Food Pantry
Santa Maria Urban Ministry (SMUM) distributes food from supporters, including Second Harvest Food Bank, and Martha’s Kitchen, to about 1,800 people a month, half of whom are children. If a Client lives in one of these zip code areas, Santa Maria Urban Ministry is the designated food agency (Si usted vive en una de estas áreas del código postal, El Ministerio Urbano de Santa María es la agencia señalada del alimento): 95110, 95117, 95125, 95126, 95128, 95131, 95132 and 95134. To register, please bring a valid ID and proof of address (such as a recent utility bill or recent personal letter envelope) as proof of zip code area residency.
People in other zip-codes, please contact Second Harvest Food Bank (Si usted vive en cualquier otra área del código postal, entre en contacto con por favor Second Harvest Food Bank): 1-800-984-3663
Last year, 347,020 pounds of food was donated to SMUM for community distribution (valued at about $677 thousand). 290 Emergency Food Boxes (for those outside of the SMUM service area) were distributed by SMUM in 2010.
ABC Playtime
SMUM prepares children ages 3-5 for kindergarten by working on Academics, Behavior and Creativity. ABC Playtime helps prepare children from primarily Spanish-speaking homes for the public school system. All conversation is in English, but Spanish is used to provide meanings of words. Language is not a barrier. Registration for Fall is in April each year. Register at the SMUM Welcome Desk. Come to the Open House! Current class limit is 12 children. Those about to enter Kindergarten have priority. Children in ABC Playtime must be potty trained. We try to balance the number of boys and girls, if possible. This is a free program. No demonstration of financial need is required.
Community Closet
The Community Closet program provides free clothing for some 300 needy persons a month. Clothes are placed outside when weather permits, and anyone may take what they want. Unfortunately if not enough volunteers are available to work in the warehouse or weather does not permit, clothing cannot be provided.
Studio
Estudio/Studio is an after-school program for children and youth in grade 2 to grade 8, held on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The first hour is for homework. Children who do not have homework can work on their math or reading skills using the Studio library and other resources. After a snack, during the second hour, Studio kids can play games, read, use the computers, draw, or get additional homework assistance. Parents can get a registration form at the Welcome Desk or come to a Studio session to complete the form. During the summer, Studio kids are invited to go on field trips to the beach, zoo, a museum or other educational attraction. Check out the Studio Games page!
Seasonal Programs
School Backpack Program
The SMUM School Backpack Program provides backpacks with school supplies to grade school, middle school, and high school children and youth. Each of the three groups will receive grade-appropriate supplies in their backpacks. Donations of supplies are collected in July each year. Registration for this program is limited to SMUM Clients, in July. Distribution of free backpacks is during the first week in August.
In 2010, over 800 backpacks were distributed at the end of the summer to grade school, middle school, and high school students.
Christmas Gift Packages
Christmas Gift Packages include new toys, new clothing or gift certificates, provided to SMUM Clients (ages 0 to 17), along with special Christmas food packages. Registration is during November each year. Donations of gifts are collected during December. Distribution of free Christmas gifts is during December.
834 Christmas Gifts were distributed in 2010 (about the same as in 2009).
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance is provided to low and moderate income families by over fifteen IRS-certified volunteers, speaking English, Spanish, and Vietnamese languages. The VITA service is available on specified evenings and Saturdays from February through mid-April. The program includes free e-filing of tax forms and enhanced services to undocumented immigrants.
In 2010, VITA helped over 100 families with their income tax returns. Over $200K was returned to the local economy from the households that e-file with the VITA program at SMUM.
Other Services and Programs are Offered As-Needed
