Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/813897
"W hat can I do?" Some- times we hear this in response to a daunting problem, like the num- ber of people in Santa Cruz County who can't always afford enough food for their families. But sometimes it means, How can I help? As in, "What can I do?" [e truth is, every- one has something to give. It takes money to fund the important work non-profits do, but we simply couldn't help the community the way we do—feed- ing 55,000 people in need every month— without the work of volunteers. Some people have special skills developed through their work and career. Some have hob- bies or interests they can apply to volunteer- ing. And some just have life experience and a willingness to help. Second Harvest and other non-profits need them all. Watsonville resident and mother of two Yvonne Perez decided she had a skill she could donate. She knew about Second Harvest, and knew people who needed a little extra food at some time in their lives. "When a family's income de- creases," say, due to temporary unemploy- ment, Perez remarked, "and the money on hand must be used to pay rent, and there's not enough leV for grocer- ies—they can count on the Food Bank." So Perez wanted to help the organization that helped the people she knows. And Perez knows flower arrang- ing. Before becoming a full-time mom, she created floral arrange- ments for an event management company. She offered those same skills to Second Har- vest, and soon her cre- ative centerpieces were decorating the rooms at Second Harvest's events, helping the group to connect with the community and raise funds for their work. "Sometimes it's not money," Perez said. "Sometimes it's contrib- uting with our talents or hobbies that makes the difference." Longtime Wat- sonville resident Ann Bornstein's skills are more technical. Before she retired 20 years ago, she worked as a computer modeler for Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. [eir mathematical operations were quite different from Second Harvest's work fighting hunger and malnutri- tion, but Bornstein knew she could help. "I know statistics. I know spreadsheets. And every organization needs to manage and crunch data," Bornstein said. "It feels good to put my skills to use helping a non-profit feed the community." Likewise, Santa Cruz Independent Database Developer Jerry Vilhauer enjoys donating his expertise to Second Harvest's mission. [ough he contracts to imple- ment a key database, he volunteers extra time to train staff to operate what he's built. "I've al- ways enjoyed working with the folks at Second Harvest. [ey are a fun bunch to be around and always show their appreciation." Vilhauer and Born- stein contribute techni- cal skills, but the needs of non-profits run the gamut. Second Harvest is fortunate to have top chefs cook dinner for our annual Chefs' Dinner fundraiser, skilled photographers help communicate our work, and volunteers with great interper- sonal skills educate the public and strike partnerships in the community. One of the Food Bank's biggest ongoing needs is people to sort the produce we receive from local farms and bag it at our opera- tions in Watsonville for the children, families, elderly, and others we help across Santa Cruz County. And that requires no spe- cial skills—just a kind heart. "People bring all sorts of interests and abilities to volunteer- ing," reflected Bly Mo- rales, Second Harvest's Volunteer Services Director, "but the most valuable asset of all is the desire to help." To find out how you can help Second Harvest Food Bank feed the com- munity, contact Bly at bly@ thefoodbank.org or (831) 722-7110 ext. 205. What's Your Skill? Everyone Has Something to Give Photo Credit: Chris Ryan, Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County Week Volunteer opportunities available for individuals, groups, schools, and company team building. Contact us: (831) 722-7110 x205 or www.thefoodbank.org/volunteer Thank you Second Harvest Volunteers for your passionate service to people in need in Santa Cruz County. You are making an impact in our community!