Watsonville Church of the Nazarene has been working nonstop for the last few weeks to help victims of a devastating flood along California’s central coast.

Due to repeated instances of the weather phenomenon known as an “atmospheric river” since December of 2022, California’s coastline has been slammed by storm after storm. One of the most affected areas is California’s central coast, home to a vast agricultural region that is a significant food source for the United States.

On 11 March 2023, the Pajaro, California, community was completely evacuated due to a levee breach on the Pajaro River. The initial levee breach was 100 ft wide, growing to 400 ft by Monday.
Pajaro is a small community, mainly composed of immigrants and migrant farm workers. In nearby Watsonville, Church of the Nazarene members had connections to local organizations and charities that could help. When those organizations asked if the church could be a gathering point for all of the supplies and relief, staff pastor Bruno Banda said it was easy to say yes.
“So we opened our doors, and that’s pretty much where it began,” Banda said. “The church stepped in and offered to help, and that’s pretty much all we’ve been doing.”
The church has been a donation center for the community, receiving clothes and other hygiene products to distribute to the flood victims. According to Banda, they have served nearly 300 people daily, five days a week, for the last three weeks.

The flood victims were recently allowed to return home to pick up after the devastation, but another looming storm is set to bring more rainfall to the area that has already been overwhelmed by continued storms.
In addition to homes being damaged, crops have been flooded, which means farm workers can’t return to work or be paid. It’s a blow for families that are already trying to make ends meet.
These struggles are why Watsonville church members got involved, pitching in to help alleviate the stresses these families are facing.

“As long as I’ve been here at this church, the church has been a church for the community,” Banda said. “They’re always looking for ways and reasons to do what they can for those in need in the community, and we’re just continuing that work.”