Since 1969, we have helped over 2,200 students each year in Santa Barbara County by providing new school clothing (including uniforms where required), health kits, and school supplies.

Through our auxiliary, Community Friends Auxiliary (formerly known as Las Aletas), we also serve an additional 600 students from 10 schools in the Goleta Union School District. In 2007, we expanded our reach to the Santa Maria-Guadalupe area, providing services to over 300 more students across 13 schools.

Each child served is referred by school personnel and receives care from our dedicated members. It’s all part of our mission to support local children in need, helping them feel prepared, proud, and ready to learn.

Student Clothing Connection was formerly known as Operation School Bell®.

This program is available by referral only. If your child is in need of support, please contact their school counselor or administrator for more information.

Teen Clothing Connection™ is a clothing program that supports junior high and high school students in Santa Barbara County. In collaboration with local school districts and community partners, Community Friends of Santa Barbara™, formerly known as Assistance League of Santa Barbara, provides students with the opportunity to shop for brand-new clothing alongside a CFSB volunteer. Clothing is chosen by the students themselves to meet their individual needs, honor their personal style, and ensure compliance with school dress codes.

This program makes a meaningful difference by helping teens feel more at ease and empowered in their school environments. In the most recent school year, Teen Clothing Connection supported over 300 students through this personalized shopping experience. These efforts are made possible by generous donations of community partners and the dedication of Community Friends of Santa Barbara™ member-volunteers. Every item selected reflects our community’s commitment to honoring and uplifting local youth.

Teen Clothing Connection is formerly known as Teen School Bell.

This program is available by referral only. If your student is in need of support, please contact their school counselor or administrator for more information.

Community Friends of Santa Barbara™ has been a dedicated partner of United Way®’s Fun in the Sun program since 1999. This seven-week summer learning program serves children in our community who face economic and academic challenges, offering them educational support, enrichment activities, and new experiences in a safe and encouraging environment. Our members help prepare each child for a successful summer by providing brand-new clothing, essential school supplies, and the opportunity to participate in swim lessons. This partnership reflects our mission to improve lives and strengthen the Santa Barbara community through hands-on, meaningful service.

This program is available by referral only. If your child would like to attend, please contact the United Way of Santa Barbara for more information.

Fostering Friends is dedicated to supporting former foster youth as they pursue higher education through Santa Barbara City College’s Guardian Scholars Program. These students often face significant challenges, including housing insecurity and lack of transportation. Community Friends of Santa Barbara™ member step in to fill critical gaps by providing monthly stipends for basic needs, laptops or iPads for coursework, clothing for job interviews, and household items when students move into their first apartments. For those attending evening classes or studying in areas without late-night bus service, transportation gift cards offer a safe and reliable way home. Members also help stock a dedicated student lounge with snacks and supplies, creating a welcoming space for connection and comfort. Through Fostering Friends, we offer consistent, respectful support to help these resilient young adults thrive in college and beyond.

This program is available by referral only.

The Prom Boutique began in 2006 with just over 230 dresses and a mission to make prom night accessible for every high school senior in Santa Barbara County. Today, thanks to generous donations from our community, the collection has grown to nearly 800 dresses, along with a selection of accessories. Each dress is carefully inspected, with needed repairs or maintenance performed before it is offered to a student. We’re also grateful for the ongoing support of a local family-owned dry cleaner, who kindly donates their services to clean all dresses at no cost. Dresses that are retired from our collection are shared with other organizations in the community. The program continues to grow through school partnerships, word of mouth, and the enthusiasm of the students we serve. This ensures that prom remains a joyful and inclusive experience for all.
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The Community Friends of Santa Barbara™ scholarship program honors the dedication and service of local high school students by awarding over $100,000 in scholarships annually. These scholarships are administered in collaboration with the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara, which selects recipients based on our shared criterion of exceptional community service. By helping reduce financial barriers, we aim to encourage students as they continue their academic journeys and grow into thoughtful, engaged members of our community. This program is a reflection of our ongoing commitment to education, service, and the future of Santa Barbara County.

If you know a student who deserves a college scholarship, please contact the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara to learn more about the application process.

Community Friends of Santa Barbara™ hosts Very Improved Performer Luncheons to recognize junior high students who have shown meaningful improvement in academics, behavior, and character. Nominated by educators from La Cumbre, La Colina, and Goleta Valley Junior High Schools, these students are acknowledged for their effort, attitude, and personal growth. Each student is honored with a special meal, a certificate of achievement, and school supplies to help support their continued progress.

Kids on the Block is a long-running program that delivers important life lessons to classrooms throughout Santa Barbara. Since 1989, this educational outreach has featured 3-foot-tall puppets and professionally written scripts to help school-aged children explore sensitive social topics in a thoughtful and age-appropriate way. These performances, led by members of Community Friends Auxiliary address issues such as bullying, name-calling, divorce, safety, and respecting differences.

By promoting open dialogue and empathy, Kids on the Block helps children develop a stronger sense of self and a deeper understanding of others, one meaningful story at a time.

If you know of a school or children’s enrichment program interested in a Kids on the Block performance, please fill out our contact form.