St. Luke, Brockport church school children presented a check for $328.17 to Bill Abom, Western New York Coordinator for Rural and Migrant Ministry (RMM). Their fundraising efforts were inspired by their participation in an RMM "Coins of Change" program worked into the curriculum by Rob and Beth Banzer, church school co-superintendents. The money will be used to further RMM's accompaniment role with farm workers and for their work of linking farm workers and members of congregations. The children, with the help of parishioner Abbie Boston, made handicraft items during special November and December sessions. They also distributed "Coins of Change" jars to parishioners. Their project culminated with the sale of three crafts. The church school children learned about the lives of migrant and seasonal farm workers from Bill and Fiona Abom and Salvador Solis. Fiona helped the younger children to understand some aspects of migrant life through discussion, pictures and activities. Bill spoke with the older children, informing them of the availability of locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables in our supermarkets. These products are there through the work of farm workers, many of whom work in our area. Bill described the job of farm workers as one that is long, hard, and sometimes even dangerous. Salvador Solis, a local farm worker, spoke in Spanish to the older group as Bill translated. He told his personal story of being a migrant worker and how it affected his family. Although they are now Brockport residents, he told how painful it was for his family to be separated when he first came to the U.S. 17 years ago. |
