Charitable Organizations

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS

It’s amazing to see how many organizations and people are involved in helping others in our county. Whether it’s kids or seniors, the homeless, sick or helpless, there are charitable organizations that can assist in making this holiday season one of hope for those in need. You can take part in this effort by volunteering or giving your donations to be part of bringing joy to others less fortunate.

ADVOCACY INC 5274 Scotts Valley Dr., Ste 203, Scotts Valley 831.429.1913 www.advocacy-inc.org

Advocacy, Inc. is an independent nonprofit agency serving Santa Cruz and San Benito counties for over 40 years. Our agency is comprised of the LongTerm Care Ombudsman Program and the Patients’ Rights Advocate Program. We act as a voice for those patients/ residents who are unable to speak for themselves because of prejudice, fear and/or disability, Train and consult with medical and mental health professionals on patients’/residents’ rights, quality of care, treatment and quality of life issues.

APTOS ADOPT-A-FAMILY 9601 Soquel Drive Ste A, Aptos 831.688.7549 cathe@cyber-times.com

The Aptos Adopt-A-Family Program sponsors families that are experiencing medical and/or financial catastrophes within their family. In order for families to enjoy the season with a minimum of stress, our volunteers “adopt a family” and help them out with their holiday needs. You can help by sending in a donation or offering to sponsor a family yourself! This is your way to give back to the community. “Neighbor Helping Neighbor”! Please call if you know of a family in need.

ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION - SANTA CRUZ CHAPTER 550 Water St. Ste L-2, Santa Cruz 831.647.9890 www.alz.org

The Santa Cruz Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association offers countywide services for families coping with Alzheimer’s disease. These include Support groups, an informational library, a newsletter, and a wanderer’s identification program. Our 24/7 Helpline continues to be fully operational at this time. Information is available to help with emergency placement and local resources, wandering issues, communication tips, behaviors and overall basic information. 800.272.3900.

AMERICAN RED CROSS - CENTRAL COAST CHAPTER 2960 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz 800.733.2767 www.redcross.org

The Central Coast Chapter serves more than 770,000 people across the counties of Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz. From the seascapes of Monterey Bay to the beaches of Santa Cruz, the Central Coast Chapter inhabits an area of California renowned for its natural beauty. A dedicated team of staff and volunteers works with community partners, local government, and donors to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. Get your disaster preparedness kits and register for CPR and First Aid classes at www.redcross.org

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF SANTA CRUZ COUNTY 1500 41st Avenue, Ste 250, Capitola 831.464.8691 www.santacruzmentor.org

For over 27 years we have served youth by creating mentoring relationships between children and carefully screened adult volunteers who provide guidance, friendship, and appropriate role modeling. We partner with parents/guardians, volunteers and others in the community and hold ourselves accountable for each child in our program achieving higher aspirations, greater confidence, and better relationships, avoidance of risky behaviors, and educational success

CASA -- COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES FOR CHILDREN 813 Freedom Blvd., Watsonville 831.761.2956 www.casaofsantacruz.org

Court Appointed Special Advocates are community volunteers who work one-onone with children and youth in the foster care system. CASA of Santa Cruz County recruits, screens, trains, matches, and supervises these volunteer Advocates to be the voice of our community’s youth in the Dependency Court System. Advocates get to know their child’s situation and needs, help caregivers access resources to meet those needs, and advocate for the child’s best interests in Court, community, and school settings.

CENTRAL COAST CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING 1350 41st Ave. #101, Capitola 831.462.8720 www.cccil.org

“Many people with disabilities are excluded from full participation in society. CCCIL is an advocacy and information center organized by and for people with disabilities, serving Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito Counties. Our purpose is to make our communities more accessible, and to empower people with disabilities with information and skills to live fulfilling lives in our communities.” CCCIL’s services include housing assistance, personal assistance services, peer support, independent living skills training and systems advocacy.

COMMUNITY BRIDGES 519 Main St., Watsonville 831.688.8840 www.communitybridges.org

Since 1977, Community Bridges has been a catalyst for a brighter future by providing basic resources for the people of Santa Cruz County. Our family of ten vital programs across 20 different sites serves thousands of local children, families, and seniors each year. Our programs give community members access to transportation, healthy food, health care, and senior daycare. We offer early education, grade school tutoring, and classes in breastfeeding, parenting, and literacy. These and other services are provided without charge, or at very low cost.

EASTERSEALS OF CENTRAL CALIFORNIA 9010 Soquel Drive, Aptos 831.684.2166 www.easterseals.com

Easterseals Central California (ESCC) has been helping individuals with disabilities and special needs, and their families, live better lives since 1947. From child development centers to autism services and job training for people with disabilities, Easterseals offers a variety of services to help people with disabilities address life’s challenges and achieve personal goals.

FAMILIES IN TRANSITION OF SANTA CRUZ COUNTY 406 Main St. #326, Watsonville 831.728.9791 wwwfitsantacruz.org

Since 1992 Families in Transition has been serving members of Santa Cruz County by providing temporary rental assistance and case management to families who are homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless. Our case managers work closely with program participants to identify barriers to housing and come up with individualized housing stability plans to ensure client success.

FAMILY SERVICE AGENCY OF THE CENTRAL COAST 104 Walnut Avenue, Ste 208, Santa Cruz 831.423.9444 www.fsa-cc.org

We believe in the power and potential of people of all ages and backgrounds to discover their own creative solutions. Our professional staff and volunteers provide the resources, support, and counseling services essential to healthy families and communities. We welcome people of diverse cultures, genders, sexual orientations, ages, faiths, socio-economic backgrounds, and abilities as clients, volunteers, and staff members.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY 108 Magnolia St., Santa Cruz 831.469.4663 www.habitatsc.org

Habitat for Humanity Santa Cruz County is an independent locally operated and funded affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. Our mission is to build decent, affordable homes and provide home ownership opportunities to qualified families who live and work in Santa Cruz County. Families purchase our homes with a down payment, sweat equity, and a 0% interest monthly mortgage. Please visit our Restore at 555 Main St. in Watsonville! We accept donations of, and then resell, new and used building materials, furniture, hardware, tools, and appliances at a fraction of the normal retail price.

