For nearly five decades, Community Bridges has been rooted in the generosity of our neighbors. Since 1977, our community has planted the seeds of care—and together, we’ve grown into a thriving tree that reaches across 10 programs and 21 sites, serving more than 20,000 children, families, and older adults every year in Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito counties.
This Giving Tuesday, we’re celebrating the power of those roots—and inviting you to help us keep growing by meeting our fundraising goal of $25,000!
Our work begins with the hands that nurture—with neighbors who choose compassion, generosity, and hope. Every gift of time, talent, or treasure helps cultivate the roots of connection that hold our community together through floods, fires, pandemics, and everyday struggles. These roots—nourished by the care of donors, volunteers, and partners—form the foundation of everything we do. Together, we’ve shown that when love and empathy take root, our entire community grows stronger, more resilient, and ready to weather any storm.
From those roots rises the trunk of Community Bridges, a steady, reliable agency that channels resources where they are needed most. From this trunk grow branches of service that turn community support into tangible impact:
When our tree blossoms, families find safe homes, children flourish in school, and seniors live with dignity. And like any thriving forest, we grow stronger through connection—with our partners, businesses, schools, and local governments—the birds and pollinators that help our work reach every corner of the community.
As we approach our 50th anniversary, your Giving Tuesday gift will help strengthen our roots, water new growth, and ensure that the next 50 years of compassion and care continue to thrive.
Join us in cultivating a stronger, more resilient Santa Cruz County—together.
Every strong community begins with family. From parents seeking stability to grandparents raising the next generation, our programs help families stay connected, supported, and resilient. Through food distribution, home-delivered meals, counseling, youth programs, crisis assistance, and benefits enrollment, we give families the tools to grow stronger together—branch by branch.
Since 1977, Community Bridges has nourished our region with care and compassion. Through 10 programs across 21 sites, we make sure every neighbor—children, parents, and older adults alike—has access to healthy food, reliable transportation, quality early education, and wellness services. From Lift Line rides and Elderday health care to WIC nutrition classes and early learning centers, we’re cultivating a community where everyone can thrive.
Our roots run deep, but the needs around us continue to grow. Rising costs, a fast-growing senior population, and limited affordable housing have made it harder for local families to meet basic needs. Yet Community Bridges stands strong—our network of programs works in harmony to catch anyone at risk of falling through the cracks. Because when one branch bends, the whole tree leans in to lift it back up
—Barack Obama
Every act of generosity is like water to our community tree—nourishing roots, strengthening stems, and helping hope bloom where it’s needed most.
When you give, you’re not just sustaining a single program—you’re enriching the entire ecosystem of care that allows our community to thrive. From food and transportation to childcare, counseling, and health coverage, your support helps every branch of Community Bridges reach farther and grow stronger.
This Giving Tuesday, we’ve set a goal to raise $25,000—enough to fully fund five areas of need that together form the canopy of support for our neighbors.
Each $5,000 level represents a vital investment in growth across our community, nurturing resilience from root to blossom. Together, these contributions will help more than 20,000 children, families, and older adults find nourishment, stability, and hope.
Here is what your contributions will support:
For many older adults, the knock on the door from a Meals on Wheels driver is more than a meal—it’s a lifeline. Rising food and fuel costs threaten our ability to keep up with growing demand, but your generosity ensures no senior is left behind. Last year, we delivered over 200,000 meals directly to homes across Santa Cruz County, along with wellness checks that provide comfort and connection.
• Your gift will fund 1,000 home-delivered meals, giving isolated seniors nourishment, safety, and the human connection they deserve.
When the USDA cuts back, families feel it first. The loss of federal food supplies has created serious gaps in protein availability—meat, poultry, and eggs that are essential for nutrition. Through our Family Resource Collective food distribution sites, we plan to step up to fill that gap, ensuring families have access to the healthy ingredients that sustain them.
• Your gift will help purchase essential protein, keeping balanced meals within reach for hundreds of families struggling with rising grocery costs.
With major changes coming to Medi-Cal in 2026, thousands of local residents could lose coverage unless they re-enroll or update their information. Our Health Care Heroes guide families through the complex health system—providing one-on-one help to complete renewals, avoid lapses, and access life-saving care.
• Your gift will fund trained enrollment navigators who help hundreds of vulnerable residents keep their Medi-Cal benefits and stay healthy through the coming transition.
Every child deserves a safe, nurturing environment to learn, grow, and thrive. Through our Early Education Division preschools, WIC nutrition program, and Family Resource Collective’s Childcare Safety Plans, Community Bridges provides families with the tools and support they need to protect their children’s health, stability, and future. From nutritious meals and early learning to emergency preparedness and family counseling, our programs work together to ensure children have the foundation they need to succeed—no matter their circumstances.
From the first morning pickup to the final ride home, our continuum of care for older adults begins with Lift Line and continues through Elderday Adult Day Health Care. Each morning, Lift Line drivers greet participants at their doors and safely transport them to Elderday, where they spend the day engaged in nursing care, therapy, social activities, and nutritious meals—all designed to promote health, independence, and joy. In the afternoon, Lift Line returns them home with the same compassion and respect that began their day. Together, these programs provide wraparound support that helps families balance work and caregiving responsibilities while keeping their loved ones connected to community.
When you give this Giving Tuesday, you’re helping the entire garden of our community thrive.
Your generosity waters the roots of compassion, helping families, children, and seniors grow in stability, health, and dignity.
Celebrating 50 Years of Support
Join us at Food From the Heart to honor this legacy and support the future of senior care.
Celebrating 50 Years of Support
Join us at Food From the Heart to honor this legacy and support the future of senior care.
Every Family Needs a Plan
Urge the Attorney General to adopt California’s Childcare Safety Plan.
