Families, Elected Officials, and Eastmont Community Members Unite to Mark Expansion of Child Care and Family Support Services
OAKLAND, CA โ JUNE 2026 โ BANANAS, an Oakland-based nonprofit provider of child care referrals, family support services, and child care resources, celebrated the grand opening of its new resource center at Eastmont Town Center, 7200 Bancroft Avenue, Suite #135, with a ribbon-cutting on June 24, 2026. The ribbon-cutting drew an outpouring of community support, marking a proud milestone in the organization’s 53-year history and reaffirming BANANAS’ longstanding commitment to the families of East Oakland.
The event brought together community members, child care providers, families, and local leaders who gathered to celebrate expanded access to child care and family support services in East Oakland. Among those in attendance were Oakland City Council President Kevin Jenkins, Councilmember-at-Large Rowena Brown, and District 5 Councilmember Noel Gallo, along with Deputy Chief of Staff Erin Armstrong representing Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley. In a powerful show of support, the three Oakland City Councilmembers presented BANANAS with a City Council Proclamation honoring the organization’s expansion of services and its decades of dedication to children and families across Northern Alameda County.
A highlight of the ceremony was a heartfelt testimonial from Sahanna Roy, an East Oakland mother and Maternal Health Home Visiting participant, whose words captured the impact BANANAS has on the families it serves. “BANANAS has supported me with my pregnancy and with my older child’s development, as well as with my new housing and job search, and they continue to support me through my postpartum journey,” she shared. “Services like BANANAS are important because they help women and children through hardships with simple things like diapers, parenting groups, and daycare resources that some people are not fortunate enough to have access to. I am excited about the new location because it is closer to my home.”
The new Eastmont Town Center location is a full-service resource center featuring child care referral counseling, subsidized child care enrollment assistance, parent education workshops, playgroups for children ages 0โ5, and professional development for child care providers. Services are offered in English and Spanish. BANANAS has long served East Oakland families from its Claremont Avenue headquarters and a satellite presence in the Havenscourt neighborhood. The Eastmont Town Center location is the next step in that journey, a dedicated, accessible space situated near a major AC Transit hub, making it easier than ever for families to walk in, get support, and connect with the services they need.
“Opening at Eastmont Town Center means East Oakland families can reach us easily. Whether by bus, by car, or on foot, families can reach us right alongside other services they already use,” said Kym Johnson, Executive Director of BANANAS. “This location gives us a real home in the community: a space for playgroups, parenting workshops, and community gatherings. We want every family in East Oakland to know that when they have questions or need support raising young children, BANANAS is here.”
“What stood out most at the grand opening was the tremendous sense of community, possibility, and welcome,” said Sue Park, BANANAS Board Member. “Access to affordable, high-quality child care can shape the well-being and future of an entire family, and by establishing a permanent presence at Eastmont, BANANAS is bringing critical services closer to East Oakland families while reducing the barriers they may face in finding child care, financial assistance, and trusted guidance.”
The Eastmont Town Center resource center is now open and welcoming families, caregivers, child care providers, and educators. Community members are encouraged to stop by, meet the staff, and learn more about available services.
Photos from the ribbon-cutting ceremony, including the presentation of the City Council Proclamation, are available upon request.
About BANANAS: Founded in 1973, BANANAS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to partnering with families and child care providers to raise happy, confident children. BANANAS provides child care referrals, payment assistance programs, workshops, playgroups, coaching, and support groups serving families across Northern Alameda County. To date, the organization has helped thousands of families access quality, affordable child care. For more information, visit www.bananasbunch.org.
