Share the Spirit: Hijas del Campo uplifts farmworkers in east Contra Costa County

BRENTWOOD Mayra Jimenez Almaras was when she came to the U S from Mexico with her parents and two siblings At she was working long hours under the scorching sun in the Brentwood fields picking green beans and packing corn Those days are now behind her as the -year-old prepares to graduate from Saint Mary s College of California in December with a bachelor s degree in finance As a way to give back to the organization that helped her family Jimenez Almaras works as a district physical condition worker with Hijas del Campo which translated from Spanish means daughters of the field The Contra Costa County-based nonprofit aims to help refugees seasonal farmworkers and their families to improve their lives working conditions wellbeing and safety Their work focuses on food protection wellness care housing development workers rights and legal aid Jimenez Almaras was in high school when she first met Marivel Mendoza and Dorina Moraida co-founders of Hijas del Campo At the time they were handing out back-to-school supplies and educational information A door opened for me providing different types of support not just education-wise but in general so much mentorship and leadership disclosed Jimenez Almaras Through the nonprofit Jimenez Almaras not only received sponsorship for her college application but also a laptop That same laptop not only helped Jimenez Almaras but also her mom who later used it to complete a society healthcare worker certification campaign through Hijas del Campo Now Jimenez Almaras s mother no longer works in the fields but instead in an elderly care home Her two siblings have also moved on Her older brother teaches at an area school while her younger brother is pursuing a degree at a public college Jimenez Almaras noted that while the world sees farmworkers as a vital source of food for their plates a large number of fail to recognize that farmworkers themselves face food and financial insecurities as well as chronic diseases She urged local leaders to respect and advocate for the neighborhood that provides sustenance Have that respect treat everyone equally and at the end of the day just be thankful that we re there every single day not only thriving for our own families but thriving for yours as well reported Jimenez Almaras Look out for the people that feed you and don t bite those hands Hijas del Campo co-founders Dorina Salgado-Moraida left and Marivel Mendoza are photographed in Brentwood Calif on Friday Oct Hijas del Campo is Contra Costa County-based nonprofit organization that aims to help migrant and seasonal farmworkers along with their families to improve their daily lives working conditions medical and safety Jose Carlos Fajardo Bay Area News Group Hijas del Campo was founded by a group of women who met in early after seeing how the COVID- pandemic impacted farmworkers Mendoza and Moraida are both first-generation Mexican-American women whose parents toiled in the fields when they first moved to the U S My dad didn t work in the fields too long but he would constantly talk to us about how hard that work was and how major it was for us to honor the people who pick our food because it s a backbreaking job stated Moraida the nonprofit s operation director Volunteer Milka Ambrosio sorts and unloads a newest shipment of donated items while at Hijas del Campo in Brentwood Calif on Friday Oct Jose Carlos Fajardo Bay Area News Group The organization just celebrated its fifth anniversary Over the years it has worked with core families nearly people through outreach programs giving farmworkers bags of essential seasonal items noted Mendoza executive director of Hijas del Campo For example during the summer packed bags include intravenous fluids to treat dehydration masks to reduce the exposure of valley fever and sunscreen to protect workers from the sun During the winter there are hand warmers socks gloves and scarves among other items When we say we take care of farmworkers in our county it doesn t matter where they re from reported Mendoza We re going to make sure that we have chosen kind of touch point with them and connect them to information where they live if it s manageable Assistants work on sorting donated clothes at Hijas del Campo in Brentwood Calif on Friday Oct Jose Carlos Fajardo Bay Area News Group The nonprofit has also partnered with Contra Costa Wellbeing Services the California Department of Inhabitants Vitality and San Joaquin County to inform providers about the rise in valley fever and how to recognize its features among agricultural workers Amid federal political uncertainty Mendoza and Moraida explained the organization is also educating farmworkers on their rights and partnering with immigration law groups such as the Immigration Institute of the Bay Area Beyond wellbeing guidance has become a cornerstone of their work The organization partners with Lenovo which donates about - laptops annually to students from farmworker families and organizes a Lunch and Learn scheme bringing in professionals who are either immigrants or first-generation college students to share their stories and inspire students In Hijas del Campo began building four tiny homes to provide transitional housing for farmworkers living in unsafe or substandard conditions Each of the homes offers wraparound services including financial literacy mental soundness help and healthcare access Part of the rent paid to the nonprofit is deposited into a savings account and returned after two years in hopes that the residents will be independent enough to move out and find their own housing The hope is that in two years they ll feel more stable and confident Having a secure place to live changes a person stated Moraida ABOUT SHARE THE SPIRIT Share the Spirit is a c nonprofit organization operated by the East Bay Times Bay Area News Group Since Share the Spirit has been producing series of stories during the holiday season that highlight the wishes of those in need and invite readers to help fulfill them HOW TO HELP Donations to Hijas del Campo will enable the nonprofit to buy and distribute food bags to low-income farmworker families in Contra Costa County for two months prioritizing access for people who face hindrances to traditional food assistance Goal HOW TO GIVE Donate at sharethespiriteastbay org donate or by mail using this form Donations are tax deductible ONLINE EXTRA Read other Share the Spirit stories view photos and video at sharethespiriteastbay org