The soup and pizza gave me the calories to sustain the day. Thanks for your altruism and good…read morefaith

The most amazing, caring, lovely, cheerful, warming (I could go on but I'll save you the reading…read moretime) people in the world! All the people here are volunteers, minus Richard who is the head of this and comes in every single work day. I'm a volunteer here as well, although I don't come regularly. What we do is prepare food - daily soup, salad, dessert, drink(s) - for the homeless of Santa Cruz. All the food is donated from restaurants/organizations such as Starbucks, Costco and many other places. We cook from 8:30 am to 11 am and serve food from 12 pm to 1 pm. Anyone is allowed to come eat! But you probably shouldn't come if you can purchase groceries and food on your own... :) Anyone can volunteer at any time. It's loads of fun and really makes you feel like you're a part of something bigger than just yourself (as cheesy as that sounds). Everyone there is so friendly! They are an religious organization, but no one there is pushing any teachings on you. We do say a prayer before serving food though. Great organization! Come by :) we are near downtown off River Street!

Wandered past this fabulous little shop last Friday (Good Friday) which was a day off so we enjoyed…read moreit in Capitola. We almost missed this as it's TINY but has such a wonderful array of items for sale. We bought some soap made at the Gardens - the lavender smells divine! Also bought some other items made at the gardens; they have t-shirts, bath & body items, artisan crafts, beeswax candles, food items and so much more. They support a job training program for the unhoused to provide training and employment coaching. Such a worthwhile cause and special store - we will be back! (It's next to the Ice Cream shop / across from Mr Toots Coffee)

This nonprofit has been instrumental in saving key properties in Monterey County. They are a…read moretreasure and I am grateful Big Sur Land Tryst exists. You can make reservations to hike their lands.

Greatest new place to give your time and share your spare time to a very worthy cause and make new…read morelike minded friends.

muchas gracias hacen muy buen trabajo buena ayuda especielmente para las personas mayores de edadread more

(I volunteered/Interned at Friends Outside over my 4 years at UC Santa Cruz and worked for them as…read morea Jail Librarian) Friends Outside is a National Non-Profit org. (in Santa Cruz, housed under the Volunteer Centers of SC County.) whose mission is to provide assistance to those incarcerated in local jails: "Our goal is to help lessen the trauma of incarceration for inmates & their families, to provide information that can lead to positive changes, & to assist ex-offenders with their re-entry into the community." http://www.friendsoutside.org/ Santa Clara: http://www.friendsoutsideinscc.org/ POST-RELEASE: If someone you know has been incarcerated or is on probartion/parole, contact FO! They are HELPFUL with: ~ Property retrieval & storage - Liaison between attorneys, family & other agencies - Confidential visits with a knowledgeable & supportive volunteer - Information about community services & drug/alcohol programs - Helping with emergencies caused by incarceration - Bring in resources such as dictionaries, reading glasses, bus passes, & writing tablets - Help with limited legal & financial situations - Begin planning post-release resources & referrals through the Aftercare process Everything from short & long-term case management which includes access to clothing & food vouchers, obtaining/applying for SSI & DMV I.D., housing applications & rent assistance, medical benfits & General governmental assitance, contacting your Parole/prob. agents & or family members, & registering to vote. We also visit prisoners ON THE INSIDE. After release from jail or prison, a client can meet with an Aftercare case manager for a one-stop resource & referral. Case managers offer support and advocate for clients, help facilitate post-release plans and provide applicable services. We make every effort to provide the information needed in the first few days of release. Friends Outside is unable to offer financial assistance; however, we may be able to connect clients to the appropriate agencies and churches. You may leave a message for a specific volunteer at 831 425-3434 or call for an appointment at 831 427-5078. We can help in the following areas: - Basic hygiene products and reading glasses - Information on food resources, voicemail, community programs, mental health and health-related services, education, counseling and shelters - Clothing vouchers / clothes - Bus passes (limited rides to court or appointments related to probation compliance) as well as maps and bus schedules - Assistance complying with probation to prevent unnecessary incarceration (WRAP) - Court accompaniment - Information on local and statewide legal and criminal justice agencies - Informal assistance with a job search - Free copies of the Friends Outside Resource Guide (which I created!) - Outreach and educational presentations about our services as appropriate Over the course of my time working for them as a case manager and jail librarian, I was able to access those incarcerated in Blaine Street Jail (minimum security for Women), the Main SC County Jail (Men and Women's Medium Security), "The Farm" and The Rountree Men's Facilities in Watsonville (Medium Men's jails). The experience was eye-opening, and got me into the work I am doing now as a Case Manager for Centerforce, San Rafael. I still work with Friends Outside, who contracts out of the Visitor's Center at San Quentin State Prison. We provide books, dictionaries (Spanish-English), and reading glasses to the jails through donation drives that we hold annually. Children's Events: Kids' Days! We love these days- so fun to volunteer and be a part of a positive event INSIDE the jail with families and children- Fun activities, crafts, and treats for children visiting their incarcerated parents during holidays (X-mas, Halloween, V-Day). Fliers announcing these events are posted at the Farm and at Blaine Street a few weeks ahead, so prisoners can inform their families on visiting day about the event (during the winter holiday season, we work with Toys for Tots gathering gifts for children with an incarcerated parent.) Please DONATE! As a typical struggling non-profit, they need all the support they can get to continue doing amazing, hard, and incredibly important work in the community!!! FOR NOW, NOT FOREVER I woke up today in a cold cement cell, No one to hold me so I hold myself. As I lie there, all alone in my bed, I am numb to my surroundings, I am lost in my head. I dream, I think, I fantasize, I try not to hear my heart's little cries. There in my mind, I learn to sever, myself from reality, for now, not forever. -Incarcerated client Santa Cruz location, Contact: Heidi Canales/Talia Stoessel at 831-427-5078. ~ scFriendsOutside@hotmail.com ~ fovolunteer@gmail.com Friends Outside in Santa Clara County: 551 Stockton Avenue San Jose, CA 95126 Phone: (408) 295-6033 , Fax: (408) 295-2907

