What We Do
A weekly grocery bag filled with fresh produce and healthy staples
Grey Bears distributes these Healthy Food Bags at various locations throughout Santa Cruz County, conveniently near your home or workplace, 48 weeks a year. Home deliveries are only available for seniors who are disabled and aged 50 or older.
Sustainability
Programs
Recycling
Every bottle, can, and newspaper counts. Grey Bears’ Recycling Center diverts millions of pounds from the landfill each year, turning waste into resources that sustain our programs and our planet.
Repair
Don’t toss it — fix it! Our Repair Café events empower the community to extend the life of beloved items, reduce waste, and learn valuable skills alongside talented volunteer fixers.
Compost
Transforming food scraps into nourishment for the earth. Our compost program closes the loop by reusing organic waste to create healthy soil — helping gardens and communities thrive while diverting food waste from the landfill.
Thrift Store
Shop with purpose. The Award- Winning Grey Bears Thrift Store offers gently used treasures at affordable prices, while supporting our mission to nourish seniors and protect the environment. Every purchase gives back.
Support Grey Bears
Your generosity fuels our mission. By donating, volunteering, or becoming a sponsor, you help deliver healthy food, build community, and promote sustainability for thousands of seniors. Join us in making a difference.
We did it!! Thank you for all your support, stay tuned for updates on our truck joining our fleet. 💛
Rally up your crew and come on down to Chanticleer to score the best deals in town!🎉Whether it be a bowl, bike, or beanie, Grey Bears has it all! ❤️
Each purchase you make directly supports our mission of feeding local seniors in our community. 🐻💗
TRUCK UPDATE: We’re over halfway there!🚚
Thanks to YOU, we’ve raised over $35,000 toward our new (to us) refrigerated truck, to our program helping us reduce food waste while feeding local seniors. We’ve come far, but still have a ways to go— please help keep Grey Bears on the road by using the link in our bio to donate!
YOU’RE INVITED!
Join us September 20th for the 52nd Annual Grey Bears Harvest Festival, held at our den at 2710 Chanticleer Ave.
Enjoy delicious food made with love by Grey Bears, live music featuring @triannaferuza and the Heavy Hitters, and, as always, LOTS of produce. Head to the link in our bio to learn more!
#nonprofit #thingstodo #santacruz #greybears #thrift #seniors #community
At Grey Bears, we believe that with sustainable solutions, our whole community wins:
✅ Our community partners win when they can safely donate fresh food instead of throwing it away.
✅ Seniors win when their plates and pantries are full of healthy, nutritious food.
✅ The planet wins when we keep good food out of landfills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Right now, our win-win-win system needs your help.
Our refrigerated truck is reaching the end of its life. Without it, we can’t pick up and deliver the fresh food that thousands of local seniors depend on every week.
We’re raising funds for a new refrigerated truck to keep the wheels—and our mission—rolling.
Donate today at greybears.org and help us keep the wins coming for seniors, our community, and the planet!
#santacruz #nonprofit #foodrecovery #greybears
Throw it away?! No way! 🛠️
Grey Bears Repair Cafe is in full swing! It’s another way we can encourage sustainability in our community while fostering community connections. Come bring your well-loved items by for our volunteer fixers to repair!
Grey Bears is thrilled to join the Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust’s Community Seafood Program, bringing sustainably-caught, nutrient-rich seafood to our food distribution and hot meals.
Together, we’re connecting local fishermen with local seniors, making access to quality proteins more equitable.
Learn more about how we’re nourishing Santa Cruz County at www.greybears.org!
#nonprofit #montereybay #santacruz #greybears #seniors #healthyfood
Due to the upcoming 4th of July holiday, we will not be delivering Healthy Food Bags on July 3rd and 4th. Please look forward to receiving your bags next week, on July 10th and 11th!
In addition, here’s the next set of events happening at Grey Bears in July, including our 2nd Saturday Sale on July 12, a Healthy Minds Workshop on July 15 where participants will learn how to use a free app that teaches simple, science-based practices for mental well-being, and the Repair Café on July 19.
Social Connection
Community is at the heart of healthy aging. Grey Bears creates spaces for seniors to connect, learn, and celebrate — from shared meals and educational workshops to vibrant volunteer opportunities. Everyone belongs here.