Ministry opens doors to farmworkers in Pescadero

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, May 7, 2005 | by Amelia Hansen, STAFF WRITER

PESCADERO -- Build it and they will come, the saying goes. In Pescadero, however, they started coming before it was built -- or, rather, renovated.

Seven years ago, Rev. Wendy Taylor started Puente Ministry, an organization devoted to helping Latino men in the agriculture industry. Workers in need of blankets or food often showed up at her house first thing in the morning and late at night.

Now, the ministry finally has a home of its own. Thursday, Taylor, several farm workers and dozens of community supporters gathered to celebrate the grand opening of their new center on Pescadero Creek Road.

"It's all cozy in here. It's steamy and wonderful," Taylor said as she prepared for the celebration. "We finally have a permanent presence. It's a welcoming home and a community commitment."

The organization's official title is "Puente de la Costa Sur," or bridge of the South Coast. The new logo for Puente, which Taylor mailed out on the bright green party invitations, shows a man carrying a plant crossing a bridge to a community of people.

Taylor, a bilingual pastor at the Pescadero Community Church, is considered by many to be the bridge between the Latino workers and the English-speaking population in Pescadero. Puente now serves over 500 Latino men a year.

Darla Donovan, Puente's new fund developer and officer manager, said she saw Taylor trying to give out bicycles to the Latino men, who often don't have access to a car, and was inspired by her work.

"I said: 'Wow. Someday, I really want to work with Wendy," Donovan said.

Taylor, 60, started the organization with a budget of $15,000. She now has a budget of $178,000 a year, the equivalent of two full- time employees, and is able to rent the space for Puente on Pescadero Creek Road, conveniently located across from the local taqueria and the post office.

About two-thirds of Puente's funding comes from grants, one- third from faith community donors and individuals, Taylor said. Major funding comes from The San Francisco Foundation, Philanthropic Ventures and the San Mateo County Human Services Agency homeless trust fund.

Thursday afternoon, a small crowd gathered outside the new office, enjoying homemade tamales and plenty of spicy salsa.

Ferin Gomez, a 38-year-old who works at the Silver Terrace Nursery, said Puente has helped the farmworkers a lot. In the time he has worked in Pescadero, Taylor provided him with a sleeping bag, a bike and food coupons.

Gomez, speaking through a translator, said he knows of groups in Mexico that help workers, but no individuals like Taylor.

"There is no one equal to Wendy down there," he said.

Staff writer Amelia Hansen covers the Coast. She can be reached at (650) 348-4301 or by e-mail at ahansen@sanmateocountytimes.com.