GoodTimes Best of Santa Cruz County 2012

It is that time of year again where the GoodTimes recognizes the Best in Santa Cruz County 2012. I am so stoked to see the people I work with get a nod for all their hard work and it feels even better when the community recognizes the effort myself and Grind Out Hunger put forth. I want to thank everyone that voted and please support the businesses that support our community!

Welcome to our annual Best Of Santa Cruz Readers’ Poll. It’s our biggest issue of the year, and in it, we spotlight all of the local businesses, restaurants and humans that captured your interest over the past year.

GoodTimes Best of Santa Cruz County 2012 Winners:

Local Mover Shaker GoodTimes Best of Santa Cruz County 2012

Mover & Shaker (Local)-Danny Keith

Best Thrill Ride GoodTimes Best of Santa Cruz County 2012 Specialized Aviation

Best Helicopter Ride/Local Thrill:Specialized Aviation

Best Display of Santa Cruz Talent GoodTimes Best of Santa Cruz County 2012 Chris Rene helps Grind Out Hunger

Best Display of Santa Cruz Talent:Chris Rene

Best Credit Union/Bank GoodTimes Best of Santa Cruz County 2012 Bay Federal Credit Union

Bank (local):Bay Federal Credit Union

Best New Restaurant GoodTimes Best of Santa Cruz County 2012 Pono Hawaiian Grill

New Restaurant:Pono Hawaiian Grill

Surfing Spot:Pleasure Point

Website For Local 411-Santa Cruz Waves

Best Writer: Greg Archer 

GoodTimes Best of Santa Cruz County 2012 Runner-up Winners:

Surf Shop: Santa Cruz Skate and Surf Shop

Skate Shop: Santa Cruz Skate and Surf Shop

Non-Profit: Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County

How Social Media can help you gain more traction and determine what services your clients enjoy and want. Great group of people that genuinely want to know more about Social Media and how to harness it. Hosted byBay Federal Credit Union at  Kula Ranch Island Steak House 3295 Dunes Road, Marina, CA 93933.

KZSC 88.1

KZSC 88.1 was nice enough to have myself and Shawn Hatjes on air to discuss childhood hunger and malnutrition in Santa Cruz County.  Hosts of Conciliation Sunday Kevin Spitzer and Melissa Stone had a flurry of interesting questions and discussions ranged from why to how. Danny and Shawn go over every aspect of how Grind Out Hunger works and why the schools are so involved.

[Audio clip: view full post to listen]

With 1 in 4 children going food insecure in Santa Cruz County and over 55,000 people a month needing emergency food support, Grind Out Hunger in partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County is doing everything it can to “educate and involve the community to end hunger and malnutrition”. Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County distributes over 700,000 pounds of food per month with over half being fresh fruit and produce through 200 member agencies and food for children distributions.

Grind Out Hunger was created through the vision of skateboarders helping kids overcome hunger. Santa Cruz Skate and Surf Shop founded Grind Out Hunger with the goal of inspiring kids to help kids; Danny Keith mentions “by going directly to the schools and talking with the kids, it has a huge impact.” Grind Out Hunger is an educational piece challenging local elementary, middle and high schools to raise food and money for hungry children in the community. Since the inception of Grind Out Hunger the youth of Santa Cruz County has collected over 1 million pounds of food for working poor families and children.

“The secret message communicated to most young people today by the society around them is that they are not needed, that the society will run itself quite nicely until they – at some distant point in the future – will take over the reigns. Yet the fact is that the society is not running itself nicely… because the rest of us need all the energy, brains, imagination and talent that young people can bring to bear down on our difficulties. For society to attempt to solve its desperate problems without the full participation of even very young people is imbecile.”quote by Alvin Toffler