By Mike Kinney
Halloween got an early — and COVID-safe — start on Friday, when the West Contra Costa Youth Service Bureau in Richmond hosted a “Grab & Go Pumpkin Festival.”
The drive-thru event occurred in the parking lot of the YSB headquarters at 84 Broadway. Organizers said over 200 cars with families in costumes drove through and grabbed a pumpkin, along with a treat bag and school supplies such as binders and backpacks.
The parking lot was lavishly decorated with bales of hay, assorted sizes of pumpkins and scary skeletons of animals. The best part the kids enjoyed was a large mouse with whom they took photographs.
The West Contra Costa Youth Service Bureau is a comprehensive family-centered agency providing services to in-need youth and families in Contra Costa County.
YSB’s philosophy is that client population is ‘asset laden as opposed to deficit burdened.” Their approach is to promote healthy development of their clients using their ‘Wraparound Process.’ The Youth Service Bureau partners with the Children & Family Services, as well as dozens of other organizations, to provide direct services to children and families.
On top of their Wraparound Services, Kinship Program, and Differential Response Path, the organization also offer several other programs that cater to youth.
Today’s event was sponsored WCCYSB Board of Directors, and their faith-based partners Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church, Davis Chapel CME Church and Providence Baptist Church.
 
