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News and Events

Alicia Schoellhamer, Thora Bautz, Karen Delaney

More Than One Way to Leave a Legacy

By Karen Delaney, Executive Director, Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County Looking back over 44 years of service with the Volunteer Center has given me an interesting perspective on the legacy that each of us leaves in our community. The most common way to think ...
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Karen Delaney, Executive Director, smiles brightly while holding the heart of the Volunteer Center logo.

A Legacy of Leadership & Connection

Karen Delaney Announces Retirement After 40 Years of Community Impact For nearly sixty years, the Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County has been anchored by a simple, powerful truth: when neighbors help neighbors, everything changes for good. For forty of those years, we have had ...
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Upcoming Events

Volunteer Spotlight

volunteer karla mendoza

Karla Mendoza- UCSC Pre-Law Student and Volunteer Elf

mary ripma

Mary Ripma Weaves Education Into Everyday Life

Converstation Group Volunteer Diana Dean with staff member Gisela Soto at the Be the Difference Awards, 2025.

English Conversation Group Tutors

David and Jan Mintz have quietly dedicated thousands of hours to supporting neighbors facing homelessness—reminding us all how powerful it is to simply show up with care and consistency.

David & Jan Mintz: Turning Compassion into Action

superior foods

Superior Foods: Building a Culture of Giving and Connection

second harvest volunteers (Instagram Post (45))

Feeding Community, Building Connection at Second Harvest

nancie newby sccasf

Nancie Newby: Creating a Community of Compassion—One Animal at a Time

matt saltzman

Ready Steady – Driving Change in Santa Cruz County

Mike has been a volunteer with the Volunteer CenterHelping years.

Mike: Helping Hands Volunteer

Golden Hammer's

The Golden Hammer Crew: Building Dreams with Habitat for Humanity

Homeless Garden Project Volunteers

Volunteers Transform Lives at the Homeless Garden Project

This image captures a proud moment at a graduation ceremony. A woman in a black graduation gown and cap, adorned with a blue stole and a medal, is smiling at the camera, standing next to an older woman with short, white hair, who is wearing a blue shirt and a dark blue shawl. They are both smiling and appear to be in a joyous mood. The background is an indoor setting with other people who may be fellow graduates and guests, indicative of the celebratory event.

A Love of Learning Leads to Literacy and More