KRV Bridge Connection

The KRV Bridge Connection (KRVBC) is working to benefit the rural Kern River Valley, which is comprised of 10 small communities with a high percentage of elderly and low-income residents who live far from city resources.  The KRV Bridge Connection (KRVBC) offers a multipurpose collaborative space to bridge the underserved of the Kern River Valley (KRV) to locally accessible nonprofit advocates, resource providers and educational opportunities.  The organization seeks to uplift the community as a whole by offering events targeted to promote connectedness and volunteerism.

Initially, KRVBC brought resources to the Kern River Valley on a temporary basis.  We coordinated a variety of events to benefit the elderly, food insecure, homeless, impoverished, addiction challenged, those with mental health service needs, and wildfire victims. We hosted Resource Fairs which included as many as 41 agencies from around Kern County. We have also hosted Pop-Up Events in which a smaller number of providers have offered resources.  We helped coordinate the distribution of gift cards, cleaning supplies, resources and Christmas gifts to Borel Fire victims after that disaster impacted the community.

In 2024, KRVBC opened the doors to a building at 6069 Lake Isabella Blvd., Lake Isabella, CA to serve as a permanent hub for our resource providing partners.  We are currently the host to multiple agencies who utilize the shared space to maintain sustained engagement between service providers and the community.  The one-stop shop provides office and community space, allowing entities like Be Finally Free, Cerro Coso College, Community Action Partnership of Kern (CAPK), Flood Ministries, Garden Pathways, Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance (GBLA), Kern County Cancer Foundation, The Open Door Network and Stewards, Inc. to deliver their services efficiently to the KRV community.

We are excited to be building a community garden, including fruit trees, that will provide fresh vegetables and fruit to complement the Fresh Choice Pantry food items provided to the community by CAPK.  Community members of all ages have helped build raised garden beds and plant seedlings.   Our large teaching kitchen is a fun gathering space for teaching healthy cooking skills.

Our primary need today is to refurbish our shower accessibility.