VALLEY CHURCHES UNITED MISSIONS
MISSION AND BRIEF HISTORY
Valley Churches United Mission is a coalition of church and community volunteers working together to perform humanitarian acts by providing immediate direct aid to the San Lorenzo Valley and Scotts Valley residents in their time of need.
A BRIEF HISTORY
1982 The storms which caused mud slides and floods resulting in loss of lives and severe property damage inspired this grassroots group to organize at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Ben Lomond under the direction of Annette Marcum to aid disaster victims.
1985 Valley Churches United was formed by bringing together representatives of area churches and the community to form a distribution site in our area for USDA food, a food pantry, and social services.
1987 VCUM applied for and received a grant of $5,000 from Hands Across America – the original Valley Resource Center and permanent Food Pantry was established by Valley Churches United.
1988 Based on residents increased needs Valley Churches United Missions voted to form a separate non-profit corporation to concentrate on expanding social services to area residents, with a paid director and staff. In October of 1988 the Valley Resource Center received its non-profit status.
1989 The October 17th Loma Prieta Earthquake created devastating property loss. Valley Churches United responded to the needs by opening a Disaster Center that channeled over a half million donated dollars in items and cash to assist 3042 disaster victims. Annette Marcum was the recipient for VCUM of the National FEMA Award for Disaster Response.
1990 VCUM was forced to relocate due to the rebuilding of Ben Lomond Market. The assistance of our County Supervisor, a one time grant from United Way, Santa Cruz Greater Community Foundation and the generosity of our community made the move possible. This move separated the quarters of VCUM from VRC. Similar names, as well as a common location created confusion as to organizational responsibilities.
1996 VCUM purchased, refurbished and moved to its permanent location in down town Ben Lomond. The Mission was dedicated on Sunday, October 27th. Fulfilling a mission of service to assist the less fortunate in times of crisis VCUM remains the only non-profit organization in Santa Cruz County operating on a budget of a half million dollars a year totally staffed by volunteers and with no government funding.
1998 was a year of losses and challenges for our Mission. Beginning with the fierce El Nino storms that pounded our valleys during January through February creating many disaster victims. Our own facility included. Our storage area flooded and caused losses of over $60,000 in inventory of food supplies collected during the Holiday food drives.
In October we lost Father Terry Somerville, our Board Chair and Ministers contact to cancer. During the storms he was out in the rain filling sand bags and helping with the clean up after the flood.
The Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce honored Annette Marcum as the Scotts Valley Woman of the Year and KSBW TV for presented her with the Jefferson Award for volunteer service.
In our 25 years of operation, we have raised and distributed $12,064,409.36 in cash and items to low income families and disaster victims in direct aid for food, shelter, medical and disaster relief to San Lorenzo and Scotts Valley residents in their time of need.
VCUM's programs include emergency food distribution, direct aid assistance for crisis rent, utility and medical, educational supplies, disaster relief, Holiday projects, Easter, Thanksgiving and the Valley Christmas Project, USDA food and Grey Bears distributions and VCUM supplements. |
