Dear Neighbors,
We are midway through this beautiful summer, and I hope you all are having an awesome start to the month of August. Here are some exciting events and resources as students gear up for this new academic year!
Resources and Programs in AD 43
- California State Library Parks Pass Program
- School Lunch Voucher Information
- Back-to-School Information/Resources
- Sun Bucks
- Resources – MySanFernando app
- El Centro de Amistad – Family Source Center – Free Diapers, Baby Wipes and Bottles
August Events
- Saturday, August 17, 2024 – Bulky Item Drop Off, Electronic Recycling, Compost Giveaway & Shred Day
- Saturday, August 31, 2024 – City of San Fernando 113th Birthday Celebration
- September Sneak Peek - Saturday, September 21, 2024 - Fur Fest
July Recap
- District Office Interns
- Equestrian Advocate of the Year
- Back to School Resource Fair
- California’s Women’s Caucus Minerva Scholarship, and California Latino Legislative Caucus Foundation (CLLCF) Scholarship Recipients
- Community Resiliency and Compassion: The Morales Family
FREE RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS IN AD 43
California State Library Parks Pass Program
Looking for something to do during these last few weeks of summer? The California State Parks system is providing a program where library cardholders can access free day-use entry to over 200 participating state park units. This initiative allows holders to check out a State Library Parks Pass from their local public library, enabling free entry for one vehicle or motorcycle.
The pass is available at various library locations, including mobile libraries, and can be borrowed for a specified number of days set by each library. It does not cover fees for camping, group activities, or certain special events and is not valid at parks managed by federal, local, or private entities. Users are encouraged to enjoy the outdoors responsibly, ensuring safety and preparedness before visiting parks.
For additional questions about state park passes, please visit California State Library Parks Pass or email parkpassinfo@parks.ca.gov.
Summer School Lunch Nutrition Program
We encourage you to register for school lunch vouchers through the Summer School Lunch Nutrition Program. This initiative is designed to provide children access to nutritious meals during the summer months when regular school sessions are not in session. Ensuring that children have food is crucial for their health and well-being.
If you have any questions or need assistance with the registration process for school lunch vouchers, please contact the statewide hotline at 877-328-9677. Alternatively, you can find more information by visiting the Summer Food Service Program Information page.
Your participation in this program helps support the nutritional needs of children in our community during the summer break. Thank you for your interest and support in ensuring that every child has access to healthy meals year-round.
Back to School Information/Resources
Welcome back to school! For further information on back-to-school instructions, resources, and after-school programs, please visit https://www.lausd.org
Sun Bucks
SUN Bucks provide families with children access to nutritious food over the summer when schools are closed. Each eligible child will receive $120 in food benefits on an EBT card for the summer.
If you have children and have received CalFresh, CalWORKs, or Medi-Cal at least once during the 2023-24 school year, you will automatically receive SUN Bucks. These benefits will be loaded onto an EBT card and mailed to you by September 2024.
If you do not qualify for these programs, you may still be eligible for SUN Bucks if your family meets the income guidelines for free or reduced-price school meals. To apply, please submit a school meal form or "alternative income form" at your child's school by Saturday, August 31, 2024.
It's crucial to safeguard your SUN Bucks because they cannot be replaced if lost or stolen. Families have 122 days from when the funds are loaded onto their SUN Bucks card to use them; after that, the funds will expire.
Support your family's well-being this summer with SUN Bucks! If you have any questions or need assistance with SUN Bucks, please call the statewide hotline at 877-328-9677.
Please note that receiving SUN Bucks will not affect your immigration status. For more details about eligibility and how to apply, visit: https://www.cdss.ca.gov/sun-bucks/who-is-eligible
RESOURCES
MySanFernando app
The My San Fernando app serves as the main platform for residents to request city services such as addressing potholes, graffiti, code enforcement issues, and illegal dumping. Additionally, the app provides access to important community information, enhancing connectivity between residents and city services.
Download at: Apple App Store or Google Play
El Centro de Amistad – Family Source Center – Free Diapers, Baby Wipes and Bottles
We are excited to share that El Centro de Amistad, located at the Panorama City Family Source Center, is now offering FREE diapers, wipes, and bottles to enrolled families. This initiative is designed to provide essential support to families in our community, with a limit of one item per household.
For further information, please call us at (818) 441-7127 or visit our location at 14500 Roscoe Blvd., Suite 205, Panorama City, CA 91402.
Take advantage of this valuable opportunity provided by El Centro de Amistad! Help us spread the word and share this beneficial news with others in our community.
AUGUST EVENTS
Bulky Item Drop Off, Electronic Recycling, Compost Giveaway & Shred Day
San Fernando residents are invited to participate in a community cleanup event on Saturday, August 17, 2024 between 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., located at the Civic Center Parking Lot 1098 First St, San Fernando, CA 91340.
Accepted items for disposal include:
- Couches
- Mattresses
- Bed Frames
- Box Springs
- Doors
- Carpets
- Toilets
- Refrigerators
- Electronics
- Used Books for Donation to Local Libraries
Items that will not be accepted include:
- Construction Materials
- Demolition Debris
- Dirt
- Rocks
- Concrete
- Automobile Parts
- Tires
- Batteries (household or auto)
- Oils
- Paints
- Fluorescent Lights
- Propane Tanks
- Medicine
- Hazardous Waste
Proof of residency is required for participation. Kitchen pails will be distributed at the upcoming drop-off event for residents of San Fernando who still need one. Each account holder is eligible to receive a maximum of one pail. Please bring any necessary documentation or identification to verify your account status. This distribution is intended to help manage waste more effectively and promote cleanliness within the community.
