Acts Of Kindness

In the autumn season, we actively encourage individuals, families, small groups, and friends to partake in community service projects.

Our primary goal is to positively impact our neighbors and the broader community by embodying the love of Christ through acts of service. As part of this initiative, we challenge small groups, families, or friend groups to conceive and execute a service project by the middle of November. The most meaningful impact often arises when individuals or groups reach out to those they know personally, such as neighbors, co-workers, or schools attended by their children.

Projects can range from yard clean-ups for widows, repairing or painting a neighbor's home, contributing to a shelter or community building, landscaping at a child's school, volunteering at a food bank, creating cookies and encouragement cards for public servants, to cooking meals for elderly groups. The opportunities for service are boundless, emphasizing the enduring effects of such community engagement.

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For those of you who do not have a group to work with or your group needs a project, you can sign up for one of the service projects listed below.  If you have questions, email robin@tlc.org.

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Past Projects

These are the projects we did in 2025.  2026 projects will be updated in August or early September.  Stay tuned!

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OCTOBER 25TH AND NOVEMBER 1ST- Siena House Fence

Help build a new fence on the property of Siena House in Santa Cruz and if we have the money, paint the kitchen cabinets and replace all the hardware.  We will demolish the old fence on Oct. 25th and build the new one on Nov. 1st.  If anyone has a trailer we can use to haul the old stuff away, please let Robin know at robin@tlc.org.  We are accepting monetary donations towards the material needed.  Please contact Robin Spurlock at robin@tlc.org if you would like to donate towards the project.  Learn more about Siena House at sienahouse.org.  Sign up here to be a part of the team‍

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OCTOBER 18, 2025 - Projects On This Day

STUFF THE TRUCK - Clean out your closets and raise money to help our food pantry!  October 18th ONLY!     WE NEED LOTS OF VOLUNTEERS TO HELP THE DAY OF!!! Help monitor the donations on one of three shifts: 9-11 AM, 11 AM-1 PM, or 1-3 PM.  Sign up here.  Our goal is to fill 5 trucks full of acceptable donations!  You can drop off your acceptable donations on Saturday, October 18th between 9 AM to 3 PM. NO EARLY DROP OFFS ALLOWED.  We have no place to store donations.  The trucks will be parked in the main parking lot.  Follow the directions of the staff. PLEASE, only drop off what is accepted (see list below).  If possible, pack things in boxes, bags or containers.  Jr. High Group will be hosting a BAKE SALE at this event to raise money for the pantry as well.  Come and support them by buying a treat or two!  For more information, contact Laurie Schlaepfer at  lauriesch@me.com

Assemble Gift Bags for Valencia Elementary School Staff - family friendly - FULL!!!  We can't take any more volunteers.  Sorry.  Encourage and support the entire staff by giving them a gift bag full of goodies.  If you want to donate gift cards for the bags, see list and instructions below. We will assemble the bags at TLC in Monschke Hall 7103 and 7104 at 9:30 AM.  Sign up here.  Questions:  Contact Robin Spurlock at robin@tlc.org

Project Pajamas - Family Friendly  Help sort, bag and deliver NEW pajamas to kids in transitional housing situations (foster care, homeless, etc.) or who are dealing with cancer (Jacob's Heart).  We need NEW pajamas for boys and girls, infants through 18 years old can be donated in the barrels in the lobby before October 18th.  Questions:  contact Robin Spurlock at robin@tlc.org  We will meet in the sanctuary lobby at 9 AM.  Bring a box of ziplock gallon sized bags and a black sharpie.  Sign up here.

Assemble Hygiene Bags for the Unhoused - family friendly - Encourage those who are unhoused with a bag full of personal hygiene products, snacks and new socks.  If you want to donate items, see list and instructions below. We will meet in Monschke Hall 7103 and 7104 at 10:30 AM. Sign up here.  Questions:  Contact Robin Spurlock at robin@tlc.org

Hyde Elementary School Special Ed Classroom Needs - A specialized classroom for students with autism, ranging from Pre-K through first grade is in need of some classroom supplies.  Creating a safe, engaging, and nurturing environment for children with autism requires specialized resources—such as sensory tools, art supplies, educational games, books, and basic classroom materials.  A donation of supplies would go directly toward enriching the students’ learning experiences and helping the staff provide the supportive environment they deserve.  Here is the link to Amazon Wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2LNYA96H9R92R?ref

Donations can be dropped off at the church office for Robin Spurlock or sent directly to the school by Oct. 16th.  Address to mail directly is: A.Hyde Elementary School, “KB CLASSROOM”, 125 Alta Vista Ave. Watsonville, 95076

WINTER COAT DRIVE FOR The UNHOUSED - from September 15 to October 19th - We are collecting NEW and CLEAN GENTLY USED winter coats for men and women.  Place your donations in the barrels provided in the church lobby between now and Sunday, October 19th.  If you have any questions, contact robin@tlc.org

Homeless Garden Project - Fall Sustain Supper October 18th - A farm-to-table fundraising event that directly supports our trainees and programs at the Homeless Garden Project property near Natural Bridges.  Volunteers are needed to help with set up, parking and greeting, food prep, serving, and clean up.  You an sign up for different shifts between 10:30 AM to 8 PM.  If you want to volunteer, click here for more information.

DONATIONS
If you would like to donate items that we are collecting for any of these projects, here are the instructions as to what we need, where to drop them off and when to drop them off by the designated date.

NEW PAJAMAS - For Project Pajamas!
Infant to size 18 for boys and girls. NEW ONLY! We often need more for older elementary, jr. high and high school age.
Donations can be placed in the marked barrels in the church lobby until Thursday, October 16, 2025.  

ITEMS FOR THE UNHOUSED - for bags to hand out year-round.  We are collecting new socks - men's and women's adult size, crew or knee high. Also NEW travel size shampoo, conditioner, lotion, body wash, soap bars, hand sanitizer, Kleenix, deodorant, and lip balm.  Donations can be placed in the marked barrels in the church lobby until Thursday, October 16, 2025. Any questions contact robin@tlc.org

GIFT CARDS for Valencia Elementary School Gift Bags.  We are collecting $10 Coffee gift cards (Loft, Starbucks, Peets, etc.)  We are collecting $15 Eatery gift cards (Erik's Deli, Taquerias, Togo's, The Farm, Chilpotle, etc.)  We are collecting $25 Amazon gift cards. ALL cards can be dropped off to Robin in the church office BEFORE Thursday, Oct. 16th.  Or if you are helping assemble the bags and want to bring gift cards that day, please let Robin know ahead of time which and how many cards you are donating.  

October 20 - November 9, 2025 - SECOND HARVEST FOOD DRIVE

Drop off canned, boxed and bagged dry goods in the bins provided in the lobby.  Give monetarily - mark your donation online or on check memo FOOD DRIVE.

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