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.