Pajaro Resource Center doubles in size and provides additional services.

On Monday, Oct. 6, more than 50 people gathered to celebrate the remodeled Pajaro Resource Center during its ribbon-cutting ceremony next to Pajaro Middle School. 

The resource center is a collaboration among Pajaro Valley Unified School District, Salud Para La Gente and Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz.

PRC reopened on Aug. 25 with a small clinic that includes two examination rooms, with pediatric and family practices, and a food pantry. Before the 2023 floods that inundated Pajaro, the resource center was a single portable unit, offering only pediatric services and assistance with applications (such as medical and food vouchers). 

“We are offering full service so families can come here, not just students. We're offering all types of medical care visits and also community health services,” says Sherri Stout-Torres, Salud’s chief operations officer.

This is Salud’s first clinic in Pajaro. “Having this site in this part of the community is very needed,” Stout-Torres says. "I think that is going to make a big difference,” she adds, noting Pajaro residents could walk to get medical services instead of going to Watsonville. 

The three organizations collaborated and applied for funding, ultimately receiving a total of $300,000 from the Community Foundation for Monterey County. 

Ben Slyder, PVUSD’s coordinator of student services, says they wanted to make the center better than it was. 

Food distribution at the center differs from traditional methods; instead of waiting in line for a prepackaged bundle, people are welcome to shop at the food pantry once a week. “This is set up like a store, so it's like a little tienda," Slyder says. "There are limits on certain foods, but people can go in there once a week and shop for free.” 

Slyder notes that instead of parents, it is the kids who are doing the shopping. “They'll do the shopping for their families, take it with them on the bus, and take it home.”