HydroFlasks for Migrant Workers of the Gorge

Friends, family, and community of The Gorge...

Over the many years my family and I have had the privilege to work along side some of the hardest working individuals we have ever met, working in the beautiful orchards of The Gorge. Whether it be picking along side the migrant workers, checking, sorting, or packing the fruit, my family as well as others, have always believed in the strong work ethic orchard work teaches you. Orchard work is a big part of this beautiful community and is important to our livelihood.

This summer's heat wave has shown me more than ever, that these conditions these awesome people work under are near to impossible, but they still continue to work for our community and provide for their families back home. To say what they do is easy is the biggest understatement. These workers have gone through the long process of getting their working visas and when they arrive they bring with them little to no money, let alone the essentials that a local experienced picker would know to bring. This includes good working shoes, lunch packs, and a good water bottle.

This summer I have been working in the orchards with my cousin and we make sure to pack a good lunch and bring ice water in our Hydro Flasks that we are very fortunate to have. Recently, my cousin and I happily gave our Hydros to a couple of the workers we noticed didn't have any form of container to hold the water the orchard provides for them. The orchard tires its best to keep a constant flow of cold water throughout the working crews, but without many people wanting to work in the orchards, the orchard is limited to sometimes one employee, trying to keep the water jugs filled and filled with cold water at that.

My hope is that our community can help fundraise and provide one of the essential items for the migrant workers we always depend on. I kindly ask for your help in fulfilling a goal of $2,500 to purchase as many Hydro Flasks as possible in hopes of giving all 150 pickers I work alongside of, a water bottle. If we were to raise more than the goal, I would love to keep spreading the generosity to surrounding orchards as well. Anything helps, and I know from experience how much a simple water bottle can help a worker's morale and we would love nothing more than to show the migrant workers how much they are truly appreciated!