Your donation today will help us deliver 2.5 million pounds of healthy food and serve 50,000 hot meals to thousands of Santa Cruz County seniors this year.
Grey Bears is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, FEIN#: 94-2298681, and has received a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator.
Mail a check or donate in person
Donations are also always appreciated in person at our main Chanticleer office, Monday – Friday, 8am – 3:30pm, or by calling 831-479-1055 ext. 0.
Grey Bears
2710 Chanticleer Ave
Santa Cruz CA 95065
Food donations & gleaning
Calling all neighbors! The Grey Bears Glean Team will happily pick produce or fruit from your farm, garden or orchard. We also gratefully accept donations of your garden produce and non-perishable food items at our Chanticleer Avenue warehouse. Contact Danielle to learn more, danielle@greybears.org, 831-479-1055 ext. 227.
Are you a food producer or farm? Grey Bears will gladly accept donations of excess foods and crops. For convenience, Grey Bears accepts both donation drop offs to its Chanticleer Facility (2710 Chanticleer Ave.) Monday thru Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 2 p.m., and is willing to pick up from local vendors and food generators with their fleet of refrigerated and non-refrigerated vehicles. For more information, contact Danielle Wong, Healthy Food Program Director at danielle@greybears.org, or call 831-479-1055.
Estate and tangible donations
Donations of tangible items clothing, furniture, housewares, books, electronics, medical supplies, hardware, tools and more are accepted everyday, Mon-Sun, 7:30am-2pm. Donations of recycling materials (beverage containers, metal and more) plus computers, electronics, TVs, audio-video gear, etc. working or not are accepted every day from 7:30am-3:30pm at our Chanticleer recycling center. Receipts provided for tax deduction purposes. Email Matthew Lyles for more information or call 831-479-1055, ext 235.
Donate your vehicle
Help Grey Bears continue to drive change in Santa Cruz County. We gratefully accept your donated car, RV, trailer, 5th Wheel, motorcycle, bike, electric scooter, boat and vehicles. Please contact Matthew Lyles, 831-479-1055 ext 235, recycle@greybears.org.
Sponsor our Annual Event Dinners
Looking for a way to support seniors in our community? Becoming a Grey Bears sponsor is great opportunity for individuals and businesses alike to directly support our nourishing our community. Join us for our hallmark events that provide seniors and community members a healthy meal, entertainment and abundant social connection. Contact Kayla Traber for more information regarding sponsorship packages and corporate engagement packages, 831-479-1055 ext 226, kayla@greybears.org.
Other giving options
We accept planned giving, corporate matching gifts, honorary and memorial gifts, stocks, endowment gifts, corporate sponsorship, challenge gifts and grants. Qualified Charitable Distributions are a great way to support Grey Bears. Click here for information and language to add Grey Bears to your will or trust.
If you are over 70.5 years old or turning 72 years old this year you are required to take a minimum distribution from your IRA, a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) will allow you to avoid paying income tax on the distribution and donating if to Grey Bears.
- A QCD is a direct transfer of funds from an Individual Retirement Account to a qualified charity.
- Amounts distributed as a QCD can be counted towards satisfying your required minimum distribution (RMD) for the year up to a maximum of $100,000.
- The account types eligible for QCDs are Traditional IRA’s , Inherited IRA’s, SEP IRA’s (inactive plans only), Simple IRA’s (inactive plans only). Email Kayla for more information or call 831-479-1055 ext 226.
Give time
Click here to find out the many ways you can make a difference by volunteering at Grey Bears, email volunteer@greybears.org for more info or call 831-479-1055 ext. 258.
Give services and equipment
Grey Bears accepts gifts of services (professional services, plumbing, electrical, carpentry, etc.), equipment, electronic and print media, land, homes and other assets. Please contact Kayla at 831-479-1055 ext. 226, kayla@greybears.org.