These events offer a valuable opportunity for our community to responsibly dispose of large items and benefit from secure document shredding services. Let's work together towards a cleaner, safer environment. We look forward to your participation!
City of San Fernando 113th Birthday Celebration
Join us Saturday, August 31, 2024 from 6 to 9 p.m. at The Casa de Lopez Adobe, 1100 Pico St, San Fernando, CA 91340, as we anticipate celebrating the 113th Birthday Celebration of the City of San Fernando! This milestone event will be marked with great enthusiasm and pride, highlighting our city's rich history, cultural heritage, and achievements over the years.
SEPTEMBER SNEAK PEEK - FUR FEST
Join me on Saturday, September 21, 2024 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Valley Plaza Recreation Center, 12240 Archwood St, North Hollywood, CA 91606, for a special Pet Resource Fair! This event is designed to provide valuable resources and services for pet owners and their furry companions. Discover a variety of community organizations offering services tailored specifically for pets, including vaccines, microchips, nail trims, and exciting giveaways. Don't miss this opportunity to support your pet's well-being and connect with fellow animal lovers in the community.
DISTRICT OFFICE INTERNS
As we said goodbye to our outstanding intern, Desteny Martinez we want to take a moment to reflect on the incredible impact she has made. Her time with us has been marked by dedication and brilliance that has set her apart. Her journey has been inspiring, from her impressive achievements at Valley College to her valuable contributions here.
As Desteny heads to UCLA to continue her academic and personal growth, we are both excited and sad to see her go. We celebrate the remarkable work she has done with us and eagerly anticipate the many successes that lie ahead. Thank you for your hard work and for leaving such a lasting impression. Best of luck on your new adventure—UCLA is lucky to have you!
We are excited to introduce Roman Flores-Padilla, the newest member of our team! With a vibrant enthusiasm for public service, baseball, and film, Roman's diverse interests and commitment to community are truly inspiring.
Roman’s dedication to public service aligns perfectly with our mission to address the needs of District 43, and we’re eager to see how his unique skills and perspectives will contribute to our efforts.
As Roman embarks on this journey with us, we are confident that his energy and passion will drive impactful results and fresh ideas. Please join us in welcoming Roman to the team—we look forward to all the great things we’ll accomplish together!
Equestrian Advocate of the Year Highlight
I had the honor of recognizing Leon Garcia as AD 43’s 2024 Equestrian Advocate of the Year and Catrin as AD 43’s Horse of the Year!
Leon Garcia is a strong leader in the equestrian community, deeply passionate about advocating for the preservation of Charreria culture. He takes great care of the horses, including Catrin, at his ranch in Sylmar. Leon has been an active member of the Horseman in Action Sylmar Coalition for over 10 years. He proudly advocates for the preservation and regular maintenance of public horse trails to ensure riders have safe routes. Additionally, he volunteers at local trail clean-ups and donates materials to help maintain the areas for rider safety.
We thank him for his advocacy efforts in the San Fernando Valley and for his positive contributions to uplifting the equestrian community in AD 43.
Back to School Resource Fair Highlight
I am proud to collaborate with LACare, and Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan in Panorama City to provide 1,500 backpacks filled with school supplies to help families get ready for the school year without the stress.
California Latino Legislative Caucus Foundation Grant Recipients
California Women’s Caucus Minerva Scholarship Recipients
Four exceptional students from our community have been chosen to receive scholarships from the California Latino Legislative Caucus Foundation (CLLCF) and the California Legislative Women’s Caucus Minerva Grant Foundation. Please join us in congratulating:
CLLCF Grant Awardees:
- Alexandra Najera: Pursuing her Master’s in Public Relations at USC, representing Arleta with pride!
- Sarah Garcia: Advancing her studies as a Graduate Primary Care Physician Assistant student at USC, hailing from North Hollywood.
Minerva Grant Awardees:
- Natalie Padron: Pursuing her passion in Astrophysics at UC Berkeley, from San Fernando.
- Ariana Hernandez: Driving innovation in Computer Science at CSUN, a standout from Pacoima.
We commend your hard work, dedication, and commitment to making a positive impact in your communities. You are truly an inspiration to us all.
Morales Family
In the midst of adversity, our community's resilience and compassion shine brightly! We're standing by Alfredito Morales and his family during a challenging period, and the overwhelming support we've seen has been truly inspiring.
Alfredito was the victim of an unexpected attack on July 1st, which has brought attention to the struggles faced by the Morales family, who have been homeless for nearly a year.
Our team has come together to create a thoughtful care package filled with essentials for Alfredito and his family - from essential first aid items to portable chargers, providing some comfort during this difficult time. We've also been diligently working to connect the Morales family with essential housing resources through LA Family Housing, offering a beacon of hope.
Together, we can help guide this family through these difficult times and remind them that they have a supportive community behind them every step of the way.
Thank you for taking the time to read my newsletter. Stay tuned for more updates.
If you have any questions, please contact my District Office at (818) 504-3911 or visit my website. I value your input and strive to improve our community.
It is my pleasure to serve you.
Respectfully,
LUZ M. RIVAS
Assemblywoman, 43rd District