Watsonville First United Methodist Church

Watsonville, CA

Opportunity to Volunteer for the Pajaro Mission Project

2023 Pajaro Mission Project

Emergency Response Team (ERT) Leader
Bob Lee
[email protected]
650-468-1612

Project Description
Volunteers will be helping repair homes for flood survivors of Pajaro (In North Monterey County, just South of Watsonville). We will be collaborating with Catholic Charities, the American Red Cross, and Hope Crisis Response Network (HCRN).  HCRN is the non-profit we have worked with for many years in disaster recovery.  We are presently working with them in Paradise, California replacing homes lost in the Camp Fire.

The Work, Tools, and Materials
We will be installing flooring, insulation, drywall, windows, doors and making other flood damage repairs. This project will be led by Bob Lee from Los Altos UMC.  All levels of experience are welcome.  There is work for everyone.

Materials will be provided by Hope Crisis Response Network (HCRN).  Task specific tools will be provided.  However, you are welcome to bring your favorite hand tools.

Schedule
The Mission Dates are:

  • June 22-25
  • July 20-23
  • July 27-30
  • August 10-13
  • August 24-27
  • September 7-10
  • September 21-24

Friday and Saturday – workdays.

Sunday – devotional time in the morning and work until midafternoon, returning home by evening.

We prefer that you stay the whole weekend, but it is possible to work just a day or two.  Discuss with Bob Lee.

Registration
Contact Bob Lee for more information or to receive a registration packet.  Only one registration is required regardless of the number of weekends you work.

Team size is limited to six participants per weekend.

Housing, Meals, and Cost
Housing will be provided in Watsonville First UMC.  Bob will explain the options.

Meals will be on our own.  Meal arrangements will be defined each weekend but will generally be breakfast at the housing location, packing a lunch to the worksite and a simple dinner out.

There is no set cost for these trips, but generally you will be funding your own travel and pay for the shared meal arrangements.  Bring $30 per day in cash to put in the pooled meal fund. There is no cost for housing.

What to Bring
Work clothes, work shoes, work gloves, safety glasses and dust mask.
Casual after work clothes.
Personal hygiene and medical items
Towel/washcloth
Air mattress or cot and bedding to go with it.

Background Information

California-Nevada Conference of The UMC | Pajaro Flooding – A Desperate Situation (cnumc.org)

California-Nevada Conference of The UMC | A Sobering but Fruitful Mission to Pajaro (cnumc.org)

California-Nevada Conference of The UMC | Responding to the Pajaro Flood (cnumc.org)

Mural Ribbon Cutting Ceremony by Freedom Rotary

You can see the mural from our church parking lot across the Flodberg Park. The Rotary Club of Freedom continues to give back to the community with another service project. The neighborhood mural has been splashed with the creative help of their muralist, Erika Rosendale, who has been working with the Freedom Rotary club’s vision for their mural project. 

Please plan to come for lunch as they are setting up a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Tuesday, June 13 at 12:30 pm at the Flodberg Park.

Pastor John of Watsonville First UMC and the congregation, as well as Friends of Watsonville Parks and Community Services will be joining for the special ribbon cutting event. Please contact the church office at (831) 724-4434 or email [email protected] so that the Freedom Rotary Club can plan for lunch.