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The Community Foundation Santa Cruz County and the Community Foundation for Monterey County are coordinating efforts to help thousands of local residents affected by the Pajaro River levee breach.
The river marks the dividing line between Santa Cruz and Monterey counties. While most of the evacuees live in Pajaro, in Monterey County, many of the closest shelters and services are on the Santa Cruz County side.
Both community foundations have launched dedicated funds to provide emergency assistance and relief. Donations will be directed through local nonprofits who provide food, emergency shelter and financial assistance to evacuees as well as to longer-term recovery efforts.
“Generous people from both counties have been reaching out to ask where their donations can make the most impact,” said Susan True, CEO of Community Foundation Santa Cruz County. “Due to the strong collaboration between our counties, we urge donations to either fund and assure you that your gift will make an immediate impact for the families of Pajaro.”
As of March 28, the foundation had given more than $600,000 in assistance to Pajaro families, it reported.
How to donate
Donations to the Santa Cruz County Disaster Fund can be made online at cfscc.org/disaster or by mailing a check to a check payable to “CFSCC” to:
Community Foundation Santa Cruz County
7807 Soquel Dr., Aptos, CA 95003
Please put “Storm Relief Fund” in the memo line.
Donations can also be made by calling the Santa Cruz foundation at 831-662-2000 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Donations to the Monterey County Storm Relief fund can be made online at cfmco.org/StormRelief or by mailing a check payable to “CFMC” to:
Community Foundation for Monterey County
2354 Garden Rd., Monterey, CA 93940
Please put “Storm Relief Fund” in the memo line.
Donations can also be made by calling the Monterey foundation at 831-375-9712 weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Raices y Cariño
The not-for-profit LLC is accepting is accepting limited donations. You can check their Facebook or Instagram pages for the most up-to-date information and text 831-288-3105 to coordinate drop-offs.
Volunteers, especially multilingual, can email: julianne@rcfam.com.
The organization is accepting only the following donations:
- diapers
- diaper wipes
- diaper cream
- menstrual hygiene products
Note: These items must be brought directly to the organization’s center at 1205 Freedom Blvd 3B in Watsonville from Monday to Thursday between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County
Flood cleanup efforts are underway, weather permitting, in Pajaro. Bilingual volunteers (English-Spanish, English-Mixteco, English-Zapotec) are needed to assist with ongoing work. Shifts are available through at least April 1; click here for more information.
If you or someone you know needs help cleaning up a home or business, click here to request free support.
You can also sign up for four-hour shifts through the Volunteer Center to help partner agencies sort goods for evacuees. Slots are available through May 5, between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Click here for more information.
Pet rescue
The SPCA Monterey County is coordinating to help pets left behind by evacuees. The organization can be reached at 831-373-2631.
Editorial and opinion coverage of the Pajaro flooding and aftermath
Quick Take
The flooding of the community of Pajaro has left many families without incomes and potentially without homes to return...
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In a video for Lookout’s Community Voices opinion section, photojournalist Kevin Painchaud talks to residents who have...
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For years, experts had been warning Monterey and Santa Cruz County that the levee along the Pajaro River could fail.
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Lookout columnist Claudia Sternbach is horrified by the mud, water and sludge oozing into her husband’s longtime Pajaro...
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