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Pastor Jack Baloyi playing with kids at the orphan day care center.

About Santa Cruz Cares

Santa Cruz Cares was born when 30 members of Twin Lakes Church went to Africa the summer of 2004 to witness the work being done by AFnet, Inc. All of us came back changed people. 

We watched as young girls wearing only rags were picked up at street corners by big rig truck drivers, girls earning money for their family – illustrating to us why the road we were driving on was called the Highway of Death as the spread of AIDS has followed the major trucking routes through this part of southern Africa.

Each orphan center serves 75-100 children. They are given meals before and after school. They are provided with the funds for school tuition, uniforms, and school books and supplies as needed; and assisted with the legal issues surrounding birth certificates, immunizations, gov’t requirements, etc.

We visited the children and adults living and dying with AIDS. We brought them food, clothing, toys and hugs. Throughout the area we saw orphans taking care of each other. It was unbelievable to see how strong and brave these children were. In a world that seems to be against them, they somehow find the joy and hope to carry on. Our hope in Africa is that children will no longer die of hunger and disease.  

We visited an orphan center and were so impressed with the work that was being done there that we came back dedicated to raise the funds to build more!

These AIDS orphans spend their day at an orphan day care center. They enjoyed having North American visitors come and spend some time with them in the play-yard.
While this all began with a trip by Twin Lakes Church, Santa Cruz Cares team has expanded to include many others as they caught our vision! We are all ordinary middle class people who feel deeply committed to playing whatever small part we can to educate our neighbors in the tragedy that is occurring in Africa and to provide financial support to organizations that will help communities educate children and bring up leaders from within.

Santa Cruz Cares is completely run by volunteers. We started with a budget of zero- nothing but our hearts and hands to offer. After a very successful fundraising event in April of 2006 with which we were able to fund the construction of the Tsakelani Center (Celebration Center) in Soshanguve, we realized our potential and opportunity to continue supporting the children served by this center. That has inspired to continue fundraisers suggested and led by members of the team. Thus far we have raised and sent more than $50,000 to assist in the construction and operation of the Tsakelani Center. Our goal is to generate individual sponsors/supporters who will support a child for $35 per month as an on-going commitment.

In the fall of 2008, as you will read elsewhere on this site, we expanded our sponsorship involvement beyond Tsakelani (whose 68 kids are currently sponsored by our constituency) to the newly operating Orphan Center in Manza, Zimbabwe. An explanation of this decision is included there.

Our on-going intention is the support of the Tsakelani Center, and to be sure that all of the children being cared for there have sponsors and the facility expands and is maintained appropriately. Due to the current crisis being experienced by AFnetAid to secure sponsors for all of the children to whom they are committed, we will be sensitive to their over-riding needs, and will be available to work with AFnetAid in continuing to assist them attain the things needed in their priority order. Currently we are seeking sponsors for the orphans at the AFnetAid Orphan Center in Zimbabwe, and raising money for a much needed vehicle to transport materials and people in relationship to the orphan care work.

Santa cruz cares is a division of AFnetAid. This gives us a government approved relationship with a 501(c) (3) agency that can issue receipts to our contributors to guarantee a tax deduction for donations to Santa Cruz Cares. AFnet and AFnetAid also have this status, and to those who donate directly to AFnet Aid a receipt is issued by them.

If you are interested in supporting one or more orphans at the Tsakelani Center, or other compassionate work done by AFnetAid, please click on the Donations page.

For more information Santa Cruz Cares can be reached at 831/761-2162 and the California phone number for AFnet is 408/249-3777.


Your Help Is Needed

Our work depends solely on donations. No contribution is too small or too large! Whatever you can offer will contribute to the success of this cause, and you will be bringing huge smiles to the children of Africa! Money is essential, but so are willing hands and the gift of time as events are offered.


