Knott's 100 Acts of Service for the Boys and Girls Club of Buena Park
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Did you know that this year in honor of Knott's Berry Farm celebrating 100 years, that they've dedicated to committing 100 Acts of Service to the Boys and Girls Club of Buena Park?
That's amazing and berry-tastic if you ask me, but Knott's has been giving back to their local community and beyond since the days of Walter and Cordelia. Flash forward to 2021, the Knott's team is dedicated to keeping that generosity alive, and boy, do they put a lot of effort into doing so!
We are so thankful to be Knott's Ambassadors, representing all things at the Farm, but this year we have fallen more in love with the team and the Knott's family. Through pure compassion, dedication to their acts of service, positive energy, outreach to the community, and love for others, the partnership between Knott's and The Boys and Girls Club of Buena Park is flourishing. We have been so grateful to be a very small part of that this year.
The Knott's team has been hard at work doing things as minor as painting and as major as completely relandscaping the Boys and Girls club outdoor area. All of this has been for these awesome kids with the help of the grounds crew at Knott's, donating their time and labor hours.
On-site, Todd, and Luz, who oversee and run the club with their amazing teen leaders and seriously awesome staff of young adults, have shown us what can be accomplished with daily efforts and genuine support to kids and teens in need of anything from homework help to a safe place after school until parents can pick up them up.
When we heard about the opportunity to volunteer with the Knott's Marketing Team and fellow Ambassador family, we jumped on it. It is always better to give than to receive, and doing so with my daughter has been even more rewarding in my heart to see her happily spending her time for others too.
Zoe and I would eagerly get up early each weekend to join the Knott's Berry Farm team while they were on-site landscaping, building, laying sod, and pretty much creating the loveliest space for the Boys and Girls Club. Putting in the hard work to see how really fantastic the park turned out brought us both to tears. We loved not only spending time knowing the backyard project would be great for the youth, but we got to know all of our Knott's family a bit better. We worked hand-in-hand with the team at Knott's, who landscaped all the beauty in the park, as well as the Club's team of volunteers and staff.
From painting to barrels of sod to bricklaying and shovels of dirt turned into pathways to walk on, we did it together.
The before and after photos still give me chills of happiness for the Club!
The look on the faces of those who spend day in and day out providing everything they can within their means to the local youth was priceless to us. We felt firsthand what Todd and Luz and their team feel daily, the pride in knowing something really cool was done for others that needed it. They do this daily for these kids... daily! Shout out to everyone at Knott's for really pulling every avenue of outlets together to make so many things happen and continue to be out into motion.
It's been an honor to volunteer side by side with all of the teams from Knott's and the Boys and Girls Club. We have new friends and a new place that we can volunteer at safely that welcomes us anytime! This is one of the greatest gifts a mother can give her kiddo, empathy, kindness, paying it forward, to love all, and to do so through example and together.
That is why I love Knott's. They have not only given my family the opportunity to make memories together inside the Farm, but Knott's has also given us the opportunity to serve others alongside them... leading by example!
Some fun facts about Knott's and their community love...
I had a chance to chat with some of the amazing team and asked some questions about the roots of the partnership. Here are some cool facts to get to know the history a bit more.
The BGC of Buena Park was founded in 1948 by Carl and Edith Rehnborg. The Rehnborg's also founded Nutrilite located in BP (worldwide vitamin and health/wellness company) as well.
Currently, they have 250 members active a day/week at the Club. They have over 1,000 members who participate in online, in person, and special events throughout the year.
"The Knott Family has a strong reputation of caring for their community," said Jon Storbeck, Vice President and General Manager of Knott's Berry Farm, "and while we've continued to carry on the tradition, we saw the 100th Anniversary as a great opportunity to embrace the one organization that Knott's has supported since the family was involved with the park. The Boys and Girls Club does so much for the families in our community, and during the pandemic, they found even more ways to help these families. It only made sense that we find new ways to help them."
Knott's legacy of caring for their community goes back to how they treated their associates. Cordelia Knott would often visit a sick employee in the hospital and make sure their family was taken care of during their time of need. They gave quietly, not wanting to seek attention for themselves but wanting to help genuinely.
What a "berry" beautiful history to be proud to support currently. There is always someone special going on in and around the Farm!
If you want to learn more about how you can give back to the Boys and Girls Club of Buena Park check out their next campaign here! You can also follow them on Instagram here. Don't forget to see updates and details on future acts of service here.
The festivities continue this Holiday season with Knott's volunteering at the Club's Holiday party. You know you will see Zoe and I there hand in hand with the Knott's team and we cannot wait! Be sure to check out social media for recaps of the fun.