Tis the Season to Give Back

It's that time of year when people need help the most. And all over Santa Cruz County, there are organizations reaching out to those in need during these hard times.

But it takes a lot of work and a lot of volunteers. You can help make someone's holiday a little brighter this year by volunteering some of your time. Here are 10 opportunities to volunteer locally this holiday season:

1. Valley Churches United Missions in Ben Lomond is looking for volunteers to help with its Christmas Project, which provides families in Scotts Valley and the San Lorenzo Valley with a full Christmas meal, as well as gifts for their children.

Volunteers are needed to fill food bags, wrap gifts, pick up and deliver items, for clerical support and to help with distribution.

For more information, call the VCUM at 831-336-8258, or send a cash donation to Valley Churches United Missions, P.O. Box 367, Ben Lomond 95005. 

2. Community Connections seeks a few more volunteers for its Christmas party, which happens Thursday, Dec. 22, 11 a.m.-1p.m. Volunteers are needed to help cook and set up for the party on Wednesday, Dec. 21, as well as on the day of the party. Community Connections helps families and low income individuals year-round. 

For more information, contact Cecille Bitanga at cbitanga@ccsantacruz.org. Directions to the event will be provided once volunteering is confirmed.

3. The Santa Cruz SPCA is always busy during the holiday season, and now that their store at the Capitola Mall is open, they are in great need of volunteers. Even just an hour or two any day of the week helping out at the shelter would be much appreciated. Help is especially needed on the weekends.

For more information, email Nancy Eaton at nancy@santacruzspca.org.

4. The Homeless Garden Project seeks experienced seamstresses to help sew catnip and lavender bags, as well as other crafts for their holiday store. You must know how to operate a sewing machine. 

Two hour shifts are available between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., Tuesday-Friday. Due to limited workspace, email or call ahead to confirm a sewing machine slot.

For more information, contact Kelly at kellym@homelessgardenproject.org or 831.426.3609 ext. 0.

5. I-You Ventures is a program of Family Services of the Central Coast that reaches out to individuals living in assisted living homes. Many people living in these homes do not have family nearby. Without contact with the community they would live and die alone and forgotten. I-You Ventures helps connect volunteers who can visit with disabled and elderly residents.

For more information on how to be a holiday helper for I-You Ventures, contact Carolyn Essick at cessickfsa@gmail.com.

6. Feeding the Spirit seeks volunteers to help serve meals at Homeless Services Center on the following dates:

Saturday, Dec. 24, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 25, 7:30-9:30 a.m.

Saturday, Dec. 31, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. 

Sunday, Jan. 1, 7:30-9:30 a.m.

For more information, contact dspburns@gmail.com. Directions will be provided upon confirmation of volunteering. 

7. Pajaro Valley Fishes and Loaves Pantry and Kitchen is a community kitchen and food pantry in Watsonville that feeds and supports hungry families and migrant workers, as well as homeless, elderly and disabled individuals. Volunteers are needed to help serve their hot Christmas lunch and distribute food baskets and toys to families.

For more information, call 831-722-4144.

8. The California Grey Bears is a Santa Cruz-based non-profit organization made up of seniors helping seniors. They need volunteers to help with their extensive holiday food delivery, which delivers food bags to seniors throughout the county. 

For more information, call 831-479-1055.

9. The Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County, the first food bank in California and the second oldest in the nation, distributes 7.2 million pounds of food to needy families each year, according to the organization. Volunteers, as well as food donations, are always needed.

There are dozens of different ways to volunteer at Second Harvest Food Bank, from helping to distribute food to helping with their garden program.

Find out more HERE.

10. Community Bridges is looking for volunteers for the holiday season and throughout the year. The Aptos-based organization provides a broad spectrum of services to the entire county, including a Meals on Wheels program, as well as after school homework programs. 

For more information about the various volunteers needed, click HERE.