Congressman Mike Garcia, R-Santa Clarita, presented on Sunday his personal monthly salary donation to the Youth Activities League (YAL).

YAL is a Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station youth after-school program based in Val Verde that provides food, shelter, tutoring, counseling and mentorship for local students.

“YAL has been helping to mentor local students in the Val Verde community for years, and the program has become even more critical since the pandemic began. Deputy Rooney and the team are doing incredible work to make sure these students have whatever they need to succeed,” said Garcia in a statement. “This program is an outstanding example of the community policing we should strive to emulate across the district and the country, and I am proud to personally support their efforts.”

Garcia’s YAL donation comes after his October donations to the SCV Food Pantry and Circle of Hope, a Newhall non-profit that provides financial, educational and emotional assistance to SCV residents battling cancer.

“Charitable giving is how we stay afloat, so donations like Congressman Garcia’s go a long way for providing services for the kids. Mike’s donation will most likely be used to keep our internet running for the next six to eight months — we have kids who come sit at the park to do their homework because they don’t have Wi-Fi access in our area — and to cover PPE to prepare for the COVID restrictions if we are allowed to reopen,” said Deputy Brian Rooney, who runs the YAL program. “It will be used for a lot of odds and ends to keep us running so we can provide for the kids and the community.”

Since his election to Congress in May, Garcia has committed to supporting local charitable organizations with monthly contributions equivalent to 10 percent of his salary. He has made donations to a variety of charities across the district, including non-profits supporting local veterans and law enforcement officers.

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