Brandon Muncy
Kern Valley Sun

Kern County Sheriff's Deputy Joe Garcia is constantly struggling with ways to get his large group of Kern Valley Sheriff Activity League members to events. The league often travels in Kern County Sheriff patrol cars or parent-driven vehicles. To make traveling easier the group hopes to, through fund raising and help from the community, raise enough money to buy a 13-seater van.

“Going out of town we want to make sure we are safe and that we are going to get back,” said Deputy Garcia, “We need something that is not going to leave me stranded with 13 kids.”

As evidenced by the large group above, the Kern Valley Sheriff’s Activity League would benefit in many ways by having the 13-seat van for which the group is hoping to raise money. The group took a trip to the snow near Shirley Meadows this past February.

The Kern Valley SAL members are willing to do almost anything they can to raise the money because, “If we had a van we could get a bunch of people to one place,” said SAL member Justyn Reed. “The cars get cramped.”

According to the Kern County SAL website, “The Kern County Sheriff's Activities League is a non-profit group that was formed to offer activities for the youth of Kern County.” Kern Valley SAL members have been busy during the first months of 2009. The group have helped clean up the Fish Hatchery in Kernville, delivered Valentines, Easter, and Mothers Day gifts to Kern Valley senior homes, participated in the Heart Walk, cleaned up Jawbone Canyon through the Moose Anderson Days clean up, as well as many other trips.

The Kern Valley SAL will be holding various fund raisers over the coming months. July 4th will be the Lake Isabella 1st Annual Classic Car Show with all proceeds benefiting the Kern Valley SAL. The show, which is being presented by Buddy's Hot Rod Shop and Kern River Hotrodders, will feature fifties music, food, fun, and games. The winners will be decided by SAL members, so expect some surprises. The league also plans to hold many car washes, the first of which will be July 11 at Crossroads in Lake Isabella. The community may also donate money through any AltaOne Community Credit Union.