NHSA Site Visit at the Family Engagement Center

ECS Head Start staff shared FEC’s resources with NHSA visitors. December 2024.

Yesterday, the ECS Family Engagement Center (FEC) had the privilege of hosting the National Head Start Association (NHSA) for a meaningful site visit.

NHSA toured the FEC facility and heard informative presentations and testimonials. December 2024.

The FEC serves as a vital community resources hub, connecting families to resources through partnerships with organizations like Sharia's Closet and South Bay Community Services (SBCS). During the tour, NHSA heard powerful testimonials from parents and staff, highlighting the transformative impact of collaboration and support.

Thank you to NHSA for recognizing and celebrating our shared mission to strengthen families through community and connection!

There’s a Gift in Giving

Every child deserves the magic of waking up on Christmas morning to find gifts from Santa waiting under the tree. One way ECS supports our families during the holiday season is through Family-to-Family for the Holidays.  

Family-to-Family for the Holidays, ECS’ annual gift-giving campaign, ensures that every family has a memorable holiday season. Donors who sign up as sponsors are matched with a family that includes at least one member who currently receives services from one of ECS’ programs. In 2023, Family-to-Family provided gifts for more than 315 neighbors from 70 families. Thanks to generous sponsors, many children got to experience a magical Christmas day, a gift you cannot put a price on. 

Precious’ four kids have all been impacted by ECS and the generosity of Family-to-Family sponsors. *November 2024.

Head Start parent and 2023 Family-to-Family recipient Precious is a mother to four children, and, like any parent, she understands just how important childhood Christmas can be. “It’s really important for me to be able to give them something and give them different experiences,” she said.  

Every year for Christmas, Precious’ family decorates their house with twinkling lights and enjoys their own family traditions, one of their favorites being marshmallow fights. “I buy bunches and bunches of marshmallows, and we have marshmallow fights,” Precious explained, laughing. “We say ‘one, two, three, go,’ and we just start chucking them at each other, ‘got you, got you.’” Afterwards, they put all their blankets on the floor in front of the TV and watch movies while sipping on apple cider or hot cocoa. 

Family traditions and fun moments like opening presents on Christmas create a full and beautiful childhood experience. *November 2024. 

Thanks to Family-to-Family, Precious was able to create lasting memories for her children with the joy of carefully chosen, donated gifts. When Precious gives her kids gifts, she often wraps the gift inside several layers of boxes. By happenstance, the Family-to-Family sponsor who was matched with Precious’ family last year wrapped the gifts the same way, much to her kids’ excitement.  

Precious’ sponsor, Melinda, went the extra mile with her gift for Precious, too. Precious shared that she received a set of lotions that lasted for months.

Melinda has participated in holiday gift programs with a number of organizations through the years, but the opportunity for connection between the family and their sponsor makes ECS’ program extra impactful on both sides. “Back then we never met the families or even knew their names. I think that addition to the ECS program makes it super special,” Melinda said. “When I dropped the gifts off at Precious' apartment last year it was clear to see how full her hands were and, despite that, she was gracious, and the kids were adorable (as they usually are).”

“The Family-to-Family Christmas program is a perfect way to show empathy and bridge the sad divide between families that have so much and families that have so little. It is a small thing that can have a huge effect,” Melinda said.

Precious pays it forward through donations to FEC, so other parents have what they need to care for their children, too. *November 2024.

“It’s so nice to know that you can lean on and count on a beautiful person to donate,” Precious said. “I hope I have an impact like that, too.”  

Precious feels passionate about being part of the cycle of giving, making her own donations – such as clothes, sheets, and pillowcases – to the ECS Family Engagement Center to help support other families in the community. 

ECS Head Start has provided quality education and childcare for Precious’ four children, but ECS’ touch has gone beyond those essentials. Precious was able to use many of ECS’ wraparound services including Head Start’s prenatal program and referrals for speech therapy for two of her children. “This is one of the best programs I’ve ever interacted with that can actually advocate for you and is with you,” she said.  

ECS has helped increase Precious’ confidence as a parent and leader. *November 2024.

Head Start’s community of care expands to parents, as well. Precious participates in parent meetings and the policy committee, sat in on interviews for teachers, and traveled to Texas to represent ECS at a Head Start convention. “[Head Start] helped strengthen my confidence in how I was parenting and what I saw in my children,” she said. 

