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.
Join Pacific Voices and the talented singers of Kirby School Choirs for a unique and moving choral concert celebrating the enduring wisdom that flows between generations. 💛
Thank you, Pacific Voices and the Kirby School Choir! We are so grateful for this incredible intergenerational concert benefiting Grey Bears. We’re honored to be supported by such talented performers. 🐻
Click the link in our bio to purchase your ticket today!
Staff Spotlight! 🐻🥕
Congratulations to Danielle on officially graduating from the LEAD Institute!
We appreciate her kindness, leadership, and the thoughtful way she engages with both our volunteers and recipients. We are so proud of you and grateful to have you as part of the Grey Bears team!💛
Thank you, Star One Credit Union! 💛
We are so grateful for your support!
At Grey Bears, we believe in waste not, want not. ♻️
We know the power of sustainability comes from giving items a second life and rescuing food that would otherwise end up in the landfill. That’s why we were so grateful when Bent Dime Winery offered to team up with us to give new life to the lemons and oranges they use to produce limoncello and orangecello. 💛
Thank you Bent Dime Winery!🐻🥕
We are so happy to announce that Grey Bears has been recognized as one of the Top 3 Thrift Stores in Santa Cruz, based on Google Reviews alone! 🎉
Thank you to the greater Santa Cruz community for donating your pre-loved items and giving them new homes and thank you to our thrift store staff and volunteers who keep our thrift stores in tip top shape for our community to enjoy. 💛🐻🥕
We are so grateful for our partnership with Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust this past year as a new member of its Community Seafood Program. 🐟🐻
This collaboration has brought 1,000 lbs of sustainably caught, high-quality seafood and hot meal offerings to support Grey Bears’ food distributions, bringing new, fresh and local food options to the tables of Santa Cruz County seniors. 💛
Volunteer Spotlight! 🐻🥕
Volunteers are the backbone of our organization, and today we are thrilled to recognize Donna, a longtime Grey Bears volunteer. 💛
Donna pioneered our online bookstore, and we are incredibly grateful for her years of generous dedication.
Thank you, Donna!🍎
New Class Alert! ‼️
We are excited to introduce a brand-new meditation class at Grey Bears! A heartfelt thank you to Marsha for generously donating her time and expertise. 💛
Come get your Zen on in the New Year, starting January 20th in the Grey Bears Boardroom!🧘♀️
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.