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Santa Fe Springs honors youth leadership retreat and large community toy-drive donations
Summary
The City Council recognized the Youth Leadership Committee’s retreat and thanked local businesses and families for donations that supported youth programs and a holiday toy distribution serving roughly 1,400 children.
The Santa Fe Springs City Council recognized the Youth Leadership Committee’s recent retreat and publicly thanked local businesses and families for donations that supported youth programs and a holiday toy distribution.
Valerie Gamboa, chairperson of the Youth Leadership Committee, told the council the retreat to Green Valley Lake ran Jan. 17–20 and “provided us an opportunity to get to know each other through many games and through many team bonding activities.” Wayne Bergeron, community services supervisor and executive secretary to the Youth Leadership Committee, introduced the students and explained the committee’s role as “the voice of the youth.”
Gamboa and other student members said staff-led sessions covered civic basics. “The city staff that accompanied us went over important things that we needed to know to make a committee function, such as how to conduct a meeting using Robert’s Rules of Order, the importance of the Brown Act, as well as the form of local government we have,” said Jaden Brown, a Youth Leadership Committee member.
The council also recognized large community donations to separate youth initiatives. Fire Chief Chad Vermidian said firefighters and community volunteers collected roughly 1,200 gifts plus gift cards for this year’s Perez–Macias family toy drive; those items were distributed across five locations, which the department listed as: LA COTA, the Department of Family Services, Little Lake School District toy distribution, Pacific Clinics and the Salvation Army. The department estimated the distribution served roughly 1,400 children in the community.
Representatives from Servwell Disposal and Recycling came forward during the meeting. Nicholas Hubert, describing his family’s business history, said his grandfather founded the company in 1949 and presented a check to support future youth programs. ‘‘We just wanted to tell thank you for mayor and city council and Wayne,’’ Hubert said as he handed over the donation.
Natalie Tong, representing the office of Assemblywoman Blanca Pacheco, presented a certificate on the assemblywoman’s behalf to the Perez–Macias families in recognition of their donation.
Why it matters: Council members said the retreat and the donations strengthen civic engagement and provide direct support for local youth and school programs. The Youth Leadership Committee members left the meeting with council appreciation and a public photo opportunity.
No formal council action was required for the presentations and recognitions.