ECS programs like Head Start and Family-to-Family for the Holidays aim to support families like Precious’. “My children have been touched in a positive way by ECS all their lives,” Precious said.  

Join the cycle of giving. Visit ecscalifornia.org/donate to support parents like Precious and help our youngest community members thrive. As Precious put it, “there’s a gift in giving.” 

*Caption dates may not be exact.

Anook Athletic Clothing Distribution

ECS Head Start parents choose from the selection of new clothing donated by Anook Athletics. October 2024.

SAN DIEGO — This month, ECS received its largest in-kind donation to date — a collection of brand-new athletic wear from Anook Athletics, valued at about $725k.

A community distribution event was held at the ECS Family Engagement Center (FEC) Wednesday evening in partnership with Anook Athletics International Community Foundation (ICF), and This Is About Humanity. Head Start Parents attending a Head Start Policy Committee meeting had first pick of items from the array of choices. The tables of clothes stayed up the next day for Head Start’s Fall Resource Fair. The clothing will remain available at the FEC for ECS clients and community members as long as items are still available.

Anook Athletics is an activewear brand designed with pregnant and post-partum women in mind, although anyone can wear it. CEO and Founder Allie Lindenmuth attended the distribution event. The donation came as a result of Anook Athletics clearing its inventory, but Lindenmuth knew she wanted to do something big with the remaining product.

“I truly believe [giving] is in my DNA,” Lindenmuth said. She shared that she has been involved with nonprofits and service work since childhood. That desire to give back was no different in this instance. “This is like this perfect little bow of giving back to the people I always really wanted to serve,” she said.

Lindenmuth grew up in San Diego, which made the donation all the more special for her. “I got a little teary,” she said. “I hadn’t even fully thought about that full circle moment, so it does feel nice to be able to donate half of the product in Austin [Texas] where we were based and then to San Diego, my hometown.”

“This is the closing of a seven-year journey of starting up Anook and seeing it through, then closing the door, and instead of letting it be this sad experience of just seeing the loss and letting go of a company, saying ‘look how beautiful this is,’ and getting to be here and enjoy this experience,” Lindenmuth said.

ECS, Anook Athletics, ICF, and This Is About Humanity make a difference through collaboration. October 2024.

The donation was made possible through the partnership of ICF and This Is About Humanity.

Julie Campos, ICF’s fund development officer, commented on the role ICF played in the exchange. “As resource mobilizers, we facilitate the connection between generous donors like Anook Athletics to nonprofit partners and leaders like ECS who strive to create that social change in their communities and address societal needs,” she said.

The event also carried meaning for her on a personal level. “As a soon-to-be new mom, this event really hits home. I have so much love and respect for Anook Athletics since they are a maternity activewear brand. Their clothing is really made to fit every mom and woman throughout different stages of their lives. It allows them to feel confident and stay active in their journey,” Campos said.

Yolanda Walther-Meade, one of This Is About Humanity’s co-founders, attended the event, as well. “This Is About Humanity is so pleased to be able to join forces with ICF and ECS Head Start,” Walther-Meade said. She expressed that the donation exemplifies her passion for “bringing together different organizations for the benefit of families and children in our community.”

As Head Start parents mingled and selected Anook items, Zamorano Head Start parent and Policy Committee Representative Alejandra Sotelo Solis offered her insights on the donation.

“When we have organizations that give back to the community… to encourage parents and adults to get out, do activities, but also to have the proper attire to do these activities — whether it be yoga or running around chasing the kids on the playground — I think it’s really important,” she said. “When we look good, we feel good and we’re able to give back to our children in a way that makes us feel good.”

Thank you Anook Athletics for your generous spirit, and ICF and This Is About Humanity for making this incredible gift possible.

To learn how you can support ECS’ work, check out the “Get Involved” tab on our website, www.ecscalifornia.org.

New high-quality women’s athletic wear on display at the FEC.
October 2024. 

ECS Head Start staff encouraging active, healthy lifestyles for South Bay families. October 2024.

ECS Head Start Attends Fall Leadership Institute in D.C.

ECS Head Start travels to the Capitol to discuss local and nationwide Head Start issues. September 2024.

ECS recently attended the National Head Start Association’s Fall Leadership Institute in Washington, D.C. This four-day event offered an in-depth exploration of the policy and advocacy issues that will impact Head Start's future.

Our team returned with valuable insights and strategies to continue advancing early childhood education in our community.