Mountain Community Resources Showers and Laundry Re-open
FELTON, Calif. —Shower and laundry facilities will re-open December 7 at Mountain Community Resources (MCR), a program of Community Bridges. The center provides resources and drop-in services for more than 1,200 individuals in San Lorenzo Valley each year to meet their everyday needs.
The facilities were closed in July due to the loss of $150,000 funding from Santa Cruz County. Maintenance, staffing and operating costs forced an immediate closure of shower and laundry facilities. Support from the 1440 Foundation allowed the services to re-open in time for Christmas thanks to a grant of $100,000 to help residents with housing, access to showers, laundry, food pantry, counseling, storage and legal services.
Services will remain open for an estimated 18 months through the current funding. If you would like to make a contribution or help support our mission to provide dignity efforts and opportunities, please donate to Mountain Community Resources through communitybridges.org/donate.
Mountain Community Resources provides weekly food distributions, clothing pantry, parenting groups and one-on-one counseling and resources. Drop-in services include computer and internet access, phones, charging stations and restrooms. Many people visit the center daily for water, snacks, a cup of coffee and a pair of warm socks. It has become the drop-in center for unhoused valley community.
The shower facility was built through housing support funds from the County of Santa Cruz in 2019. Construction was completed in time for the Felton Fire Department to use as a staging area during the CZU Lightning Complex fire in August 2020. The laundry facility provided emergency resources for CZU fire survivors who were without water for several weeks while recovering from smoke and fire damage. The agency continues to serve this community through rebuilding efforts.
As the only family resource center in the San Lorenzo Valley, MCR provides half of the community services in the area. Mountain Community Resources has been a community hub for disaster response and emergency preparedness resources since 1982 following deadly mudslides. Prior to closure, residents accessed more than 3,000 showers and 800 loads of laundry since the facilities opened in September 2020.
Showers and laundry will operate Monday-Thursday from 9:30AM-3:00PM. MCR drop-in hours are Monday and Thursday from 9:00AM to 4:30PM (closed 12:30 to 1:00PM), Tuesday and Wednesday from 9AM to 3PM (by appointment 1-5PM) and by appointment Monday through Friday 9AM to 4PM. Mountain Community Resources is located at 6134 Highway 9, Felton, CA 95018 and can be reached at 831-335-6600.
About Mountain Community Resources
Mountain Community Resources (MCR), a program of Community Bridges, is a local family resource center serving the San Lorenzo Valley and Scotts Valley communities since 1982. We offer a network of programs and services designed to help people thrive. We work directly with individuals and families to build a strong community.
Community support is needed to maintain services. Visit Communitybridges.org/donate to help operate essential services for San Lorenzo Valley residents.
