Volunteer

Make a Difference with Community Bridges

Volunteers are the heart of Community Bridges, helping us deliver vital services across Santa Cruz County. With 10 programs operating at 20 locations, there are countless ways to get involved from delivering meals to seniors, distributing food to families, or tutoring students in our after-school programs.

If you’re 18 or older, applying is easy:

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  • Mail or In-Person: Submit your application at 519 Main Street, Watsonville, CA 95076 (Open Monday-Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM).

Volunteers under 18 must submit their application in person. Download our online application by clicking on the links below:

How You Can Help

Meals on Wheels for Santa Cruz County

Make a meaningful impact by delivering meals and companionship to seniors in need. With 1,700 seniors relying on our services, your time helps foster independence, dignity, and community.

  • Deliver Meals: Provide essential nutrition and friendly visits to seniors across Santa Cruz County. Flexible routes fit your schedule.
  • Senior Dining Sites: Assist in the kitchen or serve meals at locations in Ben Lomond, Santa Cruz, or Watsonville.
  • Support Operations: Help with logistics at our headquarters to ensure efficient meal delivery to local seniors.

Elderday Adult Day Health Care

Empower local older adults: At Elderday, we provide exceptional day services for adults with complex medical conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, Parkinson’s, dementia, and more. But Elderday is about more than health care — it’s a place where connection and creativity thrive.

We’re seeking volunteers to share their talents:

  • Teach art, music, yoga, Zumba, and writing classes.
  • Support staff-led activities such as crafts, dancing, karaoke, or reading groups.
  • Lead beginner English classes.

Mountain Community Resources – Felton/San Lorenzo Valley

Distribute food to families: In partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank, we provide free supplemental groceries and promote nutritional awareness to support our community. Join us every Thursday from 10:30 to 11:30 AM to access fresh, healthy food and helpful resources for you and your family.

Nueva Vista Community Resources – Santa Cruz

Tutor low-income children: Join us at the Beach Flats Community Center in empowering local elementary and middle school students with homework assistance across all subjects. Our after-school program provides a supportive environment where students can thrive academically and build confidence.

La Manzana Community Resources – Watsonville/Pajaro

Mentoring at-risk youth: The Aztecas Youth Soccer Academy combines a competitive soccer program with academic support to empower at-risk youth in Watsonville and the Pajaro Valley. We actively seek volunteers year-round to provide tutoring and mentorship, helping participants succeed both on and off the field. Your involvement can make a meaningful difference in the lives of these young athletes as they strive for academic and personal growth.

Help feed local students: Each summer, we provide nutritious lunches to children in South Santa Cruz County through the USDA’s Summer Food Service Program. Our Summer Lunch initiative ensures that kids who might not have access to meals while school is out receive balanced and healthy food. Join us in supporting the health and well-being of local youth by volunteering to serve meals and make a positive impact this summer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Visit communitybridges.org/programs to explore each program’s mission, vision, values, and the communities we serve.

Our team works with vulnerable populations every day. Background checks help ensure the safety and well-being of our participants, reflecting Community Bridges’ commitment to trust, integrity, and our core values.

Wear professional, workplace-appropriate clothing. Avoid items that are political, offensive, or insensitive.

It depends on the role. Volunteers like drivers, musicians, or teachers may benefit from prior experience, while others will receive training directly from our staff.

For general inquiries, call us at 831-688-8840 or email recruitments@cbridges.org. For specific program questions, ask our front desk to connect you with the appropriate team member.

Volunteer Matching

💐 Take a sneak peek at what’s up for grabs at Food from the Heart, our live auction benefiting Meals on Wheels for Santa Cruz County ❤️ ... See MoreSee Less
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HAPPENING TOMORROW!Thank you to all the families who attended our last event — and if you missed it, we’d love to see you at this one!🌱 In honor of Positive Parenting Awareness Month, Community Bridges warmly invites families to join us for a FREE Positive Parenting Program & Resources Fair. This family-friendly event is a space to learn, connect, and grow together. Families can meet trusted local agencies, connect with Triple P Parent Educators, and learn about counseling and family support services available in our community.🎉 Enjoy an afternoon filled with fun activities, snacks, games, and prizes for the whole family — all in a welcoming and supportive environment.📍 La Manzana Community Resources📅 Saturday, January 31⏰ 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM🎈 Free and open to all families ... See MoreSee Less
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When a parent is detained, families don’t have time to wait.Rent is due. Kids need food. Stability is at risk.Puentes Para Familias turns community care into immediate action—providing up to $2,500 in emergency aid to families in Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito Counties facing sudden crisis due to immigration detention.This program launched with $10,000 in local seed funding, a response to fear felt right here in our region. That early support helped create a trusted, rapid-response fund so families don’t face crisis alone. With this seed funding and other small donations, six local families received immediate help. Those funds are now fully distributed, and additional support is urgently needed so families continue to have a trusted place to turn in moments of crisis.When you give: ✔️ 100% of your donation goes directly to families ✔️ Assistance is capped at $2,500 so support reaches more households ✔️ Aid is prioritized based on urgency and greatest needYour gift provides more than financial help—it delivers dignity, stability, and hope when families need it most.👉 Stand with families today: Give.CommunityBridges.org/Puentes ... See MoreSee Less
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Community Bridges is excited to welcome Erin Carlson-Jones, LCSW, as our new Clinical Director. With more than 20 years of experience in addiction treatment, mental health, crisis response, and community-based care, Erin will lead the growth and strengthening of behavioral health and counseling services through our Family Resource Collective (FRC).The FRC serves more than 10,000 children and families each year across Santa Cruz County, North Monterey County, and San Benito County. Under Erin’s leadership, we’re deepening our commitment to ensuring that cost, insurance status, language, or cultural background never prevent someone from receiving the mental health care they need.Her leadership arrives at a time when access to culturally responsive, trauma-informed care is more important than ever—and we’re grateful to have her guiding this work. To read more about Erin here: bit.ly/ECJ-MentalHealth👉 Learn more about FRC counseling services at communitybridges.org/frc#CommunityBridges #MentalHealthForAll #BehavioralHealth #FamilyResourceCollective #CompassionInAction ... See MoreSee Less
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50th Anniversary Meals on Wheels for Santa Cruz County - Community Bridges / Puentes de la Communidad logo

Celebrating 50 Years of Support

Join us at Food From the Heart to honor this legacy and support the future of senior care.

50th Anniversary Meals on Wheels for Santa Cruz County - Community Bridges / Puentes de la Communidad logo

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.

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giving tuesday

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Since 1977, your generosity has helped our community grow stronger.