VALLEY CHRISTMAS PROJECT

 A Mission of Love and Giving Since 1982

2007

26th Annual Valley Christmas Project Report

Our 26th Annual Holiday project touched the lives of 10,077 people countywide.  This grassroots project mission starts with serving all in need in the San Lorenzo Valley and Scotts Valley areas, and then missions out with donations received from out of area, to 37 agencies providing direct aid to lonely nursing home residents, incarcerated youth, low income families, mentally ill and county homeless.  VCUM is “Truly a Mission of Love”, not a church or religious organization, but community volunteers helping neighbors in need.

Your generous contributions provided holiday meals, food, food certificates and brightly wrapped new gifts in answer to 642 Santa letters from SLC & SV children. Our Senior project boxes were distributed to 372 Seniors.

$278,685.00 was raised in cash donations and item donations at $275, 781 were received.  Total receipts and gifts value was $555,266.  Our Administrative total cost was 5.57%.  Dedicated volunteers devoted 4106 hours and 5905 students participated in the Canned Food Drives in SLV & SV and collected 47,768 lbs. of food.  Vine Hill Elementary School won the “Grand Can Award”.  SLV High ran a close second.  Children baked 326 dozen cookies, decorated boxes, made cards, and ran food drives.  Area businesses, post offices, fire departments and police departments distributed Santa Letters, which resulted in bringing in 1302 gifts valued at $52,080.00.  Barrels collected 20,275 lbs. of food valued at $30,412.50.

Business’s service clubs, churches and schools held 28 Holiday events.

Our first Annual Holiday Gala Event and Angel Awards Dinner, a real team effort by VCUM board and staff was held at Scopazzi’s raising $15,414.00. 

Thank you letters continue to pour in from grateful recipients.  One quotes “The gifts were so appreciated, but most of all, you gave us back the true meaning of the Christmas Spirit, knowing that there are still caring loving people in this world.”

The Holiday Project is our biggest fundraiser of the year.  Funds raised are also used to operate our direct aid programs for those in need throughout the winter months.  Remembering  “Hunger doesn’t take a Holiday.”  Our 99% volunteer staff operates our programs 6 days a week year round.

Love, Annette Marcum, Executive Director
Linda Lovelace, Operations Director

We mission out to other agencies county wide only when possible.