“Migrant workers come every year to work in farms in the Durham region” says Elizabe Espinosa who has been part of the Durham Region Migrant Worker Ministry and Network since 2013. “We work to provide local migrant agricultural workers with a place to share faith and life. Our ministry and network aims to increase community awareness of the presence of local migrant agricultural workers and their needs”.
COVID-19 has affected migrant workers. They have been suffering from more isolation and lack of access to services or trips to groceries stores. Major Donette Percy Community Ministries Officer for The Salvation Army in Whitby reached out to this group after seeing the need.
“Like many other groups, Migrant workers are a vulnerable community that suffer from many barriers while they are for several months in our country. They have barriers such as language, culture, access to health, access to transportation and access to other services in the community. The Salvation Army has been blessed to be part of such a giving community and we felt it was a privilege to help as best we could. We saw there was a need and its our responsibility to meet that need as best as possible. This community has been amazing offering support to the vulnerable during Covid 19.”said Major Donette Percy.
A number of times this summer, the Durham Region Migrant Worker Ministry and Network has received Products from The Salvation Army in Whitby thus serving about 130 workers with food and hygiene products with each pick up.
“Today I can also say that The Salvation Army in Whitby has been one of our most important partnerships in these difficult times, the generosity of this agency has been making possible the delivery of some goods to our migrant workers” says Elizabe Espinosa.
“This was the first year that we reached out to our community for help, we were very surprised by how everyone came out in different ways to give support. We live in a community where everyone cares for each other and this time was not different. Without our community help we couldn’t do all we are been doing. This year our community gave the migrant worker an important message, they let them know that they really value the work they do and they are here to support them in what they need while they are here.
Migrant workers are part of our community. They have become our friends. They need our support especially at this most difficult time of the pandemic”. says Elizabe Espinosa.
Quote from a migrant worker who has been a recipient of food etc.
“WE THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR ATTENTION THAT YOU BRING US IN YOUR HELP. ALSO THE FOOD THAT YOU OFFER US. WE ARE VERY HAPPY WITH ALL THE HELP THAT YOU GIVE US . GOD BLESS YOUR ORGANIZATION AND YOU “.
GIL FLORES WATSON FARMS
The Salvation Army in Whitby will continue to partner with and support the Migrant workers.
