Adopt a Family 2020- A Huge Success!

Agency Partners Picking up their packages for their families.

Aisha with Gift BagAisha with Gift BagWe are closing out our week with immense gratitude. As of today all gifts have been delivered to our partnering agencies for delivery to families, we’ve swept and cleared out the Adopt a Family Warehouse and we are putting the closing touches on this program for another year.

Thanks to the outpouring of generosity unmatched in our history, not only were all of our 550+ families adopted, we were able to help hundreds of other people on the waiting lists of our partner agencies agencies and we were additionally able to connect with partners from the faith community to help us get gifts in the hands of farmworker families in the Pajaro Valley and struggling families on the West Side of Santa Cruz. A grand total of 645 families were served through the program this winter!

Because of this amazing community of volunteers, donors, and local businesses, our incredible staff team and AmeriCorps Leaders, our partners that show up for families every day and the leadership of our Events Coordinator Aisha Charves, more than 2500 of our neighbors will be warm, happy and fed for the holidays. Every gift so carefully selected and shared will be in the hands of a neighbor before Christmas!

Family Sponsor dropping off packages with the support of Adopt a Family Volunteers.

Every year we are overwhelmed by the ambitious spirit of our community and this year in the midst of a pandemic, we are simply blown away. As a community you have shown that the desire to give back simply cannot be diminished. Despite the challenges of this year we feel such optimism for the year ahead. Together we have weathered a year of public health crises, the devastation of wildfires, and severe economic strain. At every turn, you have been there to help us pivot and expand our services. As we take the time to reflect on our year in the coming weeks, we look forward to sharing the full picture of what we have accomplished together in 2020. Whether you are aware or not, this year you have been a part of a movement for good that has maintained a steady and fierce churn.

Our promise to you in the weeks and months ahead– With your continued support we will rise to every challenge that comes our way. We know that when we act together, bringing our creativity and resources– big or small to the table, we can generate incredible change. We look forward to connecting with you soon about how we can continue the momentum and collectively step into 2021 as an undaunted force for positive change.  We encourage you to visit our Facebook page for photos from this year’s Adopt a Family Project and visit our events page to learn more about what’s next for the Volunteer Center.
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