Santa Cruz Cares Mission Statement:

Tsakelani Center in Soshanguve, South Africa

Santa Cruz Cares, a division of AFnetAid, has been founded for the purpose of fund raising for AFnet Aid (the compassion ministry of AFnet – Africa Network Evangelism Task). 

The Mission of Santa Cruz Cares is to:

Raise awareness of the AIDS crisis in South Arica;

Support AFnetAid in its efforts to transform the lives of children orphaned by this crisis, as well as to provide support for the extended families of these children;

Supply funds for food, clothing, medical assistance, educational support and other necessary provisions for the development of the children, the future of South Africa;

Connect the community of Santa Cruz with the community in South Africa, to allow us to learn from one another and share our resources.

Purpose Statement: Santa Cruz Cares’ focus is to raise funds for the building, and operational and material support of Orphan Day Care Centers in South Africa.  In 2006 and 2007 fund raisers were conducted that have paid for the construction and support of the Tsakelani Orphan Day Care Center in Soshanguve.  Santa Cruz Cares will support and promote the AFnetAids’ strategy for generating donor supporters who will commit to $35. Per month sponsorships (approximately 100 for Tsakelani and additionally for other centers being developed by AFnetAid.

Santa Cruz Cares will participate in activities that will enhance the on-going operation of Tsakelani, and be open to requests by AFnet and its board for future projects.

All participation in the leadership team of Santa Cruz Cares is voluntary, there are no paid positions, nor remuneration for services of the members.

 

Organizational Structure:

Membership on the leadership team is open to anyone who wishes to join and participate.

People may wish to join only for the duration of one particular fund-raising event, or remain as on-going members. The committee is composed of the following positions:

2 co-directors

The co-directors are currently Loren Grossi and Jonathan Leys, who also serve as the co-signatures on the checking account. (The checking account is held at Co-America Bank.)  Now that we are under the authority of and a division of AFnet Aid, all donations and expenditures will be verified with the AFnet Board of Directors.  All donors will be receipted, and because of our 501(c)(3) status, all donations are tax deductible.  In Octorer of 2006, Santa Cruz Cares filed a fictitious name in the County of Santa Cruz. The fact that we are a Division of AFnetAid does not change that title. 

1 Chairperson

Currently this position is being filled by Claudia Grossi. She is responsible for calling periodic meetings as necessary, and informing the membership of activities – as well as keeping communication going within the membership.

Webmaster/mistress

Currently this position is being filled by Marilyn Files. All material and suggestions for the website should be delivered to her in a timely manner.

2 Members at large

These positions are rotated annually or for each major fund raising event. 

All committee members and guests are invited and encouraged to attend all planning sessions. Sub groups will meet as needed in preparation for the events themselves.

Finances/Bookkeeping

Santa Cruz Cares will maintain a small balance in the checking account to allow its maintenance, but at the conclusion of each fund raising event the proceeds will be sent to AFnet for immediate investment in the current project. Expenses will be paid for from the account, and will cover the costs of maintaining a website and any advertising deemed necessary by the committee. Each event will have within it a finance/budget committee or person. It will be their responsibility to keep accurate records of all expenditures, and see to it that well documented (with receipts) information is submitted to the directors for reimbursement from the checking account. Their expenditures will be recorded in the check book and also noted to the person maintaining the official record, at this time the chairman. At any time that the checking account exceeds $500, the balance will be sent immediately to AFnetAid.

Future plans include

  • Awareness building regarding individual sponsorship of orphaned children at the Orphan Centers.
  • Gift cards for sale created from artwork done by the children at the Tsakelani Center.
  • Fundraisers to purchase, or help to purchase, a vehicle for AFnetAid use in distributing food, clothing and other materials to their orphan centers and other sponsored services; to help in the completion of building storage units for the collection and distribution of supplies.
  • Working with TLC in developing future teams to go and serve in South Africa.

Past Events have included

 

For more information on how you can get involved with these or other events, please call 831/761-2162. We'd love to have you with us!