Who is this fund for?
An estimated two to three million farmworkers feed us through their labor, bringing fruits, vegetables and other crops to homes across the nation. As the country is learning, their work is critical, yet they and their work have not been properly valued.
Why was the fund created?
The COVID-19 pandemic is expanding into rural America, and these communities may be among the hardest hit due to their demographics and lack of resources. Justice for Migrant Women (J4MW) and other farmworker-serving partner organizations are gravely concerned about the health and welfare of the farmworker community, their families and the security of our entire food supply. It is our hope that farmworkers are not forgotten or left behind.
How will these funds be used?
In addition, J4MW has joined with HIP to raise funds to address the immediate needs of the farmworker community and mitigate the risks of the pandemic. Now, more than ever, farmworkers need our support during these uncertain times. All funds raised will go directly to farmworkers to help them purchase basic needs for their families, like groceries and hygienic supplies; pay for utilities and other expenses; and assistance to offset medical costs and to aid in purchasing medical supplies.
In addition, to help limit the impact of the virus on the farmworker community, acclaimed fashion designer Mario De La Torre has teamed up with J4MW, Hispanic Heritage Foundation, and the National Center for Farmworker Health to launch the #Masks4Farmworkers campaign, which will sew tens of thousands of masks so that farmworkers and healthcare professionals who serve them have much-needed protective wear in order to safely perform their jobs.
How will the funds be distributed?
Our partner organizations, such as the Coalition of Florida Farmworker Organizations (FL), Dolores Huerta Foundation, East Coast Migrant Head Start Project (Multi-state), Farmworker Association of Florida (FL), The United Farm Workers Foundation (CA, WA), Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noreste (PCUN) (OR), Redlands Christian Migrant Association (RCMA) (FL), Pathstone (Multi-state), NC Fields (NC), La Cooperativa Campesina de California (CA), Proteus, Inc. (Multi-state), Student Action with Farmworkers (NC), Telamon Corporation (Multi-state), UMOS (WI, MN) and La Union del Pueblo Entero (TX) will receive money from this collective fund to help provide farmworker community members with much-needed resources and goods to meet their basic needs.
Please support:
Please donate $25 today to help support the farmworkers who feed our nation. Checks can be mailed made payable to Hispanics In Philanthropy with Farmworkers’ Pandemic Relief Fund written in the check memo line. Please mail checks to 414 13th Street, Suite 200, Oakland, CA 94612
You can also help raise awareness by sharing this sample post:
Farmworkers do life-sustaining work and put their lives and health at risk by continuing to work in the fields during the COVID-19 pandemic. I am thanking them through my donation to the Farmworkers Pandemic Relief Fund. Join me in showing our gratitude and support today!