I interned at Friends Outside in 2004/2005 as a jail visitor. It was an amazing experience that I…read morewill never forget. FO is a great resource for people who are incarcerated and their families. This is one of those rare nonprofits that makes their money go a really long way by using it for the clients rather than paying a bunch of administrators. Even though I am a poor graduate student I make it a point to donate every year (even if it's only a little bit), and I would encourage you all to do the same!

Here's an idea .... come to Santa Cruz to serve rather than be served!…read more This mission has been feeding (both spiritually and physically) the homeless population since the mid 70's. Every Friday and Saturday night between 40-150 folks come for a reprieve of the streets for a warm plate of food, a large helping of the holy spirit, and a side dish of fellowship. Countless local ministries join in serving and preparing the meals, in addition to helping many of those who serve at the mission daily. You will meet some amazing people there on full-time staff who understand how to serve up plenty of compassion with their Christianity, Stop on by for an evening service on Friday or Saturday nights and check it out. Talk with Pastors Ben or Mike to determine if you can help in any manner. I guarantee you will not leave the same.

I have a special place in my heart for Elm Street Mission. About 15 years ago before the internet…read moregot huge and plentiful with resources, before Craigslist became more than just a SF Bay Area thing and at a time when young homeless kids really did not have too many places to go where they were out of place or ran the risk of being reported to Juvenile agencies and sent back to abusive parents or thrown back into abusive foster home situations, the Elm Street Mission provided a place where us kids could always find something to eat and even opened up their doors during rainy seasons for a place to crash. They didn't have much and they didn't ask for much in return except to maybe attend a church service every so often. It's a small church with a small recreation room and pantry. But what they offered was solace and sanctuary for the homeless youngsters of all ages to go when they needed help the most, and at most times 7 days a week anytime of the day, unlike the Soup Kitchen and the HRC which were open at select times and in a location that was often difficult to get to. The mission, being sandwiched in between a great record store off the main drag and Pergatory (Cafe pergolessi) is situated directly in the middle of where the kids hang out and panhandle all day and in a part of the city where they can be easily supervised. I don't think many of us youngsters knew that, as I am sure we all thought it was just a great place to hang out and spange to fund our survival needs. The Mission never judged any of us, when many places closed their doors because they assumed all the homeless were drug dealers or prostitutes and they never judged even the youngest homeless kids (middle school age) or treated them like they had to be parented. See, many of these homeless minors, came from horrible home circumstances, from all over the country, who came to Santa Cruz because the word on the street said SC was a safe haven and a tourist trap (to offer spanging opportunities). And many of the minors who were street side all day long couldn't make out to better circumstances without great hardship, so most got together and made their own family and found their own "homes". And when all their spots they'd normally go to closed doors on them, burnt to the ground, became too unsafe to go to or too exposed to the element or turned into communes for older homeless who made life harder for them, the Mission was always there to help when they could. I owe a great deal of gratitude to the Mission, and anyone who has time to volunteer and help, Santa Cruz needs the assistance as the city grows and attracts more tourists, more and more homeless will need help in town.

We love The Circle! The classes for kids are so fun. The classes and groups for parents are so…read morehelpful. The staff is literally the best. I found a village at the circle that I am forever grateful for.

Allison (mother of two littles there) teaches a toddlers class and a moms class called Bump, Baby,…read moreand Beyond Monday evenings. She subs the yoga right after and makes Mondays at The Circle so amazing for families in the area. Or anywhere if they want to travel to Seacliff for the classes (they should- totally worth it and open to non-members).

Second Harvest of Santa Cruz County is providing exceptional support to our county neighbors,…read moreparticularly given these challenging times with increased funding shortfalls. The organization has a deep passion for helping the community, and we are lucky to have these committed professionals to help coordinate relief efforts for the food insecure.

In these times of dwindling resources, Second Harvest is providing food to those who need it. It…read moreis this type of actual service that can make the difference in someone's life.