VOLUNTEER CENTERS OF SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

Please check out our website at www.scvolunteercenter.org

SANTA CRUZ CENTER
575 SOQUEL AVE.
SANTA CRUZ, CA 95062
(408) 423-0554
fax (408) 423-6267

VALLEY CENTER
P.O. BOX 93
BEN LOMOND, CA 95005
(408) 336-2257
fax (408)336-3642

WATSONVILLE CENTER
251 EAST LAKE STREET, SUITE 4
WATSONVILLE, CA 95076
(408) 722-6708
fax (408) 722-1013

MISSION STATEMENT

Volunteers are in a unique position to improve the quality of life in our community through engaging in satisfying, challenging work. The Volunteer Center promotes volunteerism throughout the community and maintains a wide variety of volunteer opportunities which enable all people to share their skills and time in order to extend needed services in Santa Cruz County.

VOLUNTEER CENTER PROGRAMS

Adopted Grandparent Program seniors share their time and wisdom with elementary school children in San Lorenzo Valley. This year I5 grandparents visited 400 children in local classrooms.
Community Connection helps over I00 adults with psychiatric disabilities achieve greater independence as community members through paid and volunteer work, classes, gardening and recreational activities. This year Community Connection Academy completed free bulk mailings for 32 nonprofit organizations, and the Custom Mailing Service assembled mailings and buttons for 73 businesses.
English Language and Literacy Program's 200 volunteer tutors contributed 16,812 hours throughout the county to help adults learn to read and write English. Workplace literacy curricula -Pro CLEAN and ProHEALTH - combine practical work experience with English language and literacy training.
Friendly Visiting volunteers have brought 5,770 hours of companionship and comfort to home-bound seniors this year. Working closely with other local agencies that help seniors, visitors are a valuable resource to the community as well as to the friends they visit.
Friends Outside volunteers provide practical and emotional assistance to inmates of county jail facilities and their families.This year 1,199 people were helped, many of whom were able to maintain family and community ties during incarceration.
The Human Race Walkathon, held each May, is a festive way for local nonprofit organizations to promote their work and raise funds for much needed services in our community. This year more than $83,000 was collected on behalf of participating agencies and schools.
The Holiday Project brings together volunteers, businesses, and caring individuals to help our neighbors during the holidays. Last year I,890 people in need were given gifts of food, clothing, shelter and toys.
The Junior Volunteer Program places San Lorenzo Valley and Watsonville youth in summer volunteer jobs in local nonprofit organizations. Last year 76 junior volunteers learned self-esteem and job skills while providing 3,767 hours of service to 32 agencies.
The Mental Health Resource Center provides education, information, and referral, technical assistance, community outreach and volunteer opportunities to people wich psychiatric disabilities and their families and friends. This year more than 1,500 hours of service were directed to mental health issues by participants in this program.
The Retired Senior Volunteer Program encourages people over 55 to enrich their lives and their community through volunteer activities. This year 586 senior volunteers contributed 117,090 hours of service at 121 locations throughout Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito counties.
The Transportation Program provides rides for seniors to medical appointments, shopping, and other essential services. Our 123 volunteer drivers and dispatchers helped 495 people receive 7,368 trips this year.
The Volunteer Initiative Program offers volunteer internships in county government. While gaining valuable job experience and references, 230 volunteers contributed 28,052 hours to help county departments with special projects.
Volunteer Referral advisors match people who wish to volunteer their time and talents wich local nonprofit organizations that need volunteers. This year 474 people were referred to local agencies that rely on volunteer help to provide important services to the community.
YouthSERVE brings the benefits of volunteering into middle school classrooms and the energy of youth volunteers into our community. This year 1,000 students performed 19,034 hours of service to benefit local nonprofit organizations.

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