Pine Island fund raiser held for Warwick Area Migrant Committee children's program

PINE ISLAND — On Sunday, May 6, Pine Island Brewing on County Route 1 was the site of a fund raiser for the Warwick Area Migrant Committee (WAMC).
The proceeds, $1,000 from donations and food sales, will be used to benefit the Committee's Dulce Esperanza (Sweet Hope) summer program for farm worker children.
During the all day event, Katherine Brieger, executive director of WAMC, presented the organization's Outstanding Service Award to Warwick Valley School Superintendent Dr. David Leach.
"As superintendent," said Brieger, "Dr. Leach has made extensive efforts to support the summer enrichment program held in the Pine Island School. His sustained efforts are recognized by the farm worker families who are very grateful for this support."
Brieger explained that the parents named the program Dulce Esperanza because their hope is that one day their children can be doctors, nurses or teachers.
The Warwick Area Migrant Committee members selected Leach for this award because without his support, there would not have been a program.
"He helped to organize a meeting for the Superintendents of the other school districts to gain support for this program," she said.
In July, approximately 100 children from five school districts including Warwick, Minisink, Florida, Goshen and Chester, will sit in the classrooms of the former Pine Island School facility while their parents work in the fields.
A limited number of paid staff are supported by a large crew of volunteers for the program, which includes arts, reading programs, writing workshops and computer science.
Funding for Dulce Esperanza is dependent on donations and contributions from the farm worker families. And fund-raising efforts continue throughout this spring and early summer.
The next fund raiser, a Mexican dinner, is scheduled for next Saturday, May 19, at the Warwick Methodist Church.
For additional information on volunteering, purchasing tickets or making a tax-deductible donation visit www.wafarmworkers.org.
- Roger Gavan