BRADENTON (Florida) HERALD December 11, 2006
East Manatee church brings holiday smiles to the faces of migrant families at Falkner Farms MYAKKA CITY - Twenty-five-year-old Sarai Chapa first came the United States in 2004, a year after her father and a year before her mother. The family of seven now lives in America. They split their time between working for three months at Falkner Farms in Myakka City, working the three summer months for Falkner in Michigan and heading back to their native city of Monterrey, Mexico, for the remainder of each year. Chapa, who is in the country on a tourist visa, prefers the Bradenton area over Michigan because, she says, the people are kind. "The people are different here. They help more," Chapa said. For Chapa and her family, some of the biggest help comes from people like Catherine and Steve Price, pastors for the Harvest United Methodist Church at 14305 Covenant Way in Lakewood Ranch. On Sunday, the Prices and nearly 150 church volunteers hosted a Christmas party for families of migrant farm workers who live at the farm's camp, 35100 State Road 64. Close to 500 people enjoyed the day's festivities, from soccer matches and face painting to breaking pinatas and decorating Christmas cookies decorations that didn't last long before children gobbled them down. Santa Claus himself made an appearance and handed out 400 presents donated by the church's congregation. "We just hope that we can share some of the Christmas spirit and the love of God," said Catherine Price. "Harvest has always felt a commitment to remember our roots, and those roots are ranching roots. I would hope that this would be the beginning of an ongoing relationship." This is the first year the church has held a party, and members hope to continue reaching out to the migrant community throughout the year. "We're trying to establish a very good relationship with the camp and people here," said member Brenda Venhuizen. Chapa says that's important for the migrant community, especially the children, because the need is so large. "It's important for the kids . . . to help everybody stay together," she said. Chapa's family plans to work for another three years in the United States before moving back to Monterrey to start a business and create a better life. She is one person church members hope they can get to know to help improve her life. "It's just recognizing that there are a lot of needs," said Steve Price. "Wanting to reach out to the neighbors of our community that sometimes go invisible."
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