Updates for the Summer of 2023

Migrant Health Collaborative of South Jersey (MHC), now a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, hit the ground running this year after collaborating with a few of our amazing community partners. CommUNITY South Jersey Philadelphia started by assembling and donating 500 gift bags to MHC to deliver to the migrant workers who came for the blueberry season this year! Their volunteers worked together to provide essential items such as personal hygiene items, clothes pins (required for laundry), and bandanas (to help while working in the sun). We were blown away by their hard work and generosity. 

The Faith Presbyterian Church of Medford group also brought many volunteers together to assemble gift bags with essential personal hygiene items.  They provided upwards of 200 gift bags! We cannot thank them enough for their tremendous effort and immense kindness. 

Fresh produce was grown and harvested by The Hope Garden of Faith Church in order to promote health through nutrition and fight against food insecurity. Migrant workers do not typically have personal transportation or funds to access healthy foods and other items related to healthcare that we depend on a daily basis. This year many workers are from Haiti, Mexico, and Central America. Haiti is currently suffering from politically instability and public health crises. 

We are thankful that Southern Jersey Family Medical (SJFMC) allows us to give their information to workers who want to be seen in the clinic for a medical appointment. They have an outreach program that follows up and accommodates patients who are uninsured or underinsured. They will even provide transporation to the workers which is often needed. 

The Health Promoters of St. Joseph's University and medical students from Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine came to the migrant camps in order to provide free healthcare items including glasses, dental hygiene products, and diapers for babies, children's vitamins. They also screened workers for chronic conditions that cause heart attack and stroke such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol. Workers were referred to SJFMC in order for them to receive medical care. 

MHC was also very humbled by the medical students of the JeffHOPE Clinic of Jefferson who all chipped in to obtain a glucometer to screen people for diabetes. Although these medical students are deeply dedicated to the community of Kensington in Philadelphia, they went out of their way to support their neighboring community of South Jersey. They go above and beyond to try and help others in any way they can, and for that we are incredibly appreciative. 

There were other generous donations of blankets and sheets which workers rely on and will often take with them to each farm they work on throughout the summer. Many workers bring their families including small children and infants. Toy donations were greatly appreciated this summer by the children as well. 

If you would like to join MHC and its partners to reach out to our vulnerable community members there are many ways to help. 

As always you can reach out to the director Dr. Emma Cortes. 

Charitable donations may be sent to:

Migrant Health Collaborative of South Jersey 

16 Hoffman Ave. 

Cherry Hill, NJ 08003 

or through

https://www.gofundme.com/f/increase-healthcare-access-for-migrant-workers