Vineyard Worker Camps at Capacity

02. 1.10 | By DFP in: Vineyard Worker Services

This year’s Migrant Vineyard Worker housing was the most successful in many years. Our temporary housing was 100% full with a waiting list of workers. Twice during harvest season groups left to work further north and their beds were filled the next day.

This was the first year that the Vineyard Worker Housing was provided as a combined effort of La Luz Center and Vineyard Workers Services . Director of Vineyard Workers Services Mario Castillo and his assistant Don Jose Fernandez report this year’s harvest lasted longer than normal, due to the cooler growing season.

Thanks to the continued support of Father Donahue, the project marked its fifth consecutive year at St. Leo's Church in Agua Caliente. There were eight housing units, with separate shower and bathroom facilities. During the Vineyard Workers’ stay, they received dental and physical check ups provided by St. Joseph's Memorial Hospital. La Luz Center also provided the men with daily ESL language classes.

Many of the meals were provided by the local Brown Baggers organization led by Elizabeth Kemp and Sharon Delaney, both board members of La Luz Center.