HOLIDAY VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES 2017
Adopt A Family Holiday Sleigh Drivers Dec. 14 - 15
Help play Santa for 400 families in need across Santa Cruz County. Volunteers needed to help drive toys from local businesses throughout the county to the Watsonville Warehouse (1044 East Lake Avenue) and the Santa Cruz Volunteer Center in Live Oak (1740 17th Ave). Volunteers are welcome to make one or more trips and will need to use their own vehicles.
To Volunteer: contact Melissa at or 831-427-5070 ext. 128
Salvation Army Red Kettle Bell Ringers Nov. 18 - Dec. 24
We need volunteers to man our iconic red kettles this holiday season. Several locations countywide and the funds you collect stay right in your own community. Shifts are every Monday through Saturday from 11am to 7pm. You may choose to volunteer for a full shift or for at least a 2-hour period.
For more information: Magaly at 831-706-6532 or email
Caroling to End Cancer Dec. 25hth
Volunteers will gather in their preferred neighborhood to carol during the holiday season to help end cancer! Jacob's Heart helps support children with cancer and their family members. Volunteers will go door-to-door singing carols. After they are done singing, they will relay a small blurb about Jacob's Heart and hand them a donation envelope. Money raised will go towards helping families provide presents to their children this holiday season as well as vital gift cards for parents to help feed their family nutritious food and get their children to their hospital visits.
To Volunteer: Alex Dami, , (831) 724-9100
Holiday Helper for Isolated Seniors Now to Dec. 13th
Become a holiday helper by giving to the often forgotten care facility resident in our community. Many residents don’t have family or friends visit them during the holidays, so they look forward to the gifts Holiday Helper give them. The program collects, organizes and distributes gifts to care facility residents. Please make a senior’s holiday a special one by purchasing and wrapping gifts (examples: slippers, slipper socks, shirts, lap blankets, scarves, gloves, calendars, lotions etc.). Please drop off all gifts between 9am-12pm, Monday – Friday at Family Service Agency of the Central Coast: 104 Walnut Ave, #208 Santa Cruz, CATo Volunteer: Nancy Cleveland (831) 459-8917 ext. 205 or 208
SANTA CRUZ/ CAPITOLA/LIVE OAK
Chanukah Party Dec. 19th
Volunteers are needed to help with set up and decorating at 6pm. Candle Lighting is at 7:00 pm. Bring your menorah and candles!! And any munchies you would like to share.
We are also collecting donations of new socks, small bottles of shampoo and toiletries for the Santa Cruz Downtown Streets Team to distribute to homeless individuals.
To volunteer contact: Eli at (831) 295-8467 or
Shabbat of Chanukah Dec. 15th
Chadeish Yameinu Jewish Renewal is hosting a community Chanukah celebration on Friday, December 15th at the Veterans Memorial Building in Santa Cruz.
Some projects volunteers complete are: Organizing monthly social action dinners (pot luck) with community speakers from local nonprofits that are doing good work. Logistics for events - reserving space, making fliers, Supporting the Monthly Friday Family Shabat by organizing crafts for kids. Outreach and marketing for community events.
We have flexible scheduling for volunteers - work from home or attend meetings and events. All of our worship services are free and open to anyone. We invite you to come to a Shabbat or other event and become acquainted with our community.
To volunteer contact: Eli at (831) 295-8467 or
Adopt A Family Warehouse Elves Dec. 13th until Dec. 19th
Our Adopt a Family Holiday project provides clothing, toys, and food to over 450 families in need during the holiday season.
Volunteer Activities:As warehouse volunteer elves, you can assist with the intake _of gifts, gift-wrapping, organizing the warehouse and distributing _gifts to agencies.These volunteers are the muscles behind the Adopt a Family program and have a lot of fun playing the role of "elves" for these families in need.
• Wednesday, December 13, 10am to 2pm: Warehouse Set-up
• Thursday, December 14th, 10:30am-2:30pm, 2:30pm-6:30pm, Gift Intake and Sorting
• Friday, December 15th, 12-4pm and 4-7pm, Gift Intake andSorting
• Saturday, December 16th, 10-12pm, 12:30-2:30pm, 3-5pm, Gift Intake and Wrapping
• Sunday, December 17th,10-12pm, 12:30-2:30pm, 3-5pm, Gift Intake and Wrapping
• Monday, December 18th, 12-3:30pm and 3pm-6:30pmGift Intake andWrapping
• Tuesday, December 19th, 9-1pm and 1-5pm Gift Intake and Loading (Volunteers must be able to handle some lifting)
• Warehouse is located in Downtown Santa Cruz on Front St. (near Trader Joe's)
For more information: Lindsey at (831) 427-5070 x 119 OR
Diversity Center Giftwrapping Dec. 16th, 22nd, and 23rd
Our annual gift wrapping fundraiser supports programs for the LGBTQ community in Santa Cruz, and helps make the holidays fun for customers at Childish Toy Store. Volunteers are needed for 2 hour shifts between 11am and 4pm.
To to volunteer contact: Sparrow at (831) 425-5422 x 111 OR
Wrapping Party for Foster Families Dec. 17th
The holidays can be tough for foster parents, so this program connects the community with these families to provide presents to local foster children. There are about 150 presents donated, and we need your help to wrap them!
The wrapping party is on Sunday.December 17 from 12-3 pmat the Santa Cruz Bible Church on 440 Frederick St. You can stay for an hour or stay the full three hours.