HOSPICE OF SANTA CRUZ COUNTY 940 Disc Drive, Scotts Valley 831.430.3000 www.hospicesantacruz.org

Hospice of Santa Cruz County provides expert medical care, emotional and spiritual support to patients and families in our community so that the final months of life can be spent at home - in comfort and with dignity. The H.U.G. (Healthy Understanding of Grief) program helps hundreds of children each year sort through their feelings of grief and loss in a healthy manner. Clients & families are helped in creating a network of support and are offered assurance and education regarding end-of-life planning.

JACOB’S HEART CHILDREN’S CANCER SUPPORT SERVICES 680 West Beach St., Watsonville 831.724.9100 www.jacobsheart.org

Since 1998, we have served more than 600 children and 2,500 of their family members who have heard the devastating words, “Your child has cancer.” Through the years we have celebrated remission for hundreds of children and have grieved with families at the loss of a precious child. Through it all, we remain steadfast in our mission; our reason for existence is an unwavering dedication to providing support to parents and families of children with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses in Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Benito and South Santa Clara Counties.

MONTEREY BAY TEEN CHALLENGE 831.722.2074 www.teenchallengemb.org

Teen Challenge helps men, women, and children with life-controlling problems. These can include drug and alcohol abuse, behavioral reactions to sexual and physical abuse and other problems. After completing Teen Challenge, hope is restored to more than just the addict, but to the family as well. Solid, positive relationships within community and family are also re-established. Visit the Rustic Table Restaurant in downtown Watsonville and help support Teen Challenge.

PAJARO VALLEY SHELTER SERVICES 115 Brennan Street, Watsonville 831.728.5649 www.pvshelter.org

Pajaro Valley Shelter Services provides families with a path to stable, selfsufficient futures through short- and longer-term housing and supportive services. We envision a community where families have safe, secure, and stable housing with sufficient resources and space to plan for their futures and pursue happiness. Pajaro Valley Shelter Services has an emergency shelter and sixteen units of transitional housing where families can stay up to two years.

THE PREGNANT MARE RESCUE FOUNDATION P.O. Box 962, Aptos 408.540.8568 www.PregnantMareRescue.org

The Pregnant Mare Rescue is a temporary horse sanctuary serving the communities of Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties. We provide a safe haven for unwanted mares to have their babies, and a place for orphaned foals to grow. People from every walk of life benefit from the various programs offered at our ranch. We have created an environment that supports and encourages the horse-human connection.

SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK OF SANTA CRUZ & SAN BENITO 800 Ohlone Parkway, Watsonville 831.722.7110 www.thefoodbank.org

Second Harvest Food Bank provides food and necessities to people in need throughout our community. It serves 60,000 working poor families, seniors, and children each month. Second Harvest provides food to 180 programs and agencies operating pantries, shelters, soup kitchens, group homes, childcare, rehabilitation programs and more. Call 662-0991 from 9:00am to 4:00pm, Monday - Friday, if you or someone you know needs food.

SPECIAL PARENTS INFORMATION NETWORK (S.P.I.N) 294 Green Valley Rd., Ste. 313, Watsonville 831.722.2800 www.spinsc.org

Parents of children with special needs may feel isolated and overwhelmed with the medical, emotional, financial, educational, and social issues they face as they raise their child. SPIN is a non-profit parent-to-parent support and information network serving parents, guardians, and families in Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties who have a child or children with special needs of any age.

TEEN KITCHEN PROJECT P.O. Box 1853, Soquel 831.316.4540 x707 www.teenkitchenproject.org

A nonprofit organization that brings young people into the kitchen to learn to cook delicious and nourishing food. Teen Kitchen Project offers our delicious, locally sourced and organic food philosophy to events from parties and business meetings, to fund-raising events for fellow nonprofits like the United Way of Santa Cruz County, PEO Sisterhood, and Team G Childhood Cancer Foundation.

THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION 7807 Soquel Drive, Aptos 831.662.2000 www.cfscc.com

The Community Foundation is a taxexempt public charity serving people who share a common interest to improve the quality of life in Santa Cruz County, and beyond, through philanthropy. Founded in 1982, we provide individuals, families, and businesses with ways to make giving simple, powerful, and personal. We offer professional advisors resources and tools to help you meet your clients’ charitable goals.

THE VOLUNTEER CENTER 1740 17th Ave, Santa Cruz 831.427.5070 www.scvolunteercenter.org

The Volunteer Center was founded in 1967 to address the pressing needs of our local community through volunteer service. We offer 22 programs that engage young people, families, seniors, working professionals, and people with disabilities in meaningful service. We have the capability of connecting people with volunteer opportunities on the web, by phone, or at one of our Centers.

VALLEY CHURCHES UNITED MISSIONS 9400 Highway 9, Ben Lomond 831.336.8258 www.vcum.org

Over the past 30 years, Valley Churches United Missions has continued to grow and serve an ever-increasing number of clients. We are a volunteer-powered, donor-supported nonprofit agency providing assistance to low-income residents in need. We serve San Lorenzo Valley, Scotts Valley, and Bonny Doon. VCUM remains true to its original mission of neighbors helping neighbors. Send cash donations to Valley Churches United Missions, P.O. Box 367, Ben Lomond, CA 95005.