MIDDLEBURY, VT – Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) toured the Open Door Clinic (ODC) in Middlebury, Vermont today to meet with migrant farm workers and highlight the clinic’s health care services for uninsured and under-insured Vermonters. The Open Door Clinic, which works primarily with migrant farm workers, provides free essential care for people across Addison County in a culturally sensitive and welcoming setting. 

“Every Vermonter deserves high-quality health care — regardless of their immigration status or economic means,” said Sen. Welch. “The Open Door Clinic helps folks access that care when they need it most and connects Vermonters with critical long-term services, including health insurance. The work they do is incredibly important, and I’ll do whatever I can to support them with the resources they need from Washington.”  

Founded in 1990, the ODC operates two free clinics in Addison County — one in Middlebury and one in Vergennes. In addition, ODC visits 35 farms and eight orchards across Addison County each Fall, serving 270 migrant farm workers. The Clinic also connects Vermonters with health insurance and provides dental care, addressing pressing and unmet health care needs in the community. 

Migrant workers are an integral part of Vermont’s community life and economy, with more than 1500 migrant workers estimated to serve Vermont farms each year. Sen. Welch has long advocated for improvements to our immigration system that will support migrant farm workers, as well as better pay and access to quality health care and other vital services. As a member of the Senate Judiciary and Agriculture Committees, he will continue to push for resources to support local organizations like the Open Door Clinic, whose work addresses acute needs across Vermont communities. 

To learn more about the Open Door Clinic, please visit: https://opendoormidd.org/ 

###