Santa Cruz volunteer organization facing budget shortfall

The Santa Cruz County Volunteer Center is facing budget challenges in part due to federal budget cuts. Still, with National Volunteer Week, the organization is counting on community support to keep its services running. 

“You feel good, you know, really and truly. It just makes me feel like I'm doing something in the Santa Cruz County.

Sue Benazo donates her time as a receptionist at the local volunteer center, an organization that, since 1967, has been connecting people to more than 300 local non-profit school and government services. Their offices are home to more than 20 programs, including Adopt a Family, Empowered Aging, and an English literacy program. 

“Each of those students is cared for and supported by an individual volunteer that helps them through their journey of learning English and improving their communication with their children's teachers, or for employment, or for their doctor visits.” Christina Thurston, director of volunteer engagement, mentions the program makes serious impacts for the community.  

Fueled by rising costs and several budget cuts, the organization is facing a close to 300 thousand dollar budget shortfall. “Even smaller budget, really it isn't just like oh we would serve half as many students, it's actually like maybe no students because the budget is for the rent, the computers, the classroom, those sorts of features that you can't cut in half,” Thurston says. 

Kareen Delany, Executive Director, says they are receiving donations of money and volunteer services to keep these programs going. “When we're talking about cuts in every sector of our lives, 10, 15, 20, 30% cuts are the numbers that are being batted around. What that means is if we want our community to stay whole, then all of us, the ones who are volunteering and the ones who aren't, it's a call to action.” She adds that the center has overcome several obstacles. She invites community members to find a way to continue providing service to the community by visiting scvolunteercenter.org/programs/volunteer/.