Another Great Year at the Human Race

On Wednesday evening with a crowd of over 100, the Volunteer Center celebrated the completion of another successful year at the Human Race. It was with great pride we handed out over 220,000 dollars in checks to community programs. Thank-you to our sponsors, participants, and team leaders for your dedication to our community. Check out the video for highlights from this year's race and we will see you next year!

BE THE DIFFERENCE Tip of the Week- It Only Takes a Cup of Coffee

Being a recent migrant from the Pacific Northwest, I am a latte lover. In the depths of a Washington winter under skies of perpetual dusk, nothing could really sway a day better than a well-made cup of coffee. My $4.00 cup is indeed an indulgence, and lately, as many of us find ourselves doing, I refrain from taking too many indulgences. But….. I am still willing to partake in this small one.

I share this because I recently tossed out the question to our online communities, “What do you believe it takes to make a difference?”. Answers ranged from lending a hand, to helping your neighbor, to picking up trash, or taking a simple moment to care. What it seemed to boil down to for many people is…. it only takes a cup of coffee.

It is the small things we do that can have a big impact, particularly if each of us is willing to do just a little. We can’t all devote our lives away in service to our community but we can give a latte’s worth of our time or finances each week.

If I were to contribute one latte worth of my finances a week for one year that’s about a $200 contribution, a substantial amount that most any non-profit would love to consistently receive from individual donors. A latte worth of my time might look like lending 4 hours a month. There are myriad ways I can contribute to making a difference in four short hours each month.

2 Latte Ways to Give in May

Make a $25 Pledge to the Human Race Walkathon and Fun Run on May 9th. With over 130 participating non-profits, schools, and churches there is no other community event that touches so many lives. If you choose to additionally participate on the day of then you’ve struck a home run on the latte giving concept. Little output ….large impact. Learn more at www.humanracesc.org

Do You Live in Live Oak or Soquel? Give 4 hours of your time. Your neighbors need you. The Redevelopment Agency of Santa Cruz County (RDA) is preparing to develop a Five Year Plan for Live Oak and Soquel and will host several workshops to get public input about how to best meet the needs of the community. Give a few hours of your time to visit your neighbors and inform them about these important workshops happening in May and June. Click Here to Learn More.

What Makes a Difference?

Coming soon to a blog near you ....The Be the Difference TIP of the Week. But first we want to hear from you. What do you believe makes a difference in a community? Send us a comment, share your wisdom. I know there are some wild and wonderful ideas out there!