My Community
Pajaro Valley Loaves and Fishes was created by St. Patrick’s church during the year of the Loma Prieta Earthquake, which struck on October 17, 1989. Since that time, Pajaro Valley Loaves and Fishes separated from St. Patrick’s church and became incorporated.
Watsonville was devastated and many parts of the city was in ruin after the quake. I was only in my 3rd year as a Deputy Sheriff when the quake struck my community. I immediately went to work. The first 3 days I was on the clock, no sleep, for 72 hours straight. After the initial 3 days, I was on 12 hours shifts, no days off, for weeks.
The first several days we had no access to food or water during shift. Like a stray cat, I wondered the neighborhoods and ate food and drank water from the kindness of people, who were living on their front lawns, too afraid to go back inside their homes. Many homes fell off their foundations and strong aftershocks continued for days. People were cooking, on charcoal grills, what was left of their food before it spoiled and offered some to me as I walked by. It was how I survived 3 days of hell on earth.
In the days and weeks after the earthquake, Loaves and Fishes continued to feed everyone they could, including me, while I was on patrol. From that day forward I was focused on repaying Loaves and Fishes.
In 2008, I finally got my chance to repay Loaves and Fishes for their act of kindness to me. I was working on a community project in a sergeant’s leadership class via the sheriff’s office. The project was intended to raise awareness about hunger and the daily struggles to make ends meet for families that were in need. At the end of my project I was able to inspire people to donate food and money to an organization that I believed in.
From there, my volunteer career with Loaves and Fishes began. I worked every aspect of the volunteer job. I worked stocking the pantry shelves, handing food out from the pantry, working kitchen prep, setting up chairs, cleaning and busing tables, working on the food line serving food, picking up food from the food bank and fund raising.
The Amazing Meals
Each meal served is nutritious, good for you and served hot. This meal is a chicken enchilada with rice, beans and a green salad. Made with love from our kitchen volunteers and chef, this enchilada tasted amazing. Yeah, I sample the food for quality control.
We serve to a wide variety of people who are in need. I have witnessed people come through the food line that are professionally skilled workers down on their luck or out of a job, families with children trying to make ends meet, senior citizens, military veterans, the mentally ill and yes, even the homeless.
Monday through Friday, regardless of holidays, we serve lunch to those who need a meal. And we give out bags of food from our pantry to families and individuals who need and want our assistance.
Spaghetti, greens and a salad. Another great tasting hot dish.
I learned all about the kitchen food prep here and soundly made my way as a competent sous chef. This was before the days I became a Sushi Chef.
Frittata, wedge potato fries and salad, yet, again, another great hot and tasty meal served to our community.
One of my favorite holiday meals here is our Christmas lunch. Hot pozole soup, a salad and our tamales!
An amazing dish all the way around! One of my absolute favorites to serve on the food line. People’s faces light up with joy when they see the tamales. And when they sit down to eat, watching them smile and laugh as they fill their belly’s full, until they can’t eat another bite and looking content…is priceless.
Our Family of Volunteers
It takes a special group of dedicated people to volunteer here. The folks I work with are open minded, patient and wear their loving hearts on their sleeves.
They come from all walks of life. Some are just starting their journey in life, while others, have lived a full life and have come here to give back to their community. And a few of them have dedicated their entire lives to Pajaro Valley Loaves and Fishes.
I even bring in other Sushi Chefs from my work at Imura to help out in the kitchen!
Kitchen Manager, Chef Maria Gonzalez
The one who truly makes it all happen in the kitchen, is my good friend, Chef Maria Gonzalez. She is the glue that holds this kitchen together. She is the reason everyone is fed with hot, nutritious food! Maria has dedicated her life to this one cause. A noble act of unselfish love and kindness truly from her whole heart. She has been here for years and will continue to do so throughout many more years.
I use this quote a lot and basically stole it from our former Loaves and Fishes Executive Director, Brooke Sampson: “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others”. ~Mahatma Gandhi~
I can’t think of a better way to enrich your life on a human level. It’s hard work here!! It’s not glamorous, romantic or sexy! But, it brings your soul to a new level of awareness and consciousness. It brings meaning to your life!
Yeah, I worked 31 years serving the Community of Santa Cruz County, and one would think, that was plenty of community service. For me, not so much! Even though I’m retired now, I still have a passion and burning desire to serve my community. Now, I get to do it on my own terms and in a different and better way.
I never want to go hungry and I never want to be homeless. But, I am fully aware that it can happen to me in the blink of an eye! And if it ever happens, having people who care and have the means to help me, I know I’m in good hands here.
Pajaro Valley Loaves and Fishes is located at: 150 2nd St. Watsonville, California.
Loaves and Fishes does so much more beyond food. They provide training, life skills, social service referrals, bilingual education in nutrition, outreach, service learning and community service.
Come down and visit if you are interested in learning more about us, donating or volunteering! Or call us at: (831) 319-4571.
Check out our website: http://pvloavesandfishes.org
That is what I am talking about!!
Thanks Dave!
Nice work,Paul!
Thanks Kevin!
Wow what a great article. I wasn’t aware Loaves and Fishes were around that long. Thanks for the inside story.
Thanks Julie!
What a wonderful way to serve our community ! I commend all of you for your commitment to feed our community with food and love♥️
Thanks Lori!