Our History

The Episcopal Farmworker Ministry started in 1978 as the Clothing Closet Ministry. In 1982 we hired our first outreach worker who provided transportation to service agencies, translation, English classes, and recreational activities to mostly Haitian migrant workers. In 1986 we started providing immigration services, which began in response to the Immigration Reform and Control Act.

In the early 1990’s, we built a daycare facility that would eventually become Saint Martin’s Migrant Head Start. In 1996 we welcomed our first Sacramental Minister to develop a religious congregation of migrant workers. In 1998 we opened our permanent facility, which has allowed us to expand our programs and services even further.

Throughout the 2000s and 2010s EFWM grew a strong community of agricultural workers and others who passionately defended agricultural workers to support their needs. We have consistently provided quality services to community members while expanding our efforts to assist every need and ensure a safe and inviting community.

Today, EFWM offers many services and programs to the community. In addition to working with Latino migrant workers (from other states and abroad), we also work with Latino agricultural workers who live in NC year-round, including workers from meat processing plants, nurseries, packing houses, animal farms, and field workers.