Letter from the Access and Advocacy team- 2021 Welcome and Resource Center
Friends of Mano en Mano-
Spring has arrived in Maine! As the snow starts to melt, the temperatures rise and the grass turns green again, we are excited for the fresh start that Spring promises. However, as we enter into the new season we have also been reflecting on what this past year has taught us and what we want to carry into this new beginning.
Of all the lessons we have learned in the past year, for us at Mano en Mano, one of the most significant is the strength we all gain from our community and the power we have when we support one another. We have witnessed the bravery in asking for help, the willingness to serve one another, and the joy shared when we can come together. If we have learned anything from the pandemic it is that we are stronger when we work together. That is why we are reaching out now for donations to realize our yearly Welcome and Resource Center.
Welcome and Resource Center 2019
This will be the sixth year that Mano en Mano will be organizing and hosting the Welcome and Resource Center to welcome and support individuals and families arriving in Maine this coming fall and winter. This center works to fill the gaps in support that migrant workers face when they arrive in Maine, provide access to essential services and resources, and welcome new and returning workers to our community. This is solidarity-not charity. These services are owed to the people that come to work here and their needs must be addressed.
This past year(2020) we adapted the Welcome and Resource Center to a remote model and worked with more than 10 partners. We provided shelter for migrant workers arriving in Maine who had received a positive COVID-19 test, or had been exposed and needed a safe place to quarantine. At the testing and quarantine site, Mano en Mano staff welcomed workers just arriving to Maine and provided them with information in Haitian Creole, Spanish or English about COVID-19 testing and sick pay, prepared workers with breakfast and lunch, and connected them with Mano staff who continued to support workers throughout the remainder of the season. A team of staff and volunteers coordinated food and clothing drops directly to worker housing and were able to provide culturally relevant food boxes to over 1,000 people and more than 600 people received warm clothing.
Food distribution at the 2020 Welcome and Resource Center
This year we are anticipating about 500-900 workers to visit our center, and we want to make sure we can be there for all those who are seeking support. We are still in the process of planning and organizing alongside our partners which resources will be available, and how to best support workers that will arrive this fall to Maine. We are currently collecting donations to be able to provide all workers with the resources they may need and make sure that they feel welcome and connected to our community. We need your support to bridge the gap in support and access to resources that many seasonal workers face upon arrival to Maine. Please see the information below about priority items and feel free to reach out to us with questions or to get involved.
As we enter into this new season, let’s remember the community we want to continue to build - one where all are welcome, supported, and encouraged to thrive.
Sending you the best,
Access and Advocacy Team
Edith Flores Juan Jose Castillo Perez Director of Access & Advocacy Community Advocate/COVID19 Support
eflores@manomaine.org jcastillo@manomaine.org
2021 List of Priority Items
Please consider supporting Mano en Mano by making a donation today.
If you are interested in making a donation on behalf of your organization, please contact Emma McDowell at emma.mcdowell@manomaine.org
