Center for Farmworker Families works closely with Oaxacan community members living in several rural towns in Central California. As the most recent arrivals to Central Coast agriculture, Oaxacan farmworkers are the poorest farmworkers working in the region. They regularly endure racism and racist comments from other Mexican farmworkers.Three years ago we conducted a survey to determine the items that are most needed in the Oaxacan community. We asked a Oaxacan family that lives in NW Watsonville to manage an empty shed on their rental property. We learned that the most needed items include baby diapers in all sizes, baby wipes, paper towels, toilet paper, rice, beans, shampoo, bath soap, laundry detergent and dish soap.
Since then we stock the shed with these items at the beginning of each month. Diapers, baby wipes, paper towels, toilet paper, shampoo, soaps rice and beans are purchased to make sure the basic needs are met and that there is always food on site, so no one will go hungry.
In addition, we supply the shed with donated clothing, household items, toys, and furniture. Once the shed is stocked, members from about 30 Oaxacan families visit the shed and are provided with needed items that they cannot afford to purchase with their meager wages.
Over the past three years, the shed and the parking lot area in front of the shed have become a central location for meetings, transfer of important information affecting the community, meditation classes, English classes, math tutoring for school assignments, a Girl Scout Boutique project in which teen girls can acquire needed clothing for school, distribution of school supplies to children prior to the fall semester in August, and visits with people living in the region of Central California who want to contribute to the community. Flyers announcing tutoring, medical services, immigration rights, and children’s summer camp opportunities are posted on the shed door for all to see.
