Every year, Canada’s agricultural sector depends on migrant workers — many from Latin American countries — who take on jobs that are essential but often go unnoticed. These men, who make up the majority of the agricultural workforce, come to Canada seeking opportunity and increased financial security for their families, but arrive with limited resources, education, or connections. Their hard work fills Canadian tables with freshly-grown produce, yet their wages often leave little room for necessities many Canadians take for granted — essentials such as bodywash, deodorant, and toothpaste.

Building on a project launched last year, ADRA partnered once again with the Migrant Worker Ministry in Orono, Ontario, along with St. Saviour’s Anglican Church and the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Bowmanville. In a mutual effort, care packages filled with hygiene essentials were distributed and packed into durable backpacks that serve as a practical tool for the workers.

Beyond meeting their physical needs, ADRA and the churches also hosted dinners to thank these workers for their valuable contributions and to send them off with dignity and gratitude before they return home to their families. These gatherings offered a moment and atmosphere of fellowship, recognition, and warmth for a group too often overlooked despite their essential role in the agricultural sector.

Thanks to the generosity of donors, migrant workers in Orono not only received essential items but also experienced a heartfelt reminder that their work matters and that they are valued. Donor support makes it possible to meet physical needs while offering dignity, gratitude, and compassion to those who help bring fresh food to communities across Canada.