The mission of the San Mateo County Sheriff's Activities League (SAL) is to invest in all youth of San Mateo County by offering impactful programs that guide them towards unlocking their full potential. Through creating meaningful opportunities, we build strong relationships between deputies, youth, families, and the community, fostering a foundation of care and togetherness for all.
In addition to our mission, the San Mateo County Sheriff's Activities League is serving the Coastside communities by offering programs and services that address challenges that youth are facing in San Mateo County coastal communities including Half Moon Bay, Pescadero, La Honda, Moss Beach. etc.
SAL programs address the needs of youth in coastside communities of San Mateo County through the following programs:
- Coastside Teen Leaders: The Coast Side Teen Leaders helps to provide high school-aged youth at Half Moon Bay High School and Pescadero High School with supportive mentors who help provide resources, mental health, college readiness/scholarship assistance, field trips, leadership conferences, workforce entry resources, and overall support to better prepare the next generation of community leaders. Activities held in the program include college field trips, community service opportunities, leadership conferences, guest speakers, and more at no cost to participants and their families thanks to generous donors.
- Moonridge Reading Stars: Serves 1st - 3rd graders from Hatch Elementary. Community volunteers are matched with a student who helps support students with reading and writing skills to help them improve their literacy proficiency. State testing shows that just 44% of students in Coastside schools are proficient in reading. This program aims to improve literacy outcomes and support English as a Second Language learners.
- Junior Giants - Half Moon Bay: Through Jr. Giants, the players not only learned the fundamentals of baseball but also engaged in character development. Throughout the season, they enhanced their skills on the field while grasping the significance of teamwork, leadership, and good sportsmanship. The Junior Giants curriculum integrates various themes, enabling coaches and volunteers to emphasize the value of education. Coaches for this league are often community volunteers or sometimes deputies of the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office.
-
STAR Camp: In partnership with the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office, S.T.A.R. Camp is a transformative, week-long summer program for 5th through 8th graders, focused on serving underserved and at-risk youth in San Mateo County. Up to 100 children will attend camp at the beautiful YMCA Camp Loma Mar in La Honda, where they’ll take part in exciting, confidence-building activities like horseback riding, zip-lining, rock climbing, archery, and hiking. The Camp Counselors for this camp are deputies, professional staff, and personnel of the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office. We also include youth from our high school leadership programs as youth staff to help prepare them for future workforce entry opportunities. This camp is offered at a quarter of the cost of equivalent summer camps with a no-questions asked financial aid option.
-
Coastside Toy Drive: Also in partnership with the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office, The Coastside Toy Drive serves roughly 250 families and their children with a bag full of toys at no cost to help support families during the holiday season. Applications are given directly to families in the community, schools, and coastside non-profit/community based-organizations.
SAL is always looking for donors, volunteers, and people who want to help support youth in San Mateo County. Please contact San Mateo County Sheriff's Activities League at 650.474.1394 for more details.