The Vista Center's most popular service is its low-vision clinic. An optometrist specializing in low vision care takes appointments with Santa Cruz County residents. In addition, the center helps with counseling and education for those who are visually impaired. A local woman works with the center to teach Braille. The center helps with mobility and independent living skills. In addition, a small store on-site offers a variety of necessities for those with limited vision. The store sells talking watches, oversize timers, large print address books and calendars, magnifying glasses and sunglasses that fit over prescription glasses.
The central office of Kidpower Teenpower Fullpower is located in Santa Cruz. The office is charged with building curriculum, training faculty and providing support to various other locations. There are workshops at various locations in California including Castro Valley, Granada Hills, Palo Alto, San Francisco, Santa Rosa and San Diego. The classes are for everyone — from children to adults.
The office for Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks is nestled between several of the original Mission Santa Cruz buildings built by the Spanish missionaries in the late 1800s. The historic mission is part of one of Santa Cruz County's state parks.
The group is driven by the mission of "promoting appreciation and stewardship of natural and cultural heritage" in Santa Cruz County. It primarily works to fund educational and interpretive programs at the county's parks.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars is a membership-based fraternal organization for combat veterans. A full bar is open evenings to members. Wednesday night features Thai dinners and dart games. A hall for up to 200 people can be rented out to the public. An outdoor patio, featuring a barbecue area, is a short walk to a newly installed horseshoe pit.
Seymour Center at Long Marine Lab is a working marine laboratory featuring tours with exhibit halls, an aquarium, touch tanks, an overlook, gift shop, and views of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The center hosts the world's largest whale skeleton, full-size elephant seal sculptures and more.
Santa Cruz Bingo operates every Saturday, offering players 14 games as well as snacks, refreshments and coffee. Games have a maximum of 100 players. A variety of game packages are available and start at 25 cents for pull tabs and $1 for early-bird and flash games. Santa Cruz Bingo is based out of the New Life Community Services building and proceeds benefit the organization which provides support services including a family shelter and drug and alcohol rehabilitation.
Meals on Wheels, located in Live Oak, serves the elderly residents of the area through a partnership with the Live Oak Senior Center, conveniently located next door on the same property. Meals are served weekdays at 4pm inside.
The Santa Cruz-based Resource Center for Nonviolence is a peace and social justice organization that promotes the principles of nonviolent social change. Established in 1976, the center provides educational programs in the history, theory, methodology, and nonviolence practice as a force for personal and social change.
In a professional, confidential and welcoming environment, Stratton Counseling Services provides mental health services for individuals, couples and families. The non-profit agency provides counseling for anger, addiction, trauma, substance abuse and other issues.
Coryell Autism Center is a non-profit organization providing educational services to individuals with autism and multiple and moderate-severe intellectual disabilities ranging in ages from 14 to 22. The campus features an herb garden, recreational room, cafe, work rooms and special project areas.
Native Animal Rescue is a nonprofit organization in Santa Cruz that takes in injured or orphaned animals. The critters — squirrels, opossums, sea birds, skunks, raccoons and the occasional fox — are rehabilitated and readied for entry back into the wild. If someone finds a hurt or abandoned animal, they can call Native Animal Rescue and find out what to do immediately and how to transport the animal to the facility where staff will provide round-the-clock care.
Youth Services in Santa Cruz provides counseling and support services to children, adolescents, young adults and families. Services include drug and alcohol abuse programs, prevention and counseling for homeless, immigrant, homeless and LGBT teens as well as those with problems with the law.
The Familia Center, founded in 1983 as a low-cost clinic accessible to the Beach Flats neighborhood, has grown to become a one-stop Latino-based resource center in Santa Cruz. The center provides a host of resources to the Spanish speaking community, offering everything from homework clubs for students in 5th through 10th grades to helping low-income families begin the process of applying for food stamps. In addition, the Familia Center works closely with other community organizations to help people with a variety of issues, including employment, housing, immigration and domestic violence.
The Boys & Girls Club of Santa Cruz offers a safe place for youth ages 6 to 18. Whether through after-school care or summer camp activities, The Boys & Girls Club offers both education and entertainment for local youth. The club offers weekly swimming and music lessons. In addition, the center holds regular teen nights and family nights.
People Power is a nonprofit organization focused on "sensible transportation for Santa Cruz County," according to its website. People Power urges people to try nonmotorized transportation, including bicycles, tricycle, skateboards and walking. The group wants to see less dependence on automobiles and oil and more use of human-powered transportation.
The Trichotillomania Learning Center, or TLC, is a nonprofit organization that provides support services for adults and children suffering from trichotillomania (hair-pulling), skin-picking and other related disorders. TLC was established in 1991 and works with clients, their friends and family members as well as mental health professionals regarding these disorders.
TLC offers many services, including a database of local treatment providers, a professional training institute, support groups, recovery communities, a research alert system for clients and public awareness and education. Call to learn more about this organization.
Raha Kudo Design for Dying Project is an extension of Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana, an organization started by Valerie Corral in 1993. The nonprofit organization works primarily with WAMM members who are terminally ill.
"They design their desires and their approach to their own death," says Corral, describing the business's mission for its clients.
Raha Kudo trains family members and friends to be caregivers in the late stages of their love ones' lives. According to Corral, about a third of the group's clients are HIV/AIDS patients and about two-thirds are cancer patients.
At the beginning of 2010, Veterans Services relocated from its former location downtown in the historic Veterans Hall to the Emeline Avenue complex. Veterans services brings a mobile medical unit to the parking lot every Wednesday. In addition, a van makes trips regularly from Santa Cruz and Scotts Valley to the Palo Alto Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
Veterans must call ahead to make an appointment to speak with a Veterans Services employee. The mobile medical unit takes walk-ins.
CALPIRG (California Public Interest Research Group) is an organization of primarily volunteers that fights for the rights and protection of all Californians. The downtown office shares a building with the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History. CALPIRG workers can frequently be found in the courtyard training new volunteers. The organization works on legal and political issues involving food safety, health care and prescription drugs,budget reform and transportation.