagship program that serves more than 16,500 children throughout the Inland Empire during the holidays. Every child receives a toy, book and clothing that help alleviate the financial burdens that many parents encountering financial difficulties fear during the holidays. To learn more about or how to directly volunteer and help SCI in this new Youth Enrichment Services program, please contact Santa Claus Inc. at 909-885-0090. Additionally, you can choose to donate online at www.SantaClausInc.com. To follow the successes and stories of Santa Claus Inc. and Y.E.S. services, like them on Facebook at Facebook.com/santaclausincorporated, on Instagram at #SantaHeartstheIE and on Twitter @Santaclaus_Inc.