The Kern River Valley Bridge Connection (KRVBC) invites the public to a BBQ event, where the group plans to raise funding to continue the work of bringing resources to the underserved of the valley.
Please come and enjoy hamburgers, made with meat donated by Rankin Ranch, Saturday November 16, at 11am at 6069 Lake Isabella Boulevard, Lake Isabella.
Karen Zuber, the founder of the KRVBC told the Kern Valley Sun, “We really want the community to be able to come out and see what the KRV Bridge Connection is all about. And by bringing out families for some fun food we’ll be able to take a tour of the building and we’ll have some of the non profit partners here that will be in the building so that the community can get to know who is inside and what the KRV Bridge connection’s all about.”
And just who exactly will be participating, in the near future, at the KRVBC building? The KRVBC expects Open Door Network, Cap K, Be Finally Free, Garden Pathways, Flood Ministries, and Behavioral Health to bring services to the facility as a one-stop shop to fill the needs of residents. The KRVBC plans to have some services to assist others in attaining job training, counseling, and other assistance. Services will not be duplicating others already in the works. There will not be a homeless shelter present at this location.
The building will have applications for utility assistance, and counseling, offices for nonprofits, and a teaching kitchen. Cerro Coso plans to teach education classes at the center as well. “They will be rotating in here one or two days a week. Some will be in here five days a week, some will be in here just once a week. We’ve never had the services up here that we’re going to be getting,” Zuber said. “In the future we’d love to be able to possibly provide transportation services. That’s what these type of fundraising events are going to be, so we can expand our services.”
The KRVBC is hoping visitors and donors from Bakersfield may be coming out because the fundraiser is the first for their organization. “If it rains we will probably serve the burgers as a drive by – pick up,” she said.
The Bridge plans to have some silent auction items to bid on. One auction item will be a Rankin Ranch Sample of Beef Box and another is a box of tasty pastries. Money Raised will be used to assist the center to open.
Zuber said, “We will also be promoting Justin Powers (Neighbor to Neighbor) event, with fliers that day. So there’s multiple reasons to come into Lake Isabella that day.”
Powers is hosting a Sierra Shared Spaces event, November 16, which will have local businesses and nonprofits available to give informative talks at the Senior Center from 12pm to 3pm. This would be especially good for new comers to the community as well as longtime residents.
The KRVBC still needs additional volunteers, especially for set up, and clean up. And they are still seeking more donated auction items. https://krvbridge.org/
“For 42 years we’ve lived up here. And I have known the affects of poverty personally. And so I know what a big difference it can make if just one person is ready to make a difference and help you,” said Zuber.
