Font ResizeDonate Food at Capitola Save Mart
Save Mart in Capitola is asking shoppers to make a donation to a local food bank. A shopping bag display shows how much food can be provided to a food bank for a donation of $5, $10, $15, or $20 at checkout. Donations will be accepted through Jan. 2. Last year, Save Mart customers donated $148,350 to local food banks.
When: Ongoing
Where: 1475 41st Ave., Capitola
Details: 462-6917
I-You Venture Holiday Helpers
Make the holiday season a positive one for residents of care facilities throughout the community by becoming a holiday helper with I-You Ventures. Holiday helpers purchase, wrap and label gifts so that they are ready to be delivered to the care facility residents. Gift suggestions include (male and female) socks, slippers, shirts, lap blankets, combs, brushes, cards, games, calendars, stuffed animals, aftershave, lotion and necklaces. All gifts should be dropped of at Family Service Agency.
When: Ongoing
Where: Family Service Agency, 104 Walnut Ave., Suite 208, Santa Cruz
Details: 459-8917
Salvation Army Bell Ringers
The Salvation Army of Watsonville is looking for volunteers to help make Christmas a little happier and brighter for families in need. The organization is in need of volunteers to
When: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday through Dec. 25
Where: Various locations
Details: 724-3922
Las Posadas celebration
The Davenport Resource Center needs volunteers to help make more than 500 tamales on Dec. 19 for the festive Las Posadas Celebration the following day. Volunteers will meet at the Davenport Resource Center at 10 a.m. to begin preparing the tamales and can stay until they are completed at 3 p.m. Shorter shifts are also available. The Resource Center is also seeking volunteers to set up and clean up at the Las Posadas Celebration on Dec. 20. Las Posadas are a re-enactment of the nativity scene, complete with a procession, caroling and food. Volunteers are invited to help set up at 3:30 p.m., stay for the procession and party, or come for the procession and stay to clean up from 8-9 p.m.
When: Dec. 19-20
Where: Davenport Resource Center, 151 Church St., Davenport
Details: 425-8115, diana@cabinc.org
Homeless Garden Project
The Homeless Garden Project is seeking a variety of volunteers through Dec. 24. Positions include retail store staffers, where volunteers assist with greeting customers, wrapping gifts and operating the cash register at the "From Our Garden" Holiday Store. Volunteers will help sell homemade wreaths, strawberry jam and more. All proceeds from the store will benefit the Homeless Garden Project training programs. The Homeless Garden Project is looking for volunteers to cover the following roles: shift managers, cashiers, gift wrappers and greeters. The nonprofit is also asking for knitted donations such as scarves, blankets, sweaters, gloves, etc. to be featured and sold at their downtown retail store.
When: Through Dec. 24
Where: The Homeless Garden Project, 30 W. Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz
Details: 426-3609
Meal Service for the Homeless
Volunteers are needed to set up, serve and clean up for weekly meal services for the homeless at Elm Street Mission. Volunteers should arrive at Elm Street Mission at 4:30 to set up and stay until 7 p.m. to serve the meals and clean up.
When: 4:30-7 p.m. Friday-Sunday
Where: Elm Street Mission, 117 Elm St., Santa Cruz
Details: 420-0543
Feeding the Spirit, Christmas Meals
Help serve a hot meal to homeless folks at the Homeless Services Center. Volunteering activities will include setup, meal service and cleanup.
When: 10:15 a.m. to noon Dec. 22, 7:30-9:30 a.m. Dec. 23
Where: Homeless Services Center, 115 Coral St., Santa Cruz
Details: feedingthespiritsc@gmail.com
Feeding the Spirt, New Year's Meals
Help serve a hot meal to homeless folks at the Homeless Services Center. Volunteering activities will include setup, meal service and cleanup.
When: 10:15 a.m. to noon Dec. 29, 7:15-9:50 a.m. Dec. 30
Where: Homeless Services Center, 115 Coral St., Santa Cruz
Details: feedingthespiritsc@gmail.com
Valley Holiday Projects
The Christmas Project provides toys, gifts, basic necessity items and food to families, seniors, disabled and homeless in San Lorenzo Valley, Scotts Valley and Bonny Doon. They run Adopt A Family, Adopt a Senior Program, and a Christmas food drive. Volunteers are needed to fill food bags, wrap gifts, for pick up and delivery, clerical support and distribution help. Cash donations can be sent to Valley Churches United Missions, P.O. Box 367, Ben Lomond, CA.
When: Through Dec. 21
Where: Valley Churches United Missions, 9400 Highway 9, Ben Lomond
Details: 336-8258
Adopt A Family Warehouse help
Help provide toys, clothes and food to families in need. Volunteer elves are needed to sort toys, check-in donors and wrap gifts at the Watsonville Warehouse. Flexible evening and weekend shifts are available.
When: Through Dec. 17
Where: Adopt A Family Watsonville Warehouse, 80 Skata Lane, Watsonville
Details: 722-6708
Adopt A Family Warehouse Leaders
Assist with directing and coordinating volunteers at the Adopt A Family warehouse for one or more nights. Leaders can serve as general warehouse managers or lead volunteer tasks groups including shopping, check-in and wrapping crews. All volunteer leaders will need to attend a preliminary training, including a warehouse site visit the week of Dec. 10.
