Despite Threats to Funding, Nonprofits Rally to Protect the Community Safety Net

The Pajaro Valley Collaborative—an alliance of 23 nonprofits—raises the alarm on government cuts and remains committed to delivering essential services.

WHAT:

The Pajaro Valley Collaborative—a united network of 23 nonprofit organizations—was formed from a shared commitment to protect and strengthen the health, economic stability, and civic life of the Pajaro Valley. Every day, these local leaders and organizations serve thousands of residents, including farmworkers, families, children, seniors, veterans, and LGBTQIA+ youth. Today, that safety net is under serious threat.

Proposed cuts at both the federal and state levels—including to Medi-Cal and CalFresh (California’s SNAP program)—stand to dismantle essential services that sustain our most vulnerable neighbors. In the Pajaro Valley alone, 40% of residents rely on Medi-Cal for healthcare, and 41,000 Santa Cruz County residents depend on CalFresh for food—33% of whom are children under 17. These programs not only support individual wellbeing but also fuel our local economy, from healthcare jobs to agricultural and retail food sectors. Cuts to these lifelines will increase food insecurity, overwhelm emergency services, eliminate jobs, and deepen local disparities.

This press conference is a call for unity and action. Now is the time for our community to come together, organize, and raise our collective voice to advocate for the resources our families depend on. The strength of Pajaro Valley has always been its people—and together, we can protect the services that sustain us all.

WHEN: Tuesday, April 15, 2025, 11:00 am

WHERE: Watsonville City Plaza

INTERVIEWS: Interviews available in English and Spanish.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Carina Chavez, Salud Para La Gente cell: 831-262-2212

Tony Nunez, Community Bridges cell: 831-234-6971

About Pajaro Valley Collaborative: The Pajaro Valley Collaborative (“PVC”) is a collaboration of partner organizations strategically aligned to advance positive outcomes throughout the Pajaro Valley with a priority emphasis on improving health and wellness, economic mobility, and civic engagement.

Partner organizations commit leadership, organizational resources, staff, and time at various levels to address joint priorities. Having responded to public health emergencies and other disasters, including the COVID-19 pandemic and severe flooding, the PVC partners are collectively committed to evolving beyond crisis management to form a permanent collaboration to support health and wellness, economic mobility, and civic engagement in the Pajaro Valley.

For more information visit: https://www.pvcollaborative.org/about