While they were traveling one day last summer south of Montreal,
TMR resident Lilia Saro and Rickey Young saw many Mexican men
working in the farm fields. Sometimes they would stop by the
side of the road and just say: “Hola” and “Como estas?”
(How are you?).
Later they stopped at a retail store and started to chat with a
few of them. When they were saying that the price of clothing
was a bit too expensive for them, Lilia, a native Mexican, and
Rickey decided to do something.
They told the Mexicans that they would return the next week with
free clothing in their mini-van outside of a supermarket in St-Remi.
Soon after, the news spread by word-of-mouth among the few
thousand farm workers who would flock to their vehicle each
Thursday evening – the time they had free to do their weekly
shopping. Many Guatemalans and Salvadorans also come north to
work in the many farms in the area.
“For me, it’s to help my country in that way,” said
Lilia in a recent interview. In the past few years, she
has traveled to the southern regions of her country – the
poorest – to deliver school supplies and toys to children
there.
“When we gave away the toys, there weren’t many men because
they go to work in other places (such as the American Southwest,
Ontario, and British Columbia)”. Once here, they send most of
their earnings back to their families, which is sometimes the
only revenue they receive in a year. “The response has always
been very appreciative,” she added.
During the local harvest season (May to October), they perform
back-breaking work in the fields, earning about $8.25 an hour.
Their work starts at 6 am and often goes well into the evening
during busy times. As part of a Canadian-Mexican accord, the men
must be married to discourage those who may seek permanent work
here.
Staying several months here, the men naturally become a little
homesick. Lilia made cds of the music of two of her country’s
biggest acts – Luis Miguel and Los Tigres del Norte – as
well as traditional Mariachi bands – “very sad music that
reminds them of their families back home.”
In 2006, Lilia and her partner drove down weekly for about three
months with their own donations as well as those from friends
and work colleagues - from Johnson & Johnson and Kuehne
& Nagel, one of the world’s largest warehousing firms,
respectively.
For their efforts, the farm workers sometimes give them heads of
lettuce or baskets of tomatoes and invite them to their masses.
This year, the local couple started in May. However, they’re
now running a bit low on donations. They’re asking local
people and groups to take a look in their closets for used
clothing and toys.
During the early fall, they find our weather cold and many need
coats to work. If you have anything to give, call 514-342-6960
or contact
sarolilia@hotmail.com
In Calgary: 403-257-1157 or 403-483-0916
