This Giving Tuesday, Community Bridges is throwing it back to the unforgettable era of the 2000s! We’re embracing the vibe of velour tracksuits, crop tops, and wide-leg jeans—because who doesn’t miss the days when flip phones ruled, TRL was must-watch TV, and MySpace was the place to be?

Join us as we Catch the Giving Wave and make a lasting impact right here in Santa Cruz County and North Monterey County! At Community Bridges, we operate 10 essential programs across 21 sites, serving 22,000 neighbors every year. Each of our programs fills critical gaps in the social safety net, helping our community grow stronger, healthier, and more connected.

But just like those perfect 2000s playlists, we can’t make it happen alone. Your support keeps the heart of our mission alive. Together, we can create a future where everyone—children, families, and older adults—has access to the services and support they need to thrive.

As we tap into this blast from the past for Giving Tuesday, we invite you to help us build a more resilient, compassionate, and equitable community. Every gift, no matter the size, fuels our work to strengthen families, nourish our neighbors, and meet growing needs.

Let’s bring back the best of the 2000s and make a difference today—because giving never goes out of style!

Support your Community today!

Other Ways To Give

STRENGTHENING FAMILIES

We’re all about keeping families tight—just like your MySpace top 8! Whether it’s parents, kids, or grandparents, our programs help families stay strong and supported. From food distribution, home-delivered meals, and mental health counseling to youth tutoring, crisis assistance, and benefits enrollment, we’ve got the resources to meet each family’s unique needs—kind of like choosing just the right AIM screen name.

NOURISHING COMMUNITY

Since 1977, we’ve been serving up nourishment that hits like the perfect after-school snack. Through our 10 programs, we make sure everyone—parents, kids, seniors, and neighbors—has access to healthy food, support, and services. Whether it’s transportation, early education, adult day care, or classes on breastfeeding and nutrition, our mission is to keep the community fed and thriving, just like a playlist packed with bangers.

MEETING LOCAL NEEDS

The challenges today are bigger than Y2K ever was—and without additional funding, families are feeling the pinch. Santa Cruz County’s senior population is growing faster than anywhere else in California, and inflation has pushed up the cost of essentials like groceries, gas, and care. But we’re here, holding it down with 10 programs working together to catch anyone at risk of falling through the cracks.

“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”

—Barack Obama

OUR GOALS

Nostalgia-Packed Giving with Impact

This Giving Tuesday, it’s time to dig out those iPod classics, slip into Ugg boots or Converse sneakers, and reminisce about when friendship bracelets were sacred, and Razor scooters were the fastest way to get around. We’re taking that feel-good energy and putting it to work for a great cause.

While the 2000s brought us T9 texting, MySpace top 8 drama, and Endless Scrolling 1.0 (aka Neopets and Xanga), today’s challenges are much more serious. That’s why we need your help.

Each milestone we unlock together provides resources that create a vibrant and caring community on the road to our goal of $25,000. Let’s create change that’s as unforgettable as AOL dial-up tones, Nokia ringtones, and Shrek’s theme song.

Here is what your contributions will support:

$5,000 | Family Food Distribution: “Fill the Bag” Initiative

Let’s keep food on the table for families facing skyrocketing grocery costs—up 25% since the pandemic began! At our Family Resource Collective sites in Santa Cruz and Felton, we’ve distributed over 90,000 bags of groceries to children, families, and seniors. With one in four of your neighbors now skipping meals or sacrificing essentials like rent and childcare, this service is more critical than ever.

Your gift could fund a month’s worth of groceries for 200 families, helping them avoid hard choices between food and necessities.

$10,000 | Healthy Meals for Seniors: “Meal Delivery Heroes”

Help us fuel Meals on Wheels for Santa Cruz County to serve older adults, people with disabilities, and their caregivers through nutritious meals and wellness checks. This program delivered 155,702 meals to homes and 23,042 meals at dining sites in the last year. Rising costs are squeezing our budget, but your gift will ensure seniors stay fed and connected.

Your gift will fund 1,000 meals, keeping vulnerable seniors nourished and supported through the holiday season.

$15,000 | Afterschool Youth Activities: “Camp Like It’s 2006”

Whether it’s our Summer Fun camp, tutoring programs, or summer lunch distribution, we make sure kids have safe, enriching activities when school’s out. Last year, we provided 2,365 hours of youth programming and distributed 10,000 meals to kids in Watsonville and Pajaro. With increased demand, your support is essential to continue these services.

A gift will fund more hours of care, meals, and activities to ensure kids thrive beyond the classroom.

$20,000 | Early Education Enrichment: “Unlock Future Potential”

Childcare costs in Santa Cruz County are among the highest in the state—$20,093 annually for infants and $13,525 for preschoolers. At Community Bridges, our six preschools provide nurturing, free childcare for children ages 24 months to 5 years, giving low- and middle-income families critical support.

A gift will help us invest in culturally relevant, play-based learning tools, ensuring that each child can grow and learn in a way that meets their unique needs.

$25,000 | Adult Day Health Care Enrichment: “Care with Compassion”

For families caring for loved ones with complex medical conditions, Elderday Adult Day Health Care offers a safe, enriching environment while they work. With nursing home costs averaging $8,669 per month for semi-private rooms, Elderday fills a crucial gap with fun activities like music, dance, Tai Chi, trivia, Bingo, Lotería, and art.