Winter Clothing

_{Please donate your gently used or new winter clothing for migrant farmworkers.}

All adult sizes welcome for male and female workers. We are in need of,

• winter coats
• waterproof or water resistant raincoats
• socks
• pants
• scarves
• winter boots
• toques
• gloves

To donate gently used clothing or new toiletries please contact Caron Edwards 905-563-4753 or caron.edwards@sympatico.ca

No Luggage, a True Story

In February of 2018, a group of nine Mexican farmworkers got off the plane at Pearson International Airport. It was the first time in Canada for several of them. Two of the men had no luggage or bags. No one owned a winter coat. They were here to work and earn money, so their wallets were empty.

Their first stop was McDonalds for some food, which their employer paid for. Their next stop was St. Alban’s Anglican Church in Beamsville where they were able to get winter coats and boots at no charge. The two men who had nothing but what they were wearing also received welcome bags with a shaver, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, work gloves and other personal care items.

Please give your gently used or new winter clothing for male and female migrant farmworkers so we distribute it free of charge because, like the above story shares, 

• Many migrant farmworkers arrive in winter for greenhouse work which is cold in winter and hot in summer
• Often migrant workers can't buy warm winter clothes at home and often arrive in summer clothing
• Most have empty pockets and a long wait before they get paid and can shop
• Many are isolated by language, distance from supplies and work 10-12 hour days
• Our farms are vital to our economy
• Farms need migrant farmworkers

To donate gently used clothing or new toiletries please contact Caron Edwards 905-563-4753 or caron.edwards@sympatico.ca