Grey Bears is a non-profit that improves the health and well-being of seniors and the community through food and meal deliveries, volunteerism, resource conservation and recycling. They have staff that speak both English and Spanish 

They offer the following services and programs for seniors:

Healthy Food Program

Santa Cruz County senior residents that are 55 and older can sign up to receive a weekly grocery bag of fresh produce and healthy staples at a site near where they live. For those who are disabled and 50 and older can get  home deliveries of the Healthy Food program produce bags by volunteers. The annual cost is $30 for one year, $50 for two years, $70 for three years, and $250 for lifetime. Free service is available for those with financial hardship. Please contact Grey Bears directly to get more information about this. There is also a grocery store  that opens at 11am and lunch that is served at 11:30am every weekday Monday-Friday.

Recycling Centers

Grey Bears has three recycling centers in Santa Cruz County. Their recycling center accepts materials such as CRV plastic, glass and aluminum beverage containers. You can redeem your CRV containers for store or cash vouchers at the location in Ben Lomond.  You can also recycle your old electronics like computers, cell phones, TVs/monitors, amplifiers,  Styrofoam (rigid PS #6) and much more at their Chanticleer location.

Chanticleer Recycling Center

22710 Chanticleer Avenue, Santa Cruz CA 95065

Hours: Monday -Sunday 7:30am-3:30pm.

Buena Vista Recycling Center

1231 Buena Vista Drive Watsonville CA 95076 – Main Landfill Phone: 831-454-5153

Hours: Mon-Sat, 7:30am-3:30pm and Wednesdays 7:30 – 2:30pm

Ben Lomond Recycling Center

9835 Newell Creek Rd, Ben Lomond CA 95005
Hours: Mon-Sat, 7:30am-3:30pm and Wednesdays 7:30am-2:30pm 

CRV Redemption Hours: Mon-Sat, 10am-3pm 

Classes and Events

Grey Bears offers classes for seniors such as Spanish, chair yoga, one on one tech help and more. They  also host events throughout the year. Please visit their website to view the class schedule and events schedule.

Thrift Store 

The Thrift Store and Boutique offers a treasure trove to discover, including clothing, accessories and fabrics, furniture, home goods, jewelry, art, plants and garden gifts, books and media, appliances such as microwaves, full size and compact refrigerators, microwaves, vacuums, sewing machines, hardware and tools, medical equipment and supplies, games, puzzles, sporting goods, bikes, exercise equipment and more. There is also a Computer Electronic Store and Bookshop.