Get Involved this Holiday Season

To: UCSC Students

From: Dean of Students on behalf of the Student Volunteer Center

The Student Volunteer Center (SVC), located in Hahn Student Services, is offering two awesome programs this holiday season where you can help local families in need!

First, our Giving Tree program works with the Mary, Jesus and Joseph Home, Family Student Housing, and the Walnut Avenue Women's Center, to provide holiday gifts to children in the Santa Cruz area who are a part of these residential communities. “Giving Trees” are located both on and off campus containing ornaments with a child's name and his/her wish list. Generous participants pick the desired ornament(s), purchase the items, and bring them back to SVC so the gifts can then be wrapped and delivered. Want to get involved? Email SVC at volunteer@ucsc.edu with a request for an ornament OR drop into the office (Hahn Student Services #245) to pick one out! More information can be acquired upon email!

The second opportunity is our Meal Plan and Flexi Dollar Drive.  Do you have a 5/7 day meal plan, 55 block or are you a Slug Club Card holder? If so, you can donate to the Second Harvest Food Bank, which works to feed the homeless in Santa Cruz County, by donating at the front of the line at any dining hall OR online at volunteer.ucsc.edu.  Cash and canned food donations are also gladly accepted! Remember, holidays last the season, hunger lasts yearlong.

-You can donate up to $25 in flexis in $5 increments and up to 10 meals!

-1 meal donated provides 10 meals to those in need, and every dollar given feeds a family of 4!

On My Block, an organization dedicated to helping students find and keep affordable housing, is also supporting the Second Harvest Food Bank. If you sign up at onmyblock.com before November 27th, On My Block will donate one Thanksgiving meal to someone in need at the Second Harvest Food Bank.

Both events are running now till December 5th, so get involved and help out those in need! If you would like more information, please email the student volunteer center. There are plenty of opportunities to get involved, so get started now.