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Health & Fitness

A long history of serving the community

Early in 1972, three public health nurses serving the Cupertino area felt a need for a centralized information and referral phone operation for community members to call and receive information on transportation, child care, help in the home, medical care and other resources. With support from community leaders such as the Jaycees, St. Joseph’s Outreach, Salvation Army, local schools and others, a small group of concerned citizens met to discuss how to turn their idea into reality. Their vision was realized when on July 1, 1973, they received funding from the City of Cupertino and the County of Santa Clara and the Cupertino Roundup was formed.

In August of 1973, Cupertino Roundup hired its first staff Marilyn Christian and began operating out of Stichter Elementary School. In that first month, referrals for assistance were made to 14 families; one year later, resources and information were being provided for 300-400 individuals per month. By 1976, the agency had moved to 10900 North Blaney, added two part time staff, was incorporated with a 501(c) 3 nonprofit tax-exempt status and became Cupertino Community Services.

Despite these efforts, in 1977 funding from the County of Santa Clara had run out and the service was suspended. A task force was formed to research ways to ensure sustainable funding. After a year of research and community input, Cupertino Community Services reopened in October 1979 with a borrowed space at the Union Church of Cupertino where it would remain for over 10 years.

In 1990, CCS moved into the new Quinlan Community Center and launched its first full service food pantry. Recognizing the need for affordable housing, CCS also began administering the below market rate housing program for the City of Cupertino. Just two short years later, over twenty faith-based organizations joined efforts with CCS to form the Faith-In-Action (FIA) Rotating Shelter which would continue to operate for twenty years. In an average year, the Rotating Shelter provided over 5,400 shelter beds, 120 bus passes for safe transportation, and 16,200 hot meals to over 100 homeless men. As a result, 70% of clients gained employment and housing.
Another vision came to fruition in 2003 when CCS moved into Vista Village, a brand new social services center complete with 24 affordable housing units. In 2008, after years of serving not only Cupertino but Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Saratoga, and West San Jose, CCS changed its name to West Valley Community Services to better reflect the community that it served.

Over the years, West Valley Community Services has evolved from just providing information and referral to now providing a continuum of support services including food pantry, case management, nutrition education, parent workshops, financial education and credit coaching, tax preparation, homeless services, transitional housing, below market rate housing,  emergency financial assistance and special programs for over 6,600 individuals and families every year. We are grateful to our supporters for helping this cause, and we have exciting plans to serve thousands more west valley residents affected by hunger, homelessness, and poverty in 2013 and beyond.

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