Farmworkers Self-Help, Inc.

Now that Christmas is over we can begin to recapture all the wonderful moments of preparing for our children’s Christmas fiesta on the 24th of December.

We began first by taking applications from our farmworker families in need. 320 applied and that is not counting the ones we had to seek out because they were afraid to come forward. We found a father with two children, his wife in jail for driving without a license while driving home from work. She was undocumented and thank God that they did not take the children. We served grandmothers with food baskets and gifts for the children that they are now trying to raise. There were the six farmworker men that needed bikes to go to work and the 10 foster children that my son David took in for the holidays. They had no gifts to receive. Foster children are a special ministry that the state does not do very well.

This year we were helped by so many churches and individuals. We had Lutherans, Catholics, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Methodists and more. Church Women United of West Pasco, The Beasleys, Happy Wanderers, The Women’s Club from Tarpon Springs, United Church of Christ in Spring Hill and money came in from out of state as well. The Rotary Club of San Antonio helped with food and dollars and Toys for Tots even pitched in with some of their toys. That was all to serve the 320+ families.

Then one Presbyterian Church joined with our Lutheran Churches that served the 114 youth at Resurrection House Mission. In between we had a Teen Christmas party for 43 of our community teens with presents supplied by Joyful Servants Lutheran Church in Wesley Chapel and United Church of Christ in Spring Hill.

Now maybe the folks with no faith say that there is an economic crunch but God didn’t say it because His people took care of over 1,000 children and fed them well. We were worried that there would not be enough food and presents to go around but just as Jesus fed the multitude with two fish and five loaves of bread, I believe God multiplied the toys food and blankets. His children and all the parents went away content and happy and there was food left over.

Thank you for sharing your great gift of love in the form of toys, ditty bags, clothing, towels, food and dollars to make extra purchases. Without you this Christmas miracle could not happen and without God inspiring you to bring good will to men, women and children it would not have happened. Thank you for listening to the spirit that guides us. We have included a small photo gallery that you can see by clicking here