Order of Malta Members joined with Carmel Mission parishioners to deliver food packages to four farmworker camps across southern Monterey. Throughout the Salinas Valley there are families that are farmworkers for the many different types of farms in the area. Life for the farmworkers and their families can be difficult, and there is always the reality of food insecurity.

At the end of the day, 650 people, including more than 300 families in the Salinas Valley received food packages. Each family received two bags of groceries that included staple pantry items such as sugar and masa, as well as special holiday items like ham and apples.

Knights and Dames engaged in conversation with parents and their children at the farming communities while they delivered food. They have come to know each other because the Monterey Members deliver groceries to these family every month. However, this month was tremendously special because this month’s delivery was twice as large to provide some extra Christmas joy to all the families.

The Monterey Location Members returned a few days later with Bishop Danny Garcia, Location Chaplain Fr. Paul Murphy, and other members of the Monterey area clergy to distribute gift cards and gifts to all the children and adults in the camps.