On Wednesday, December 16th, Bakersfield Breakfast Rotarian "Elves" appeared at the Bakersfield City School District's SEAL Center and threw a wonderful Christmas party for the 57 students who attend SEAL.

 

SEAL (Social, Emotional, Academic Learning) Center accepts the most behaviorally challenged students of the District. SEAL students have exhausted every other option available to help them overcome and manage their behavioral issues. In addition to regular academic learning, SEAL teaches the students social and emotional skills.

 

Bakersfield Breakfast Rotary began its relationship with SEAL 6 years ago by providing them with Halloween Costumes. Since that small beginning, Breakfast Rotary has provided a printer, 2,000 books for the library, school supplies for each student at the beginning of the past four school years, new shoes, field trips, dictionaries, end of the year party, and a Christmas celebration.

 

This year's Christmas party included hot cocoa and cookies, songs, a story, a picture with Santa and the highlight, Santa (aka, Stan Ferguson) distributing a gift to each child. There was a big smile on every child's face and on every Rotarian Elf's face, and all Rotarian hearts were melted.

 

Denise Haynes, Community Service Director & President-Elect Nominee

Rotary Club of Bakersfield Breakfast