VALLEY CHRISTMAS PROJECT

 A Mission of Love and Giving Since 1982

2008

27th Annual Valley Christmas Project Report

Our 27th Annual Holiday project touched the lives of 5,210 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 38 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 673 Santa letters from SLC & SV children. Our Senior project boxes were distributed to 369 Seniors.

$338,495.00 was contributed in cash donations, $284,015 in item donations contributed.  Total receipts were $622,510.  Our Administrative total cost was 4.6%.  Dedicated volunteers devoted 6290 hours and 5728 students participated in the Food Drives for a total of 37,560 lbs. "Grand Can Award" for SV Schools is Vine Hill Elementary School. The winner in SLV is SLV High School. Youth groups baked cookies, decorated boxes and cookie bags and made cards. The Stocking Project, 1054 Santa wishes were answered valued at $42,160.00. Business Food Drives collected 15,118 lbs. valued at $22,677.50.

Business's SLV and SV Chamber of Commerce, churches, schools, service clubs and youth clubs held 38 community fundraising events raising $87,462.00.

We thank all of you in this time of economic crisis for being a part of this caring project.

Recipient thank you letters continue to pour in. One quoted "You have renewed our Faith in our fellow man. My heart has been opened to see the true meaning of Christmas. Our valley children are so blessed and lucky and grateful for this project."

Remembering  “Hunger doesn’t take a Holiday.”  We operate our direct aid programs year round with our 99% volunteer staff.

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

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