Mission Trip: Immokalee, FL 2020

Who are we?

We are a group of students from Duquesne University participating in the Spiritan Campus Ministry Cross-Cultural Mission Experience. During our Spring Break in March 2020, we will be traveling to Immokalee, Florida to support and work with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) and with Guadalupe Social Services. This once-in-a-lifetime experience will allow us to put Duquesne's mission of "serving God by serving others" into action.

What is the CIW?

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) is a worker-based human rights organization advocating for social responsibility to end human trafficking and gender-based violence at work. Their main focus is the Campaign for Fair Food which ensures fair labor practices in Florida’s tomato fields and beyond. This is enacted through the support and collaboration of allies (students, people of faith, and food justice advocates). The CIW has successfully committed corporations like Walmart, McDonald’s, and Subway to fair food practices and continues to work diligently to secure better wages and working conditions for migrant farm workers. Duquesne University has had a long-standing partnership with the CIW for the past 30 years.

What is Guadalupe Social Services? 

Guadalupe Social Services of Catholic Charities has served the rural community of Immokalee for more than 35 years. Immokalee has long been a region of poor migrant workers. 40% of the population lives at or below the poverty level. By empowering the people through assistance provided to them, the main goals are to ensure human dignity and enhance the quality of life for all individuals served. Guadalupe Social Services focuses on offering the basic needs of food, shelter, clothing, and household items, stability and education. The students on this mission trip help volunteer and partake in their programs such as the Food Pantry, the Casa Maria Soup Kitchen, the Clothing Room, home visits and many more. Duquesne University is hoping to cultivate and grow this newfound relationship with Guadalupe Social Services for the many years to come.

Why Immokalee, Florida?

Immokalee, known for its vast growth of tomatoes, is one of the smallest and poorest towns in Florida. Yet, it is less than 50 miles outside of one of Florida’s wealthiest cities, Naples. 40% of Immokalee’s population lives below the poverty line because it is heavily populated with farm-workers who pick 32-lb buckets of tomatoes for only $.50/bucket daily.

Where does your donation go?

Your donation to our mission trip will allow us to support the organizations and causes that we are working with during our week in Immokalee, Florida. We will be continuing our partnership with the CIW and Guadalupe Social Services, along with Habitat for Humanity.