On September 26, tidal flooding came into the lower level of People’s Church on Delaware Ave. The sanctuary stayed dry. The kids’ classroom took the worst of it. Children meet in that room on Sundays, and a creative co-op for local kids uses it during the week.

That lower floor is busy all week. Besides the kids, two AA groups, an Al-Anon group, the Girl Scouts, three churches, and our open mic concerts meet there. It’s also where we run community events with the school district, like Winter Wonderland and the Thanksgiving baskets.

Since the flood, people have shown up. Neighbors, the AA groups that meet in our building, churches from around Long Island and friends who don’t go to church anywhere have pulled up floors, hauled debris and kept fans and pumps running. We’re grateful for every one of them.

The water came in two ways. The tide rose right over our bulkhead, which we’d just repaired in 2025. Later, a high tide pushed water up through the floors of several rooms. Now we’re rebuilding the room so we’re more resilient for the next storm. That means a tile floor set in mortar that dries out on its own, a masonry curb and flood boards at the doors, and a drain system around the room that pumps out water coming up from below. It also means new heat built into the floor, replacing baseboard heaters that were damaged and sit right where the water rises. We also need to replace supplies the kids lost and cover the dumpster and cleanup costs.

All together, the repairs, cleanup and replacing what the kids lost will cost at least $30,000. Neighbors, churches and our own members have given $17,069 so far, and a generous donor matched gifts up to $7,000. That brings us to $24,069. Thank you.

Your gift helps with flood cleanup and repairs. Donations through this page go directly to People’s Church of Long Beach.

At checkout, GoFundMe asks for an optional tip. That tip goes to GoFundMe, not the church, and you can set it to zero.

People’s Church has been part of Long Beach for about a hundred years. This fall the neighborhood showed up for it. Our hope is that years from now, that floor is still full: kids singing about Jesus on Sunday, co-op families there during the week, and AA meetings at night, because people showed up in 2026.

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.” Isaiah 43:2

Pastor Andy Bertodatti