With a grant from Driscoll’s and funding from other local partners, Oasis’ new building was completed in 2017. The center is home to a garden, computer lab, bustling kitchen, and classrooms that serve more than 120 children during the week. Teachers and volunteers at Oasis provide more than just education during the day, they provide mentorship – local schools now know that if they have a student who’s falling behind grade level, they can go to Oasis and receive the attention and care they need to catch up with the class. Students regularly take field trips to museums or aquariums and visit local businesses, including Driscoll’s, to learn about future job opportunities in their home state.

“Families are happier now – the parents know that their children are in a safe place and are learning,” says Frizon. “25 years ago, there was almost nothing in San Quintin. Now, there are homes, businesses, schools, and when you head to the city center in the morning people are out having breakfast and shopping. There has been a lot of improvement in the area, because the community has worked together to change the town. You can see this same change in the children – they’re growing, learning, and working together as well. In San Quintin, Oasis has been just that - a refuge for this community.”