I have reached an age where certain physical activities are no longer in my repertoire. You will not see me performing a somersault on the Town Plaza, nor will I be seen in a preppy, logo-laden sweatshirt attempting a cartwheel. I have decided, for the safety of myself and the aesthetic peace of Los Gatos, to leave the gymnastics to youngsters.
Furthermore, I have no intention of channeling my inner “Krazy” George Henderson. While George was a master at acting as a one-man percussion section to get an audience riled up, you won’t find me patrolling the streets with a hand drum or trying to coordinate a stadium wave by the Post Office. George was a professional crowd-igniter; I am aiming for something a bit more “Los Gatos” turning neighbors into volunteers without the need for a gravelly shout or a standing ovation.
However, I have realized that I am, in fact, a cheerleader.
I’m not the kind with a megaphone, but I am the kind who believes that a community is only as strong as the people who show up to keep it running. Right now, our local service providers, the non-profits, the food programs, the senior support networks, are on the field, and they need a bigger roster.
The information gap
A while back, the Community Health and Senior Services Commission noticed something curious. Although this is a town of high achievers, retired experts, and people with a profound “bias toward action,” there existed a simple, frustrating lack of coordination. People wanted to help, but they didn’t know who needed them, where to go, or if their skills, whether in computer training, blood donating, food distribution, or simple companionship, were in demand.
To solve this, a bridge was built: the Volunteer Connections Newsletter.
The Volunteer Connections Newsletter was a response to the Senior Services Roadmap. When Martha Sterne, then the Vice-Chair of the Community Health and Senior Services Commission saw a gap in our civic communication, she worked as a partner with the Los Gatos Thrives Foundation, a group of community leaders who believe that a town thrives only when its people are engaged. It is a perfect example of a town vision being brought to life by non-profit energy.
The hidden engines of Los Gatos
If you live here long enough, you realize that the “Los Gatos lifestyle” includes the beauty of the hills and the charm of our downtown. However, it is also about the invisible engines of service. Our town functions because neighbors are quietly addressing mental health challenges, coordinating transportation for those who can no longer drive, and advocating for senior services.
These service providers are the “team” I am cheering for. They are the ones doing the heavy lifting to ensure that our town remains compassionate and functional. But even the best team can’t play a full season if the bench is empty.
Why you should “join the squad”
The Volunteer Connections Newsletter is a curated dispatch designed to bridge the gap between “I want to help” and “I am helping.”
When we volunteer, we are engaging in the form of “neutral convening.” In a world that often feels polarized, volunteering for a local cause is one of the few places where we work alongside people of all backgrounds toward a singular, tangible goal. Whether it’s helping a non-profit manage its delivery of services or assisting with a community event, you are contributing to the “common good,” a concept that needs hands and hours.
The call to action
So, here is my pitch, my “cheer,” if you will.
I am asking you to subscribe to and read the Volunteer Connections Newsletter. It won’t cost you anything but a few minutes of your time, but the ROI is immense. It is the most direct way to see the heartbeat of our town and find your place within it.
You don’t need to wear a uniform. You don’t need to shout. You just need to be willing to look at the opportunities available and say, “I can do that.”
I’ll stay off the sidelines and skip the backflips. But I will be right here, pointing toward the newsletter and cheering for every resident who decides to move from the bleachers onto the field. In Los Gatos, the best way to show your spirit is with a name on a sign-up sheet.
To learn more: losgatosthrives.org/volunteer-connections
