Thanks to everyone who put together a migrant worker kit.  St. Paul’s contributed 55 bags! We combined efforts with Wesley Memorial and Winter Park Presbyterian to donate approximately 125 bags.

The staff who came to receive the bags were thrilled and so appreciative to get them. They said everything we gave them would most likely be distributed within a week. Thanks to everyone who helped make this project a success.

Telamon, where we have donated the bags for many, many years, lost its contract that involved the program that distributed the migrant bags. They put Lynn Weaver (from Wesley, who had been a leader with Church Women United) in touch with a former employee who now works for the NC Department of Commerce to see if they could use our bags. These staff members are employed by NC to monitor workers who come to seasonally pick crops. They work directly with the workers to make sure they are getting paid the rates they were quoted, that they are being treated fairly, and they also look for signs of any human trafficking. They were thrilled to get the bags as they said it would help them to open the door to talking with workers. They said they are so busy right now that they were sure the bags would all be given out within a week. Pastor Sanchez (Wesley’s Pastor) came outside and met the group. He said the nicest prayer to bless the bags and the workers.

We will be in conversation with Lynn Weaver, next year’s organizer, about how we can participate in this vital ministry.