Different Ways of Giving

There’s no such thing as a gift that’s too small.

Our main office is happy to provide a receipt upon request.

  • There is no minimum or maximum for any monetary donations!

    You can donate in cash by visiting our main office at 303 Walnut Avenue, Santa Cruz, between 9am-5pm on Monday-Friday. We recommend calling ahead, just in case, at (831) 426-3062.

    Checks can be mailed or given in person. They should be made out to “Walnut Avenue Family & Women’s Center,” and if it’s being mailed, you can use this address:

    Walnut Avenue Family & Women’s Center
    303 Walnut Avenue
    Santa Cruz, CA
    95060

  • Gift cards and preloaded Visa cards are immensely helpful as they can be given directly to a survivor or family and used at their own discretion. Being able to make their own decisions about funds, even if it’s as simple as choosing which brand of cereal is best for their child, helps people facing economic struggle and emotional challenges feel a little more control over their own lives. This is an essential part of our philosophy: allowing services to be as strength-based and participant-driven as possible as part of a family reestablishing its stability.

    Gift cards we use most often:

    • Preloaded visa cards

    • Grocery cards (Safeway, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Grocery Outlet)

    • Clothing cards (Target, Macy’s, Sears, Kohl’s, Forever 21)

    • Cards for restaurants and activities with teens in mind (e.g. Jamba Juice, Taco Bell, Boardwalk, Petroglyph, Pacific Edge)

    • Other needs: Amazon, gasoline

    (Note: Safeway gift cards can be used for both food and gas!)

  • Walnut Avenue is no longer able to accept donations of used items. If you’d like to purchase something for us or have new, unused, or unopened items that you don’t need, check out the wishlists from our different programs!

  • If you have furniture or other large items, such as appliances, that you would like to donate, Walnut Avenue will do its best to match you with one of the individuals or families who are participating in our services. Our own space onsite is limited, so unfortunately we can’t store things on anyone’s behalf, but we will do our best to find your large item a new home in a timely manner. Please contact our main office at (831) 426-3062 see if we have anyone looking for what you’d like to pass along!

  • Many of our program participants don’t have access to private transportation. Walnut Avenue staff will use agency vehicles to transport survivors to confidential emergency accommodation, deliver groceries and other goods, attend court dates, participate in community events, and more!

    If you have a car you want to donate, you can follow this link to Cars2Charities and complete the easy form.

  • A bequest to Walnut Avenue Family & Women’s Center (Walnut Avenue) can carry on our mission to provide support and services so women, children and families have the opportunity and skills to thrive.  Please consider Walnut Avenue in your will or other planned giving.

    With so many ways to give, we are confident that a gift to Walnut Avenue Family & Women’s Center can meet both your financial and charitable goals!

    There are many options for planned giving. Planned gifts can provide you with tax benefits while helping women and their families take control of their lives.  Through a planned gift, you may be able to increase your current income or provide additional retirement income, while reducing income tax and estate taxes.  Some types of gifts reduce estate taxes, while others greatly reduce the amount of tax you are responsible for during your lifetime.  It is important to explore your options so that you and the women and families who are helped by the Walnut Avenue Family & Women’s Center receive the full benefit of any planned gift. We would be happy to discuss your needs with you.

    IRS Tax ID # 94-1186197

    Your options include:

    Bequests specified through your will for Walnut Avenue Family & Women’s Center.

    Charitable Gift Annuities: These provide numerous tax benefits to you, while you are guaranteed income for the rest of your life.

    Life Insurance Gifts: You can make Walnut Avenue Family & Women’s Center the owner and the beneficiary of a life insurance policy.

    Retirement Plans: You can donate your interest in an IRA or other qualified savings plan to Walnut Avenue Family & Women’s Center.

    If you are considering a gift or would like more information, please contact Julie Macecevic, our executive director, at jmacecevic@wafwc.org

    Note: Walnut Avenue Family & Women’s Center encourages you to consult with an attorney or other expert of your choice before making any financial decisions. We are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and donations you make are tax deductible.

Your Impact

  • $10,000 provides over 250 hours of respite care for children from families dealing with teen pregnancy, those seeking housing or jobs and/or experiencing family violence.

  • $5,000 provides over 30 individuals with counseling, support groups and job searches.

  • $2,500 provides 30-40 community volunteers with training to work with domestic violence survivors and youth.

  • $1,000 provides 30 children in our Early Education Center with new books for a year.

  • $500 sponsors a Life Skills Workshop at a local group home, middle school or high school.

  • $250 provides a week’s worth of supplemental groceries for 60 families.

  • $100 provides a week of formula & diapers for infants of teen parents who are striving to graduate from high school.

  • $50 provides safe children’s programs while their parents receives services or attends one of our groups.