Mecca ‘Comfort Station’ to open for migrant workers Nov 1
Riverside County has partnered with the Galilee Center, a non-profit providing food, clothing and other basic needs to low income families, to open the Mecca Comfort Station Nov. 1.
After months of delays, it’ll be a permanent shower, restroom and laundry facility for migrant farm workers and people of all ages in eastern Coachella Valley.
“It’s a clean environment. They’ll be able to rest here while they’re waiting for the showers,” said Galilee Center founder Gloria Gomez. “It’s been a blessing, a long process, but we got it.”
As many as 200 farm workers each day are expected to use the comfort station at 66101 Hammond Road in Mecca.
It has a men’s and women’s restroom facility, and an additional family restroom with a shower and toilet. The women’s restroom facility has 11 showers and six toilet stalls. The men’s restroom facility has 13 showers, three urinals, and four toilet stalls. Each restroom facility has handicapped showers and toilet stalls.
“Of course there are a few homeless living here in the area in Mecca as well, but mostly of them will be farm workers who are working in the fields, who have been taking showers under contaminated water. I mean in whatever they can, in the canals. Now they’ll be able to come here,” said Gomez.
The laundry facility has eight washing machines and ten dryers. Laundry will cost $1 to wash and $1 to dry. In addition, there are six total lockers available.
The comfort station will be open for the winter harvest season starting Nov. 1. Services will be provided seven days a week November 1-March 31 and May 1-July 31. Hours will be from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
The Riverside County Board of Supervisors paid $1.2 million to help the Galilee Center provide the comfort station and $75,000 a year to cover the facility’s operational costs for a decade.
The funding doesn’t cover the new community room, with televisions, computers and drinks for people to get out of the heat or cold.
“In the community room, we’re going to have computer classes, people that will be able to read and write, go on the internet to search for jobs,” said Gomez.
The Galilee Center is always in need of donations and with the comfort station, it’ll need even more. Items necessary include bath soap, shampoo and conditioner, tooth brushes and toothpaste, laundry detergent and towels.
For more information, contact the Galilee Center at 760-396-9100.
