The 40th Annual Mountain Affair was a resounding success, raising $28,500 to support Mountain Community Resources (MCR), the San Lorenzo Valley’s local family resource center founded by the community in 1982.
Hosted on Oct. 24 at the Highlands Park Senior and Community Center, the sold-out event brought together 95 guests for an evening of fine dining, live music by Gary Blackburn and community celebration. Guests enjoyed a multi-course Italian feast by Barbara & Company Catering, local wines and a silent auction featuring local artisans and businesses.
All funds raised will stay in the San Lorenzo Valley, directly supporting MCR’s essential programs—including food distribution, crisis counseling, disaster recovery and family support for more than 3,000 local residents each year.
“The night’s success is a testament to the generosity and heart of this community,” said Tony Nunez, marketing and communications director for Community Bridges, who emceed the event. “From our sponsors and partners to our dedicated volunteers, staff and donors—every person here plays a part in keeping Mountain Community Resources strong. Your support ensures that the heart of the Valley continues to beat for every family who needs a helping hand.”
This year’s celebration honored Tonje Switzer with the Mary Hammer Green Heart Award, named in memory of MCR founder Mary Hammer, who died earlier this year. Hammer’s vision—to create a place where neighbors could find food, warmth and hope together in times of crisis—has guided the organization since 1982.
“Mary helped establish this center more than four decades ago to help local families weather hardship and find hope close to home,” said former MCR Associate Director Judi Sherman, who spoke in Hammer’s memory. “Her legacy lives on in every act of service and compassion that continues today.”
Fifth District Santa Cruz County Supervisor Monica Martinez presented the award to Switzer, recognizing her for “her leadership, resilience and unwavering dedication to helping others in their most difficult moments” during and after the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire, when she assisted unhoused neighbors even as her own home burned. Now serving as executive director of the Long-Term Recovery Group of Santa Cruz County, Switzer continues to lead local disaster recovery efforts, helping families rebuild with equity and empathy.
The evening featured a Fund-a-Need Pledge Drive, led by Community Bridges CFO Doug Underhill, focusing on sustaining the vital programs and services provided at Mountain Community Resources. Attendees pledged their support to ensure the center can continue offering food distribution, counseling, disaster recovery and family support to neighbors in need.
In 2024 alone, MCR served 967 households, supported 3,373 family members, distributed 5,663 bags of food and provided 513 hours of counseling—demonstrating the center’s powerful, everyday impact across the San Lorenzo Valley.
“Your donation means more than just food or services,” Underhill told attendees. “It provides the building blocks for a stronger community for children, families and seniors.”
Funds raised through the pledge drive will help sustain and expand the comprehensive network of support services available at MCR—from bilingual community advocacy and free professional counseling to holistic care through the East West Natural Health Clinic and free emergency preparedness trainings. MCR also continues to provide weekly food distributions, parent education classes in both English and Spanish, services from sister programs like the Community Bridges WIC Program and public benefits enrollment assistance that connects residents to programs like CalFresh and Medi-Cal.
Thanks to the investment of Community Bridges, which began operating MCR in 2010, the center has continued to ensure that vital services and resources remain available to the San Lorenzo Valley community. Over the years, this support has enabled MCR to expand its offerings—including the addition of showers, laundry and hygiene services, made possible through a one-time investment from a local foundation that recognized the importance of providing dignity and support to unhoused neighbors as they work toward stability.
Regrettably, due to ongoing funding limitations, MCR paused its showers, laundry, lockers and mail services on July 1. The decision reflected “financial realities, not a lack of care or commitment to the San Lorenzo Valley community,” according to the organization.
Community Bridges stated that it “remains deeply committed to addressing the needs of the community, and building a stronger safety net through advocacy, collaboration and community partnerships. We will continue working with local and regional stakeholders to secure the resources and public support necessary to restore these essential services in the future.”
Services like these will become even more essential in the coming year, as changes to the social safety net under H.R. 1 threaten to reduce access to programs, such as Medicaid and SNAP, leaving many vulnerable families with fewer resources.
The record-breaking success of this year’s Mountain Affair ensures that MCR can continue to fill those gaps—offering stability, connection and hope for every family who walks through its doors.
“As federal safety nets tighten, local support becomes more critical than ever,” Nunez said. “When programs like Medicaid and SNAP are scaled back, organizations like Mountain Community Resources step in to ensure families don’t fall through the cracks. Every dollar invested by the community helps keep that safety net strong—right here at home, where it matters most.”