To volunteer contact: Claire at (831) 476-7284x108 or at
Usher at the Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker Dec. 15, 16 and 17
NOEXPERIENCENEEDED! A Santa Cruz tradition! Our fifteenth production with full professional orchestra at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium. Volunteer to usher at The Nutcracker, put on by the Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre! This is a great opportunity, not only because you will get help out at this super fun holiday event, but also because you get to see the show free of charge! Additionally, while most ushering opportunities require that you have previous ushering experience, you do NOT need experience to usher at The Nutcracker. This opportunity is therefore a great intro into the ushering world! If you are interested, Express Interest below to be put in touch with the coordinator for this event!
To volunteer: Contact Laurel Keeffe at 831-420-5403 or email
SANTA CRUZ/ CAPITOLA/LIVE OAK
Grey Bears Brown Bag Delivery Ongoing Opportunity
Deliver a bag of fresh groceries to low-income seniors! Bags are packed by volunteers in the morning and drivers pick up bags between 7:30am and 11am on Thursday and Friday.
To Volunteer: contact Michelle, , (831) 479-1055 ext 226.
Cook a Warm Meal at St. Francis Soup Kitchen Ongoing every Mon-Fri (EXCLUDING THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS)
Each day a hearty meal of soup, salad, bread, coffee, and milk are served to over 180 people at noon at the St. Francis Soup Kitchen. We have been serving meals to the hungry in Santa Cruz for over 25
years! Please join us by volunteering in our kitchen, where we can accommodate up to four volunteers daily. No special experience is required aside from a desire to work in the kitchen. We begin cooking at 8:00 AM and finish serving the meal at 1:45 PM.
To volunteer: contact Richard Crowe 831-459-6712
Food Not Bombs Ongoing every Saturday and Sunday
Volunteers are needed to help us prepare vegan meals on Saturdays and Sundays from 12pm-3pm. No experience is needed as we always need help with the basics of washing and cutting vegetables. Experienced cooks are always welcome to share their expertise. Volunteers are welcome to join us in serving the meal at the Post Office from 4pm - 6pm and with clean up afterwards.
To volunteer: contact Keith McHenry (575) 770-3377
Wednesday Market Greeter Ongoing every Wednesday
Every Wednesday the Homeless Service Center hosts a free market for the homeless to receive clothes and food items!
The Wednesday Market team works together to:
· Set up and break down the Market
· Receives donations from the community
· Oversees the operations of the market
· Works with our safety team to maintain a friendly environment!
To volunteer: contact Miranda Pettiford 831-458-6020
SANTA CRUZ/ CAPITOLA/LIVE OAK
Winter Shelter Ongoing everyday
This year’sSanta Cruz Winter Shelteris bigger and better than ever!! It will be open for people that need a place to sleep fromNovember 15th to April 15th. We are looking for more players, more agencies, and more services to be involved and tojoin us in becoming a model for other areas on innovative collaboration. The volunteer possibilities are endless - somebody donating flower arrangements for the dinners to someone wanting to read children’s stories to the kids.
To volunteer: contact Serg Kagno 831-687-8783
Organize Presents Nov. 24th to Dec. 15th
Be an elf at the Capitola Mall and help support a child with cancer.
Each year, Jacob's Heart helps ease the burden of shopping for gifts for families. We need your help to make this year's holiday season that much brighter! Volunteers will staff a store front at the Capitola Mall that will serve as a donation drop off point. Volunteers will help accept the donations, sort through them, and organize them.
To volunteer: Alex Dami, , (831) 724-9100
Homeless Garden Project Store Nov. 20th to Dec. 24th
Our Holiday Store is where we make about 1/3rd of our yearly income to support our transitional employment and job training program for folks experiencing homelessness or housing instability. Crew members hand-make over 40 types of products using materials we grow on the farm, including food products, bath and body products, and dried-flower wreaths. We need volunteers to support the Shift Managers in the store to greet customers, restock shelves, use our point of sales system, and communicate about Homeless Garden Project and homelessness to shoppers. Volunteers learn customer service skills, business and sales knowledge, and communications skills.
To volunteer: Keren Reichler, 831-426-3609 x10,
Happy Holidays at Wilder Ranch Dec. 9th
Step back in time for an old-fashioned holiday celebration at Wilder Ranch State Park. Hands-on activities and presentations include candle and wreath making, cookie decorating, machine shop and blacksmith demonstrations. Come join us early in the morning (8:30am to 11am) to help set up crafts, food and/or booths. You can also choose to assist a docent with an activity during the festivalif you would like (11am to 3pm)! Finally, we are also in need of help cleaning up crafts and booths after the holiday festivities (3pm to 5pm)!
For more information and to sign up to volunteer contact: Jorge at
WATSONVILLE
Pajaro Valley Loaves and Fishes Meal Team Ongoing Every Mon – Fri Pajaro Valley Loaves and Fishes is grateful for all the volunteer help we received during the holidays. If you are interested in volunteering with PVLF during the holiday season, please contact before hand to talk to us about our opportunities and when we could best use your generous help!
To Volunteer: or 831-319-4571
Toys for Tots Nov. 11th to Dec. 21st
Make sure you make it onto Santa's "Nice" list this year! We need elves at the Watsonville North Pole!
Opening day is Nov 18th from 11am to 2pm and we need VolunteerElves who can help transport items, load trucks, or have an SUV to lend to the cause. Lots of physical work involved, but the rewards are tremendous! From Dec 4th - Dec 21st we need volunteers in the evenings to help with sorting and distributing gifts.
To Volunteer: Delilah Valadez,
View updated list of projects at: www.scvolunteercenter.org