La Iglesia de la Sagrada Familia, Episcopal Mission
English as a Second Language
Food Distribution Program
Migrant Outreach
Sister Communities Program
Farmworker Leadership Series
Annual Farmworker Festival
Annual Christmas Gift Distribution
Immigration Assistance Program
With over 500% growth in North Carolina’s Latino population within the past 10 years, and an
over 1,000% increase in Sampson County alone, EFM’s Immigration Assistance Program
fills a desperately-needed void for immigrant services in Eastern North Carolina.
The Farmworker Ministry, accredited by the US Department of Justice’s Board of Immigration
Appeals, is proud of its over 17 years of immigration experience. It is one of only 3 sites
east of Raleigh providing free immigration services, and it is by far the largest, serving over
6,000 clients a year. Low-income immigrants throughout Sampson County and beyond
know the Farmworker Ministry and have come to rely upon its services as they struggle
to establish themselves in this region and in this country.
La Iglesia de la Sagrada Familia, Episcopal Mission
La Iglesia de la Sagrada Familia, the Episcopal Mission supported by the Episcopal
Farmworker Ministry, is the spiritual home to hundreds of farmworkers and immigrant families.
More than 400 worshipers gather each week for Spanish-language services officiated by
The Rev. Tony Rojas, the Episcopal Farmworker Ministry’s Sacramental Minister.
English as a Second Language
The Episcopal Farmworker Ministry’s English-as-a-Second-Language Program provides
high-quality English instruction to between 30 and 50 farmworkers and farmworker family
members each week. Classes are taught by dedicated and experienced ESL instructors
who support farmworker students in the process of adapting to their new surroundings.
Classes are designed to help farmworkers overcome one of the most challenging obstacles
to empowerment – language.
Food Distribution Program
Farmworkers are responsible for harvesting 85% of the produce delivered to our tables.
It is a terrible irony that in our state today those who are responsible for putting food on our tables
often cannot afford to feed their own families. They have the lowest annual income of all
wage earners in the United States, and because of their immigration status, many do not
qualify for public benefits or food stamps. More than anyone in this country, farmworkers know
what it is like to live without a safety net.
Thanks to the partnership of the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle,
support of church and individual donors, and dedication of dozens of community volunteers, the
Episcopal Farmworker Ministry has taken a
great step towards ensuring that of all the injustices farmworkers in our area face, hunger will
not be one of them. With generous donations and committed volunteers who glean and bag food
donations, the Farmworker Ministry is able provide close to 400 individuals and families with
fresh, nutritious food each week.
If you or your church are interested in collecting non-perishable food for the Farmworker Ministry, please
contact us.
Migrant Outreach
The Farmworker Ministry conducts outreach to over 30 migrant labor camps with clothing and supplies,
ESL, religious services, emergency transportation, and advocacy in the presence of rights violations.
Sister Communities Program
Through its Sister Communities Program, the Episcopal Farmworker Ministry has created an opportunity
for faith communities to not only advocate for farmworker justice, but to welcome farmworkers into their
communities and support them as they live and work in North Carolina. Participating congregations
partner with primarily Mexican migrant labor camps to build cross-cultural relationships. Church-labor
camp partnerships commit to meeting one-to-two times monthly throughout the summer growing season,
and carry out community activities decided upon jointly. In addition to constructing long-lasting
cultural bridges, the Sister Communities program alleviates farmworker isolation and loneliness,
promotes farmworker leadership through the planning and execution of group activities, and helps
create a support system to reduce farmworker vulnerability to abuse and retribution for reporting abuse.
The program also provides church members with the experience and the tools to become effective
long-term advocates of social and racial justice for farmworkers.
Three congregations are already participating in Sister Communities.
If you or your congregation is interested in being a part of this program, please contact us.
Farmworker Leadership Series
This summer a class of 16 farmworkers joined the Episcopal Farmworker Ministry for its first summer
Leadership Series. Participants gathered each Wednesday evening from July through September to
educate themselves on issues affecting their lives as migrant workers in North Carolina, develop
strategies to address and solve common problems, and explore their role as community leaders.
The program included pesticide education and STD prevention workshops, a community organizing
project making small challenge grants for labor camp improvement projects, and training on how
to facilitate meetings and discussions, among other activities.
Annual Farmworker Festival
For 13 years the Episcopal Farmworker Ministry has been host and co-sponsor of the Annual Farmworker
Festival, the largest gathering of farmworkers in North Carolina, with more than 3,000 farmworker
community members in attendance. This completely free event, featuring live music, traditional foods,
a migrant soccer tournament, children’s and family entertainment, health screenings, and agency
booths, is dedicated to celebrating and appreciating farmworkers’ contributions to our state.
Annual Christmas Gift Distribution
Each year, with the partnership of Fayetteville Technical Community College, and churches from the
Dioceses of East Carolina and North Carolina, the Episcopal Farmworker Ministry collects and
distributes Christmas gifts to over 700 children in need.
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