(CLAIR | Simi Valley, CA) — Luna the local goldendoodle isn’t your typical team captain. She’s soft, calm, and more interested in making friends than setting records. But on Saturday, May 17, she’ll be leading Team Luna up the Mt. McCoy trail to raise money for people in Simi Valley who are experiencing homelessness and food insecurity.
Luna’s goal is simple. She wants to gather a group of kind humans to hike with her, help raise funds for a good cause, and maybe toss a ball or two along the way. She’s not competitive, but she is committed—and she loves a good group outing.
“She’s calm around kids, sweet with strangers, and will happily share her ball with anyone she meets,” says her human, Annika Sumby. “But when the Amazon delivery truck pulls up, Luna becomes our full-time security detail. She takes her job very seriously—barking, to let everyone know if a box shows up unannounced,” Annika said.
The hike supports the work of the Samaritan Center of Simi Valley, an organization that provides critical services to people in need. These services include food, showers, mental health support, and help finding housing. But even more important, the Center works to restore dignity and build community. It’s a place where people are treated with respect, and where help comes with care and compassion.
Luna might not understand all the services offered, but she knows what kindness looks like. She knows the Samaritan Center helps people get off the street, get connected, and feel human again. One recent client, Anny, lived in her van after a back injury left her unable to work. With support from her caseworker at the Center, she was able to apply for housing and move into a permanent place in November. She called the help she received a lifeline.
Now Luna wants to help the Center do more.
You can support Team Luna by signing up to hike with her on May 17. You can also create your own fundraising page as part of her team, or simply make a donation to support the cause. Every dollar raised goes directly to the Samaritan Center. It stays right here in Simi Valley, helping people who live right here in our community.
If you can’t hike, you can still make a difference by sharing Luna’s team page or encouraging others to give. This is a community effort, and Luna is counting on her neighbors to show up.
Luna will be on the trail, wearing her “Team Luna” bandana and wagging her tail the whole way up. She’ll greet every friendly face, pose for photos, and remind everyone why they came—to help someone find safety, support, and a fresh start.
To join Luna’s team or donate, visit her page here:
https://samaritancentersimivalley-bloom.kindful.com/hike-to-mt-mccoy–2025/lunas-team
Luna will bring the wag. You bring the heart.
