In Sampson County, nestled among acres of farmland, lies the Episcopal Farmworker Ministry (EFWM), a place that provides support and services to farmworkers and their families in the rural zone deeastern North Carolina.
“It really was a very good, very fruitful relationship between the two dioceses, because it ended up creating things that are self-sustaining today.”“,” said Fred Clarkson, coordinator of the Spanish Ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of East Carolina, Enlace Latino NC .
Clarkson emphasized that EFWM's main mission is "to serve the community, the people, in one way or another."
“Really, the focus has been on farm workers, but obviously, as we are a church, if someone comes and needs our help, and we can provide it with what we have been given to do so, we will,” he mentioned.
You may be interested: Survey of North Carolina day laborers reveals concerns about labor rights and farm hazards
Support for workers with H-2A visas
From March until In October, the EFWM supports farmworkers arriving in the United States with H-2A visa through clothing donations, mattress exchanges, and a space for entertainment and internet access.
“This year we’ve increased the amount of entertainment, because we realized over the years that they need to be distracted a little,” said Lucia Mondragon, program minister at Episcopal Farmworkers Ministry. Enlace Latino NC. Also, on Sundays, the Holy Family Church located within EFWM offers a religious service.
The farm workers They ask to be picked up from their workplaces to attend mass and spend their day off using the facilities and sharing with the community.
“We have been helping a good group of farm workers with transportation services to take them to mass at the church,” he added.
“Very different conditions”
According to Clarkson, for agricultural workers whose lives are limited by the Labor conditionsThese resources and spaces are invaluable.
“The control they have over their own lives is very limited,” he explained.
Clarkson said this when referring to the fact that the H-2A visa ties them to a single employer, which means that They cannot change employers if working conditions are bad.
“Depending on who hired you, the conditions are very different,” he continued. “I’ve seen some employers who are very good and others who aren’t so good.”
Related: New federal rule drastically reduces wages for H-2A workers in North Carolina
“It is a life with many limitations”
Verónica Chimal, a food distribution minister and former kitchen worker on an agricultural farm, recalled her experience and told Enlace Latino NC that housing conditions of H-2A workers They were precarious.
“The spaces were limited,” he explained. “They were small rooms, with the bare essentials: a bed and clothes, and the showers were outside and weren’t in the best condition either,” he mentioned. Chimal also commented that up to eight people lived in these small rooms.
“It’s a life with many limitations,” she said. “They only come to work, to do their job, to eat and sleep. Sunday is the only day they have to wash their clothes or go shopping.”
A space to feel part of a community
That's why EFWM has become a place that, in addition to offering the necessary resources and services, provides workers arriving from different places with a space to feel like they belong to a community.
“I can honestly say that they already feel like part of a family,” said Felipe, EFWM’s maintenance minister, to Enlace Latino NC .
“Here we meet with them and they have always been given support,” he added.
Supporting families in rural eastern North Carolina
In addition to the support it provides to agricultural workers, the EFWM runs programs such as the monthly food distribution , which helps put food on the table for families in rural areas of eastern North Carolina.
Before distribution, the volunteers who donate foods They arrange them on tables and place one unit of each product in each family's pantry baskets.
Furthermore, since 2019, the EFWM has maintained a program mental health which began after a hurricane to support people with trauma.
Although it was initially a temporary project, the need in the community kept it active, especially after the pandemic.
For Mondragón, offering these services has become indispensable for the community amidst fear and... migration uncertainty that are currently being experienced.
“Many young people feel anxious because their parents do not have a stable immigration status and fear being deported and leaving their children alone,” he said.
Therefore, the mental health program now operates on Saturdays, from 9 am to 2 pm, to serve those who can only attend outside of working hours.
“Fear is what’s driving people the most,” he explained. “Mental health has become as important as the work of the church,” he said.
Related>> The Invisible Weight: How Anti-Immigrant Policies Affect Our Mental Health
Related: Where to get free food assistance in North Carolina in 2025
Space for women
As part of the mental health program, EFWM offers a space for of to learn the basics of sewing: taking measurements, making patterns and making garments such as dresses, blouses and pants.
The participants, from different countries, share their experiences, illnesses, good and bad times with each other, while laughing and sometimes crying.
“A community is being created. It’s a group where everyone loves each other, learns to share and support each other like sisters, not only with food, but also with their experiences,” Mondragón stated.
>>> Learn more about EFWM activities by visiting the Episcopal Farmworker Ministry website
PODCAST
After the storm
A year ago, Hurricane Helene struck western North Carolina. The Latino community responded with something stronger than the storm: solidarity.
🎧 In this episode, learn how Latino organizations transformed crisis into resilience.
▶️Press play to listen!
Republish our stories for free on your website or newspaper. We follow the Creative Commons license. Click the box and follow the instructions.
