It was a special weekend in Dresden, with a luncheon held to thank over 100 migrant workers.
FarmGate Advisors client care coordinator Nancy Melnyk says the Guest Worker Appreciation Event allowed workers, many of whom come from Jamaica to work at the Conagra tomato processing plant, to socialize and hopefully feel welcome in the community.
“They’re coming here and sitting down and mingling and socializing with each other, some of them have come for a number of years and some it’s their first time,” Melnyk says. “We thought it would be a great way for them to get to know each other and to start to feel comfortable. We wanted them to feel comfortable coming to Dresden, coming into our community, and feel welcomed.”
Melnyk says visiting workers not only give back to the economy through their work, but also through living in the community, shopping at local stores, and buying items to send home to their families.
“While they’re here they shop here, they shop for things that they need while they’re here, they shop for things items that are not available in their home country that they’re able to pack up and ship home, and they just help keep our economy going.”
The workers, most of whom hail from Jamaica, were treated to a catered meal from Yardie Vibez Jamaican restaurant in Chatham.
