A.T. Still University Students Deliver 100 Summer Activity Kits for CALM Clients in Santa Maria
Santa Maria, CA. June 2025 – CALM was honored to receive a generous donation of 100 customized summer activity kits from students and faculty at A.T. Still University’s Central Coast Physician Assistant (CCPA) program. They were carefully assembled with age-appropriate items for CALM clients ranging from infants to teens, and each one includes a handwritten card of encouragement from the student who assembled it.
The activity kits are a direct way for the students at ATSU to spread joy, promote connection, and encourage creativity and play for CALM clients during the less structured summer months. CALM clinicians will distribute the kits directly to their clients in Santa Maria to enjoy throughout the season.
“These kits are more than just fun summer activities. They’re a reminder to our clients that they are seen, supported, and cared for,” said Shelby McLean, Development Manager at CALM. “We are so grateful to the students and faculty at A.T. Still University for their compassion, creativity, and commitment to our community’s wellbeing.”
Kristinicole Gingras, a student in the CCPA program who helped organize the donation, stated, “We couldn’t have done this alone. Our heartfelt thanks go to our cohort, a group of students who, despite our demanding schedules, came together with enthusiasm and a shared vision. Everyone willingly dedicated their time and energy because we all believed deeply in the importance of making a positive impact, as we may have previously been in their shoes.”
Karina Delatorre, another student in the CCPA program, added, “We were truly honored to participate in this project and give back to the community in a meaningful way. This experience was not only rewarding, but also a powerful reminder of what can be accomplished when people come together with a shared purpose.”
CALM extends its gratitude to the ATSU students and faculty who helped to make the summer brighter for children and families across Santa Maria.
To learn more about CALM, visit calm4kids.org.
About CALM
CALM is a community-based mental health agency with a mission to prevent childhood trauma, heal children and families, and build resilient communities throughout Santa Barbara County. CALM’s pioneering, evidence-based services represent a continuum of care that interrupts intergenerational cycles of trauma. Each year, 2,300 clients receive individual and group therapy through CALM’s clinics in Santa Barbara, Santa Maria and Lompoc, and thousands more receive community-based education and mental health supports. With a 55-year history in Santa Barbara County, a staff that is uniquely qualified to meet the needs of families in the region, and meaningful partnerships with complementary organizations, CALM is a leader in developing a variety of culturally responsive, trauma-informed programs. To learn more, visit calm4kids.org.
For more information about all of CALM’s services, please call 805-965-2376, or visit http://calm4kids.org.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Ashlyn McCague, Director of Development
1236 Chapala Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
805-965-2376
amccague@calm4kids.org
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