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Santa Cruz County Community Service & Support Articles



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Supervisors Approve Ordinance to Support Immigrants

The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors Tuesday passed a resolution stating the county’s supportive stance on its immigrant residents and reaffirming it as a “sanctuary county.”

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Two Nonprofits Keep Local Cyclists Rolling Along

Nothing really compares to a bike ride along the Santa Cruz coast, wind in your hair, breathing the sea mist, free from the jammed highway with its air and noise pollution. Locals and visitors alike can agree on at least …

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Newly Elected District 5 Supervisor Martinez Steps Down as CEO of Encompass

With the recent election results now clear, the Encompass Community Services Board of Trustees has announced that its CEO, Monica Martinez, will be transitioning from her role at Encompass as she steps into her new position as Santa Cruz County …

Image caption: Founded as a business organization in 1915, the Kiwanis Club now serves millions of children worldwide.
Doing Good: Kiwanis International

Founded as a business organization in 1915, the Kiwanis Club now serves millions of children worldwide.

KSQD logo LOCAL NEWS
Giving Locally: Nonprofits Shine a Light

Santa Cruz Gives is the brainchild of Jeanne Howard former publisher of Good Times weekly. It's a local crowdfunding site where people can support many local good deeds and projects in one spot. Guests are Karen Delaney and Leslie Lee …

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Founder of Mountain Community Resources Dies at 87

The San Lorenzo Valley and the broader Santa Cruz County community are mourning the loss of Mary Hammer, a beloved founder and lifelong advocate for the region. Hammer died Nov. 6 after a brief illness, leaving behind a profound legacy …

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Rockin’ Holiday Party Benefits San Lorenzo Valley Families

Sharon Allen will play an annual benefit show at Joe’s Bar in Boulder Creek on Dec. 14. (Sheila Lee Prader)
Sharon Allen & The Dusty Blues – Joe’s Bar Annual Christmas Party

The Pajaronian logo LOCAL NEWS
Core Funding Process Leaves Nonprofits Perplexed, Officials Frustrated

The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday cast a split vote to allocate $3.79 million in Collective of Results and Evidence-based (CORE) funds to 28 nonprofits after a contentious discussion that prompted many to question the transparency of …

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You Can Help

Local nonprofits work incredibly hard to improve the quality of life in Santa Cruz County, from cleaning our beaches and monitoring our drinking water quality to mentoring our children and providing informative local news. Now it’s our turn: Visit SantaCruzGives.org …

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Child Care, Meals on Wheels Could Be Reduced With Local Funding Changes

Santa Cruz County supervisors on Nov. 19 are expected to consider money for nonprofit groups. (Marcello Hutchinson-Trujillo — Santa Cruz Local file)
SANTA CRUZ >> Some nonprofit programs that have long relied on grants from the county and the city …

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Second Harvest Kicks Off Annual Food Drive

A cadre of nonprofit leaders and county officials gathered at Cabrillo College Thursday to kick off Second Harvest Food Bank’s (SHFB) annual Food and Fund Drive, when that organization takes in the lion’s share of its donation for the year …

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After Trump Win, Santa Cruz County Leaders Affirm Support for Immigrants

Several Santa Cruz County leaders, including Santa Cruz County Superintendent of Schools Faris Sabbah, reaffirmed their support for immigrants Thursday in the wake of Donald Trump’s presidential election. (Jesse Kathan — Santa Cruz Local)
SANTA CRUZ >> Dozens of elected …

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Preschool Program Expands at Highlands Park Center in Ben Lomond

Community Bridges recently announced that Highlands Park Center in Ben Lomond, one of six sites in its Early Education Division (EED), has expanded its California State Preschool Program (CSPP) to offer free or low-cost early care and education services for …

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Music at Skypark Finishes Strong, Funds Schools

The Kiwanis Club of Scotts Valley has announced that it raised about $20,000 in net proceeds in 2024 from the Music at Skypark concert series, which concluded Sept. 29.

Image caption: Sign for  Baliuag Lodge No. 301 - Soroptimist International (Pan-Philippine Highway, San Rafael, Bulacan)
Doing Good: Soroptimist International

Making a better world for women and preparing women to make a better world.

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Community Bridges Secures $3M Grant to Revamp Childcare Outdoor Spaces

Community Bridges has been awarded $3 million from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s (Cal Fire) Urban and Community Forestry Grants program, enabling the transformation of its Early Education Division childcare outdoor spaces into vibrant, nature-based learning sites …

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Local DIY Label Shallow Dive Releases Benefit Compilation

“I can personally say it’s really difficult to convince people to listen to marginalized music,” Rip Florence says before taking a sip of water. “But there is an opportunity in Santa Cruz for people to embrace more idiosyncratic and niche …

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Rescuers Seek Donations for Wild Horse Rehab

A severely underweight horse (Serif), a wild alpine weanling (Jamaal) and an abused mustang (Willow) have been taken into the care of Canham Farm Horse Rescue, a nonprofit horse rescue and rehabilitation center in Scotts Valley that is asking for …

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Volunteers Spruce Up Fairgrounds Park

A large group of volunteers showed up to the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds on Aug. 9 to help bring the Paddy Smith Park back to life.

Featured

Stand Down events provide veterans with valuable resources including housing assistance, medical care, and a solid community of support.
Veterans in Need ‘Stand Down’
At hundreds of Stand Down events throughout California, veterans agencies and organizations come together to deliver life’s necessities.
Celebrating Veterans Every Day
These organizations are dedicated to serving the needs of those who served America.
There are more than 300 community service districts in California.
Community Services Districts, Explained
Areas that the county overlooks can form their own local governments.
Kerry Wood, CEO of the Sacramento Region Community Foundation, says the organization researches areas of need to help donors direct their contributions.
What Is a Community Foundation?
By channeling funds to a number of nonprofits working on various issues in a given region, community foundations help solve big problems throughout California.
Working together with many volunteers, this crew feeds 65,000 people in Santa Cruz County every month.
California’s Oldest Food Bank Pays It Forward
California’s first food bank has helped residents of Santa Cruz County for more than 50 years.