St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church preschool children, dressed in their Halloween costumes launch the 33rd Annual Thanksgiving and Christmas project school canned food drive. The preschool has done this since 1985.
The idea is, instead of receiving a treat as children look at Halloween, they instead will each bring a food item. A good way to teach children by giving they help others. These children ages range from 2 to 4 years.
Valley Churches United is collecting food and cash to provide Holiday meals to more than 1600 households in the San Lorenzo Valley and Scotts Valley areas. Area schools, churches, businesses and community folks are helping by taking a grocery bag from their local stores and churches and collecting food to return to VCUM for distribution. Flyers indicate what kinds of food should go in the bag.
Through your generous giving you have shared the true spirit of Christmas with your less fortunate neighbors: seniors, shut-ins, low income families, disadvantaged children, disabled, homeless, and care facility residents in North Santa Cruz County. The Valley Christmas Project is successful because it is an effort that involves the whole community, young and old, and is staffed by volunteers.
Your cash donations are used to purchase food, gifts, and help fund the food pantry’s programs. Canned goods donated through area schools are a large part of the Christmas dinner ingredients as well as stocking the Food Pantry during the winter months. Information on adopting a senior or family is provided on the following page.
In the San Lorenzo Valley donations can be dropped off at the VCUM Holiday Boutique, 9400 Highway 9, Ben Lomond from 10 am to 5 pm weekdays and 11 am to 4 pm on weekends. After hours at Ben Lomond Gas Station on Highway 9 from 7 am to 7 pm.
In Scotts Valley the Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce located at 360 Kings Village Rd. will accept items weekdays from 10:30 am to 3 pm. Donations can be sent to VCUM at PO Box 367, Ben Lomond, CA 95005 or check our website at vcum.org or Facebook for online donations.
Decorated cookie bags, senior boxes and cards are due back NO LATER THAN November 29 and Cookies due Dec. 1. Make a needy child happy by taking a stocking from your local post office, bank, or business. Buy a gift, returning it NO LATER THAN Wednesday, December 10.
Other Ways to help: Volunteer • Bake Cookies • Decorate Senior Boxes • Make Christmas Cards
Our Holiday phone number is: 336-8258 x222 and people who live in San Lorenzo Valley or Scotts Valley who require assistance can call VCUM at 336-8258 x221.
Community Outreach Since 1982