IVYP News
July 2021
A Note from our Executive Director

Dear friend,

Everyone needs a little time to recharge. Growing up, summer was that time. I went to camp, biked to the beach, and my family would always take a week of vacation. As an adult, I now recognize just how lucky I was to have summer for recreation, so that I could return to school eager to see my friends, having had relaxed time with my family.

This year, many of our students made up for “learning loss” by attending summer school. I’m so pleased that IVYP has been able to provide an additional three weeks of summer recreation for 100 elementary students. We are especially grateful to the City of Goleta, the Isla Vista Community Services District, Supervisor Gregg Hart and Supervisor Joan Hartmann for helping to underwrite the cost of our IVYP special summer session.

I hope you are able to find some time this summer to care for yourself. It has been a challenging year, and we all need some time to refresh.


Lori Goodman
Executive Director

IVYP's LEAP Awards 2021

On June 29, 2021, IVYP was proud to hold the first ever virtual LEAP Awards. At the event two leaders in our community who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to the children and families of our locality were honored: Dr. Carrie Towbes and Wendy Sims-Moten. Thank you to the over 150 community members who joined us to support our honorees and learn more about the impact IVYP is making on the children and families of the Goleta Valley. Because of the generosity of our sponsors and supporters that day we were able to raise over $50,000 to support the work of IVYP.

New Veggie Rescue Farm Stand

IVYP will now have free produce for distribution at our Children's Center site located at 6842 Phelps Road in Goleta. This free farm stand is thanks to our new partnership with Veggie Rescue who works directly with farmers to reduce food waste and ease food insecurity for our community. If you are interested in picking up food please complete this short form to receive alerts when we receive fresh produce for distribution.
Kindergarten Readiness

While summer is in full swing our Children's Center classes have been looking forward in preparation of our 4 and 5 year old students that will start kindergarten in the fall. Our teachers encourage curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, promote cooperative social interactions, support individual creativity and provide opportunities for children to use their growing bodies to develop a sense of autonomy and self-worth. Children spend the majority of their day involved in a variety of activities: art, block building, dramatic play, music, sorting and matching, yoga, movement activities, science activities and large motor play.
Harvest of the Month

Each month we share a healthy, easy and affordable recipe to try that highlights ingredients you can get at our food distribution. This month we are highlighting zucchini! Zucchini is abundant this time of year and it has wonderful health benefits. Zucchini's health benefits actually increase when it is cooked! The skin of zucchini is also high in antioxidants. We love this recipe because it is simple, fast, and highlights the healthiest and tastiest parts of the zucchini.

Read the full recipe here
Get Involved with IVYP
IVYP needs your support as we work hard to support our community in the wake of COVID-19. We’ve stepped up and we need your help to continue. Please consider a donation to IVYP’s COVID-19 Response Fund to help us continue to provide the caring, proactive and flexible support our community needs. 
Be a diaper champion by sponsoring the cost of diapers for local families. Diapers are one of the most consistent requests from our families at our FRC. Disposable diapers can cost as much as $100 per month per baby so every contribution makes a big difference.
Did you know that many of our most vulnerable students don’t have a dedicated place at home to do their school work? IVYP will purchase and distribute folding desks to any GUSD student who has a need through our new Study Table Fund. To support this effort click here to donate.
Isla Vista Youth Projects

Administrative offices
5638 Hollister Ave Suite, 320
Goleta, CA 93117

Children's Center
(agency mailing address)
6842 Phelps Road
Goleta, CA 93117
805-968-0488

After School and Summer Enrichment Programs
Virtual Learning
Isla Vista Elementary
805-452-4477
El Camino Elementary
805-689-0396
La Patera Elementary
(805) 968-1624

Family Resource Center
5638 Hollister Ave Suite 200
Goleta, CA 93117
805-685-6900