When: Through Dec. 17
Where: Adopt A Family Watsonville Warehouse, 80 Skata Lane, Watsonville
Details: 427-5070
Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry
Each year, Pajaro Valley Loaves and Fishes provides holiday food baskets to struggling families. Volunteers are needed to prepare holiday food packages and help with distributing the packages to the community.
When: 1-6 p.m. Dec. 20-23
Where: Pajaro Valley Loaves and Fishes, 150 Second St., Watsonville
Details: 722-4144
Swingtime Café Season of Sharing
Volunteers are needed to put together care packages containing blankets, canned foods and toiletries for over 800 isolated seniors in need across Santa Cruz County. Volunteers can commit to one or more days. This is a family-friendly volunteer opportunity and groups are welcome to participate.
When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 17-19
Where: SwingTime Café, 19 W. Lake Ave., Watsonville
Details: 840-2601
Swingtime Café Drivers Needed
Volunteer drivers are needed to deliver holiday care packages to seniors in need at Senior Centers in Santa Cruz, Watsonville and Prunedale. Flexible, or shorter shifts also available. Volunteer drivers can use the Café van or their personal vehicles.
When: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 19-21
Where: SwingTime Café, 19 W. Lake Ave., Watsonville
Details: 840-2601
Salvation Army Christmas Dinner
Volunteers are needed on Christmas Day to help prep, set up and clean up the Watsonville Salvation Army's Christmas Dinner.
When: 4-7 p.m. Dec. 25
Where: Watsonville Salvation Army, 112 Grant St., Watsonville
Details: 724-3922
Holiday Food Drive
Santa Cruz County Bank's five local banking offices will serve as a community drop off location for Second Harvest Food Bank's Holiday Food Drive. This is the ninth year that Santa Cruz County Bank has participated in the Holiday Food Drive. The public is encouraged to make cash donations or bring in nonperishable food items to fill the Holiday Food Drive barrels, such as soups, stews, beans, rice, pasta, cereal, canned meats, tuna, peanut butter, canned fruits and vegetables. The bank's goal is to collect more than 10,000 pounds of food by Dec. 21. Every full barrel provides 125 pounds of food and feeds over 100 people. For every $1 raised, four meals are provided.
When: Ongoing until Dec. 21
Where: Santa Cruz County Bank's offices: 7775 Soquel Drive, Aptos; 819 Bay Ave., Capitola; 720 Front St., Santa Cruz; 4604 Scotts Valley Drive, Scotts Valley; 595 Auto Center Drive, Watsonville
Details: www.santacruzcountybank.com
CAll to Care Campaign
New Life Community Services, a local state licensed alcohol and drug treatment program and family shelter, is looking for financial support this holiday season due to budget cuts. As part of its new Call to Care Campaign, the organization is hosting a Christmas tree lot to support those in recovery. The nonprofit is also looking for donations that will help cover costs for food, clean bedding, hygiene products and a warm environment during the winter.
When: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday now until Dec. 25
Where: 3020 Thurber Lane, Santa Cruz
Details: www.newlifesc.org, 427-1007
Endless Possibilities Acupuncture
Endless Possibilities Acupuncture, the practice of Dr. Maureen Rozenn is fundraising for Santa Cruz Birth Network this holiday season. Every year, Rozenn makes eye pillows and hot packs for use in her clinic. Yearly, she creates a surplus of handmade, lavender scented eye pillows and hot packs for sale to the public, and donates the proceeds to a nonprofit benefitting women and children. Birth Network supports parents and their care providers by providing information, education, and advocacy for a mother-friendly childbirth.
When: Ongoing until Jan. 1
Where: Cedar Street Clinic-501 Cedar St, Suite B, Santa Cruz
Details: www.acupuncturesantacruz.net, 426-1093
SPCA Pay It Forward
The Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter is offering a holiday cat/kitten and rabbit adoption special for the remaining days in December. The adoption fee, which includes spay/neuter, microchip (including registration), age appropriate vaccinations and Felv/FIV testing, routine treatment for fleas/worms and a free pet wellness exam with local participating veterinarians is reduced $25. The shelter is also asking the community to "pay it forward" to their community's neediest animals by also donating $25 to one of the following funds: Planned Pethood Fund, which funds free spay/neuter surgeries; Extra Mile Fund, which allows rehabilitation for animals beyond what our shelter budget permits; and General Donation Fund, which supports animal adoption, animal enrichment and public outreach and education programs.
When: Ongoing
Where: The Santa Cruz Animal Shelter, 2200 Seventh Ave., Santa Cruz
SwingTime Café seeks donations
SwingTime Café is seeking donations of canned soup, blankets, toiletries, gloves and hats for its eighth annual Spirit of Sharing project. The project has delivered gifts to hundreds of senior citizens, who might otherwise go without a little cheer during the holiday season. Packaging of donations will begin Dec. 19, but donations will be accepted until delivery day, Dec. 21. Donations can be dropped off 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
When: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday
Where: SwingTime Café, 19 W. Lake Ave., Watsonville
Details: www.scanimalshelter.org, 454-7303
