Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1464839
Greybears...continued from page 1 publishing in Long Island, NY, got married and even- tually moved to Capitola where her husband was living. "We raised three children including twins, instilling these same val- ues of service and giving back." Helping to prepare deli- cious, healthy food is how Vinita has been giving back for 10 years in the Grey Bears Kitchen and for 21 years at St. Joseph's Church in Capitola. She also helps prepare meals for hundreds of appre- ciative attendees at Grey Bears events, including the annual Harvest Festi- val and Holiday Dinner. After her mother was tragically killed in a car accident in 2017 in India, Vinita channeled her grief into even more service and outreach. "Volunteer- ing is like good medicine for your soul and helps me carry out mum's legacy." Grey Bears offers more than 20 fun ways to vol- unteer – from prepping, assembling and deliver- ing bags of groceries to seniors, cooking meals and sorting fresh produce, to testing electronics, refurbishing computers, shelving books in the bookstore, running a thrift store register and helping in the office. A whop- ping 650 volunteers, the majority of whom are age 55+, donated 62,000 hours of service last year to keep Grey Bears on track. "Volunteering is good for us," says Grey Bears Volunteer Coordinator, Rosie Otero-Foraker. "Volunteers are active, meet new friends and socialize, enjoy a sense of accomplishment and feel healthier. We even have two volunteers who met here, fell in love and were married in 2020. They still volunteer every week." As the long journey out of COVID inches forward, Grey Bears Thrift Store is receiving lots of dona- tions, including clothing, home goods, furniture, computers, audio-video and electronics, medical supplies, hardware, sport- ing and exercise equip- ment, bikes and much more. Thrift Store volunteer, DJ Correos, says she loves sorting and merchandising items in housewares and interacting with custom- ers. "People who come to Grey Bears are super friendly and grateful. It makes it so much fun to be here." Thrift Store Manager, Veronica Jimenez, ob- serves, "The generosity of individuals and businesses is amazing. We try to accept everything because we're so grateful to our donors. We offer many items at 50% off daily, and shoppers can fill a bag of clothes on Tuesday, Thurs- day and Saturday, and a bag of books every day for just $10." The Healthy Food pro- gram continues to deliver bags of fresh produce, groceries and meals to 4,500 seniors, families and farmworkers. More seniors are also filling a bag of groceries each weekday at 11am and enjoying a gour- met lunch at 11:30. "Thank goodness for our volunteers drivers," says Office Manager, Sharon Gross. "There are now 116 weekly delivery routes, and drivers get to know everyone on their routes. It really helps to connect folks." Over five decades of service Grey Bears food and meal deliveries, thrift store, resource recovery and recycling programs, events, classes, senior support groups, and Repair Cafés (next one is June 4) make our community stronger, healthier and more sustainable. And at the heart of it all are volunteers. Second acts in life can be even more rewarding and unique opportunities to reinvent ourselves. Grey Bears has always believed the future should be some- thing to look forward to, at every age. To donate, volunteer or sign up for the Grey Bears Healthy Food program visit https://greybears.org/, or call 831-479-1055. Provided photo Provided photo HEALTHY FOOD FOR SENIORS • RECYCLING CENTERS • THRIFT STORE • BOOKS ELECTRONICS • ZOOM CLASSES • REPAIR CAFÉS • VOLUNTEER • DONATE 2710 Chanticleer Ave, Santa Cruz 95065 /// (831)479-1055 /// greybears.org +Recycling Centers ★ Delivered 2.5 million pounds of healthy food to 5,000 seniors ★ Served 36,000 meals ★ Repurposed 1,500 tons of clothing,household and electronics in our thrift store ★ Diverted 8,000 tons of materials at our 3 recycling centers and created 20 tons of compost from food scraps ★ Paid $305,608 in CRV redemption to SLV/County residents ★ Engaged hundreds of seniors in classes, activities and events • 2710 Chanticleer Ave, Santa Cruz Open Every Day, 7:30-3:30. Free Drop-off of e-waste, appliances, metal, styrofoam (EPS#6) & more. • Ben Lomond Transfer: CRV hours: Mon-Sat, 10am-3pm • Buena Vista Landfill: Open Mon-Sat, 7:30-3:30 Thank you to 635 amazing volunteers who donated 66,703 hours of service! Shop our Thrift Store: Open every day 9am-3:30pm Last year with your help we: Best THRIFT STORE Best ANTIQUE STORE Best HERO COMPANY RUNNER-UP 2022 READER'S CHOICE AWARD WINNER: Joy is in the Journey