The group aims to help migrant workers and their families as they arrive to the South Jersey area for the summer blueberry harvest.
Migrant Worker Outreach (MWO), a group of local volunteers, is once again organizing a clothing and supply drive this year to support migrant workers as they come to New Jersey in June and July to work in the state’s annual blueberry harvest.
According to state Department of Labor statistics, six thousand migrant workers come to New Jersey during those months each year to work the harvest.
As area churches, synagogues, civic clubs, schools and universities collaborate with MWO on various projects to benefit farm workers, MWO has organized its clothing and supply drive every year since 2010.
“We collect more than just clothing,” explains MWO Director Dory Dickson. “We collect plastic buckets which workers use to wash their laundry. We collect soft luggage, yoga mats, and lots more. Everything on our request list is something the workers appreciate. Your donation of new or used items helps provide a warm welcome to these hard workers.”
To get the drive request list, call Dickson at (609) 969–2480 or email [email protected]
The request list includes clothing for adults and children, plus many non-clothing items. All donations will be checked before they are accepted.
Everything should be new or clean, without stains and in good condition.
The request list is also on the MWO website, which was rebuilt recently at www.migrantworkeroutreach.org,
Dickson also warns that the website may not pop up in a Google search yet, so locals interested should type the website’s address into their address bar at the top of their screen directly.
Once on the website, those interested can go to the “Get Involved” page, and click on the link entitled “Our Request List.”
Those who wish to donate supplies can Call Dickson at (609) 969–2480 to arrange to have donated items picked up at their home or at any location convenient to them.
Pick-ups can be scheduled any day of the week during a specific time in the afternoon or evening for these towns and the surrounding communities: May 13 through May 19 for Mt. Laurel and Moorestown, May 20 through May 26 for Cherry Hill, Marlton and Medford, May 27 through June 2 for Tabernacle, Shamong and Hammonton and June 3 through June 9 for Mt. Holly, Hainesport and Lumberton.
