Resource Guide: Support Santa Cruz County

Browse this list of ways you can help your community with art projects, translations, IT support, and more.

Sew Face Masks

• Step by step tutorials can be found here and here.
• Currently, Encompass Community Services and Santa Cruz County Health Services are accepting donations.

Wellness Checks

• Check on older neighbors and loved ones with a call, text, or talk through the door
  
• You Are Not Alone
• Check-In & Chat. Volunteer-run conversation line. E-mail Nicola@NandaJourneys.com to volunteer.

Deliver Meals to Seniors

• Volunteer with Community Bridges or Grey Bears to distribute essential meals to folks at-home.

Collect Arts and Craft Supplies for Donation

• Collect arts and crafts supplies for donation to after school organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club and Youth N.O.W.

Collect Hygiene Products for Donation

• Collect donated hygiene products or hygiene kits for Friends Outside.

Donate Brown Bag Lunches

• Package up or drop off brown bag lunches for St. Francis Soup Kitchen.

Paint for a Senior

• Draw or paint an outdoor landscape for a Senior at home.

Be a Remote English-Spanish Interpreter

• Join the Conflict Resolution Center to help youth and families have productive and meaningful discussions in Parent-Teen Mediations.

Become a Hotline Advocate for Survivors of Domestic Violence

• Join the Walnut Avenue Family & Women's Center for a weekly shift on their local 24-hour hotline.

Offer Remote IT Support for Seniors

• Focus on helping seniors sign up for online services such as grocery and medication deliveries with YouthServe.

Become Virtual Tech Support for Distance Learning

• Answer tech questions for Cruz One, a site for teachers and students in Santa Cruz County who are setting up distance learning.

Make Cards for Seniors At-Home

• Through the Volunteer Center send some happy messages with an e-card or an old fashioned paper card.

Support the Human Race

• Help assist the Volunteer Center's event team in supporting a community of 70+ nonprofits!

Distribute goods/food with Santa Cruz Tenant Power

• Learn more & reach out to get involved here

Support your community of health care professionals, nonprofits, and families with goods, money, and more.

Donate Protective Equipment for Healthcare Providers

• Santa Cruz County Health Services is now accepting donations of protective equipment and supplies for use by healthcare providers throughout the county.
• Or join Personal Protective Equipment for Santa Cruz County (PPE4SCC) to advocate for more PPE production.

Donate/Deliver Meals for At-Risk Communities

• Grey Bears
• Meals on Wheels
• Second Harvest Food Bank
• Community Foundation of Santa Cruz
• Community Bridges

Support Camp Kessem

• This local organization provides free summer camp for children whose parents have been affected by cancer.

Support Positive Discipline Community Resources

• The SPDC empowers families to teach their children social, emotional, and life skills. Their continued work in South Santa Cruz County and North Monterey Counties depends on your support.

Support Frontline Heroes

Santa Cruz Neighbors is supporting local businesses by providing meals to frontline workers.

Support Non-Profits

• Non-profit organizations, like the MAH, need your help to remain active in the community and support their staff and mission. Consider donating to some of your favorite local non-profits.

Buy Gift Cards

• Purchase online gift cards to local shops and restaurants to help keep local businesses operational.

Order To-Go / Online

• View a list of restaurants open for to-go orders at Visit Santa Cruz and the Downtown Association.
• Shop local grocery stores and be aware of exclusive shopping hours for those more at risk of contracting COVID-19. View Hours.
• See what Downtown shops are open online here.

Browse this list of resources for how to stay engaged with the community.

Reading

• Join this reading challenge for all ages hosted by the Santa Cruz Public Library.
• Find authors who are doing read aloud and corresponding activities for K-high school students.

Moving

• Get moving with virtual recreation from the City of Santa Cruz Parks and Rec.

Learning

• UCSC is offering a line-up of on-demand events and lectures . Let something new capture your imagination.
• Take free photography and content creation courses with Nikon.
• San Lorenzo River Through Time Activity PDF
• Virtual Workshops from Parents Place. Free, registration required.