This Saturday, November 17th is Family Volunteer Day. I can’t think of a better way to communicate my value for giving and kindness than to simply spend a few hours “doing” with my family. Volunteering in my household is a favorite family past time. My children love the opportunity to be of use to someone […] Read More
It’s Halloween! For the staff and program participants of our mental health wellness program Community Connection, this is a day rooted in joy that celebrates deeply held connections and the history of the program. For more than 30 years staff have hosted an annual Halloween celebration as part of their long legacy of bringing people […] Read More
Thank you to everyone who joined us on Wednesday at the 2018 Be the Difference Awards. We were incredibly inspired by the response and the desire to come together for what works in our community. Your love for Santa Cruz County was palpable. This event was successful because of each and every one of the […] Read More
We are thrilled to partner with our sponsors to celebrate the 2018 Be the Difference Awards honoring the individuals, groups, and businesses that transform Santa Cruz County through volunteerism. The event will take place tomorrow October 24th at the Cocoanut Grove from 11:30 AM-1:30 PM. Doors will open just after 11 AM. In attendance will […] Read More
JOIN US AT THE 2018 BE THE DIFFERENCE AWARDS LUNCH GALA If you haven’t had the chance to buy your tickets yet, we encourage you to do so right away. Tickets are going fast and the deadline to purchase is this Friday, October 12th. Join the Volunteer Center and our sponsors at the 12th Annual […] Read More
For many individuals walking through the neighborhood, taking out the garbage, or driving to the grocery store are simple and unremarkable tasks. But, for some in the community, these activities are overwhelming due to the rigors of aging, declining health, and limited mobility. Due to the fear of falling many local seniors find themselves struggling […] Read More
Nominations have begun to roll in for the 2018 Be the Difference Awards and we are awaiting yours. If you are reading this then we know, you get it – our community thrives because volunteers are willing to share their time, talent, and dedication to make Santa Cruz County a better place to live. Every […] Read More
Last week we closed out Mental Health Awareness Month in partnership with our program Community Connection. Over the month we emphasized sharing our stories, breaking stigma, and celebrating what works. So often the media narrative about mental health is focused on what is broken. We are here to tell a different story– about potential. Every […] Read More
We all experience pivotal moments in our youth that shape who we are today. Moments where we were pushed to overcome our fears and doubts and accomplish things we never thought we could. At the Volunteer Center, we believe every young person deserves opportunities to explore their potential and discover what makes them exceptional! This […] Read More
A Hero is strong and brave. He or she may come from any background or family – a princess, an orphan or a farmer. Their journey is a hard road with challenges, obstacles and attacks that are far beyond what most of us face. Despite the fears, sorrow and loss they feel, a Hero keeps […] Read More
We are so excited to celebrate with you this Saturday May 12th at the 38th Annual Human Race Walkathon and Fun Run. Our team and sponsors have lined up an incredible day of fun for all participants and we hope to see you there! Race Day includes pre-race yoga and breakfast, a 5-mile course, live […] Read More
out·stand·ing ˌ(outˈstandiNG) – Exceptionally good. Synonyms – excellent, marvelous, magnificent, superb, fine, wonderful, superlative, exceptional, first-class, first-rate; great, terrific, tremendous, super, amazing, fantastic, sensational, fabulous, ace, neat, awesome, bang-up, out of this world, smashing, brilliant “Our team of volunteers, staff, Board Members, Business and Community Partners are outstanding!” –I have said that exact sentence a […] Read More
This is AmeriCorps Week and programs across the country are celebrating the members that get things done for America! We are proud of the 11 AmeriCorps VIP Fellows that are now serving in our community! This year they will each volunteer for 1700 hours to support organizations in Santa Cruz County. They build the capacity […] Read More
This week I made my latest donation to Moms Demand Action and yesterday, I once again put on my shirt that states, “Be nice to each other, it’s really all that matters.” This quote comes Sandy Hook Elementary School Principal Dawn Lafferty Hochsprung. Dawn was among the 20 children and six adults gunned down inside […] Read More
What does it feel like to be part of the largest single day of direct action for community change in US History? Media coverage of the Women’s March focused on the power of acting together, the hope for change, the resolve to make a difference in the political life of our country. As you can […] Read More
Are you looking for ways to connect with our community in the New Year? Martin Luther King Jr Day provides the perfect opportunity with options throughout the holiday weekend. Check out the list of events from education and marching to community action, there is something for everyone. We hope you will join us. MLK […] Read More
As we close out the year it is the perfect time for us to reflect on how far you’ve helped us come as an organization. This month we will bring our 50th year of action to a close! Since opening our doors in 1967 nearly 200,000 neighbors have walked through with a desire to connect […] Read More
Since the beginning of the school year I have been volunteering to teach a weekly garden program in my son’s 2nd grade class. Last week marked our final class for the fall. As a closing activity, I took a few moments to share with the class what I do for work at the Volunteer Center […] Read More
“I have a pact with my mom, she helps me prepare for tests and in return, I help with her English homework. Can you keep a secret? I don’t need help, I just pretend, so that later I can help her. She feels bad that she cannot read to me. Promise, you will not tell!” […] Read More
The headlines are unsettling- Walls, Bans, Deportations. Is this who we really are? The America that I love chose “E Pluribus Unum” (Out of Many, One) as our National Motto in 1776 because our founders realized that, as a nation of and for immigrants, our strength comes from our diversity. Unless you are a member of […] Read More
