The Ventura County Library Foundation has received a $3,000 grant from the California Library Association in support of this year’s Lunch at the Library program at the Avenue Library in Ventura. The Avenue Library, one of the twelve library branches of Ventura County Library, began offering the program in summer 2019 in partnership with Ventura Unified School District and Ventura County Public Health Agency.
The program provides free lunches to children and teens on the west side during summer when school is not in session, and helps ensure no child or teen in the west side of Ventura goes hungry during their summer school break. The program is open to all children and teens up to 18 years of age. There is no sign-up or income verification necessary. Children and teens are offered a healthy lunch along with Summer Reading programs and activities.
“The Ventura County Library Foundation is proud to support this impactful program that feeds bodies and minds. Many children and teens do not have access to nutritious lunches over the summer months, and coming to the library for a nutritious meal also encourages them to keep reading so literacy skills don’t slide over the summer. It really is a win-win,” says Kathy Long, Chair of the Ventura County Library Foundation.
The Lunch at the Library program is sponsored by a grant from the California Library Association and in partnership with Ventura Unified School District and the Ventura County Public Health Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention Program.
For more information about the Library Foundation visit www.vclibraryfoundation.org .
Retired Ventura County Supervisor Kathy Long will lead the Ventura County Library Foundation board into 2020 as the newly installed Chair, replacing Sandy Berg who served for two years.
At its January 8th meeting, five new board members joined the Foundation.
Somis School District Superintendent Dr. Colleen Robertson and retired LAUSD Associate Superintendent, Special Education, Beth Kauffman bring decades of experience in literacy to the foundation. Kate Larsen, a retired middle school teacher and part-time substitute, was appointed by the Board of Supervisors to join the Foundation.
Also joining the board is Diana Cervantes. She is Vice President at Premier America Credit Union, which was a strong financial supporter for the purchase of the Mobile Library for the County. Local business owner, former Peace Corps volunteer and physical therapist Susan Hanson will also bring business experience to the Foundation.
The highest priority in 2020 will be to fund STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) programs and equipment across the library system to help prepare the workforce for more highly skilled jobs, and introduce youth to 21st century careers and workplace skills.
