Santa Cruz Stake - Monthly Newsletter
Welcome to the December edition of our monthly stake newsletter. We had a wonderful Christmas Concert last night and hope you are all enjoying this beautiful season as we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Please enjoy this message from our Stake Leadership, a list of upcoming events, and a community spotlight of Second Harvest Foodbank. Please email santacruz.churchofjesuschrist@gmail.com to add an announcement or newsworthy items to these updates.
A Message from our Stake Leadership
Dear Stake Family,
We hope you enjoyed and benefited from the last month that was filled with many opportunities to serve, to be taught and to feel the spirit.
One of the amazing opportunities last month was the Stake Temple Day where many of you were able to serve your ancestors, find peace in the House of the Lord and fellowship with members of the Stake.
The very next week we had the blessing of Stake Conference, and we had the amazing experience of having two visiting General Authorities. As we apply what was taught and testified in the sessions of Stake Conference, we and our families will be blessed. One of the key messages we heard in Stake Conference that was taught to us by both Elder Brown and Elder Homer is the importance and safety that comes from being lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ. In the Leadership Session, we were invited to consider how we can improve our ministry efforts to help those we serve to become lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ. We also heard President Hackwell teach us about the blessings that come into our life by sustaining and following the teachings and example of the Prophet. As our Prophet teaches us revealed truths, there is safety in following those teachings. Throughout the conference we heard all the speakers testify of Jesus Christ and that he is our Savior and will never abandon us. We were all blessed by attending Stake Conference and we will continue to be blessed by acting on the teachings and promptings we received during this conference.
We are now entering what many of us feel is the most special time of the year, the Christmas season. This is such a special time of year where we celebrate the birth and life of our Savior and each of you are hopefully going to be able to spend some extra special time with friends and family. It is a time of year that as we focus on our Savior and especially as we apply his teachings in our lives, they will help us be a little more kind and patient with those we interact with. We love the words of Alma when he described disciples of Jesus Christ as “having their hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another”. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we all treated others in a way that showed that our hearts were knit together in unity and we had love one towards another, not only at this Christmas time but year-round.
This Christmas season, let us all keep in our minds and our hearts that the gift of God’s Only Begotten Son is why we celebrate this time of year. Christmas means lasting hope and peace made possible through the Savior’s Atonement and Resurrection which he did because of his love for each of us individually. Christmas means everlasting life and eternal reunions made possible through making and keeping sacred ordinances performed in his holy Temples.
We pray that you feel peace and joy this Christmas season as you strive to be like our Savior and as you work daily to be a lifelong disciple of Jesus Christ.
With Love,
President Hackwell
President McNeil
President Barton
Stake Events & Announcements
Here are the key events coming up in our stake and community over the next month:
Santa Cruz Salvation Army Angel Tree Sorting, Tuesday 12/16, 1-5pm: Assist in sorting toys for the beloved Angel Tree program at the Santa Cruz Salvation Army facility.
Watsvonville Salvation Army Food Box Assembly, Tuesday 12/16 at 9am: Assist in assembling food boxes.
Watsonville Salvation Army Distribution Day, Friday 12/19, 8:30am-7pm: Volunteers will help parents “shop” for gifts and hand out food boxes. Contact Stake RS President Rosa Meyer (831-594-9063) to let her know if you are available to serve.
Ward & Branch Christmas Programs, Sunday 12/21: All wards and branches in our stake will be hosting their Christmas programs this next Sunday–this is a wonderful opportunity to invite friends, family, and neighbors to celebrate this special holiday.
Second Harvest - Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities: We are featuring the Second Harvest Food Bank organization this month and you can find a wealth of volunteer opportunities through the hyperlink provided.
Multi Stake Youth Dance/New Year’s dance, 12/31 in Fremont: All youth and their friends are invited to join us for this special celebration as we head into the new year.
Community Spotlight: Second Harvest
Nourishing Hearts and Homes in Santa Cruz County since 1972
Since 1972, Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County has stood as a beacon of hope for individuals and families facing hunger throughout our community. What began as a humble effort to distribute surplus food from a hospital parking lot has grown into a powerful force for nourishment, dignity, and compassion — serving more than 70,000 local neighbors every month.
Second Harvest holds a special place in California’s history — it was the first food bank in the state and is the second oldest in the entire nation. Over the past five decades, this nonprofit has evolved in response to the evolving needs of Santa Cruz and San Benito counties:
1972: First food distributions were held from the old Santa Cruz County Hospital parking lot.
1978–1986: The organization moved to a Watsonville packing shed and then into its first dedicated facility.
1997–2001: Programs like Food for Children and comprehensive hunger studies helped shape future services.
2011: Expansion doubled the size of the warehouse facility, tripled cooler space for fresh produce, and modernized food handling.
2020–2021: As COVID-19 and local disasters like the CZU fires struck, Second Harvest rapidly expanded its services — distributing 65% more food than before the pandemic, and earning community recognition as a local hero.
Today, Second Harvest sources and distributes over 10 million pounds of food annually, partnering with local farms, grocery stores, manufacturers, and individuals. Half of the food the organization provides is fresh produce — a key part of its mission to promote healthy eating for all.
An Example of Second Harvest's Impact
Behind the numbers are real people whose lives have been touched by Second Harvest’s work. Consider Silvana, a 75-year-old resident of Aptos who has been receiving food through weekly distributions for nearly a decade. What stands out most in her story isn’t just the nourishment she receives, but how she shares it: Silvana often brings food home not only for herself, but for neighbors who are elderly or unable to access food easily. “It’s rewarding to see people become happy when I bring them food,” she says — a testament to how caring for one another strengthens our whole community.
Sharing the food aligns perfectly with the distribution’s goal, says Dan Moher, who serves as pantry co-director with Miguel Aznar and Lois Smith. “When you come here, we want you to take enough to fill your pantry and more for a neighbor or friend, mostly we want you to feel valued and respected,” says Moher. He estimates the distribution helps feed 500-600 people weekly.
Second Harvest Volunteers & Recipients
“Working with Second Harvest is like magic,” says Aznar. “They are focused and eager to get us the food we need. Every Thursday morning one of their big trucks rolls up. The always-friendly driver rolls huge pallets of produce, canned food, dry goods, and even eggs and frozen foods right next to our 14 tables.”
Learn more about Second Harvest's impact through this article.
How to Support Second Harvest
There are two primary ways to support this wonderful organization–you can volunteer or donate:
Volunteer Opportunities
Saturday Food Sorts: Help sort and pack food at the Watsonville warehouse during weekly shifts. These opportunities are perfect for individuals, families, or groups, and volunteers aged 13+ are welcome (with parental permission for minors).
Group Volunteering: Churches, youth groups, and community teams can register to volunteer together by contacting the Volunteer Program Manager.
Special Events: Second Harvest often hosts seasonal drives and fundraisers such as holiday campaigns, which provide both volunteer and advocacy opportunities.
Donate Food or Funds
Generous community donations keep food moving to those who need it most. You can:
Donate nonperishable food items at the warehouse (items like canned meat, peanut butter, cereal, rice, and pasta are especially needed).
Make a financial contribution, which is incredibly effective: every $1 donated provides three nutritious meals due to Second Harvest’s strategic buying power and partnerships.
Participate in seasonal giving campaigns, such as the Holiday Food & Fund Drive, where 100% of gifts go directly to food provision.
Thank you for your shining examples of love, faith, and service. We wish you all a Merry Christmas and hope you have a wonderful holiday season with your loved ones.
Santa Cruz Stake Communications
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