COVID-19

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COVID-19 & Risks to Farmworkers

Farmworkers do life-sustaining work. Two to three million workers across our country plant, pick and pack the food that we eat. Of these workers, an estimated 900,000 of the workforce are women. Despite their critical contributions, farmworkers often live in the shadows of our society and are subject to substandard working conditions. Farmworkers are excluded from some of the most basic labor protections and are at risk of wage theft, rampant sexual harassment and severe occupational injuries from heavy machinery, sharp implements and other unsafe conditions. Exposure to harmful pesticides is also a major issue. Pesticides have an acute impact on farmworkers’ health and lives, especially for women. Pesticides lead to rashes, headaches, nausea and serious health consequences like miscarriage and child deformity.

Given this reality and the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic, we are gravely concerned about the health and welfare of the farmworker community, their families and the security of our entire food supply. While political leaders are swiftly taking measures in order to contain the outbreak, slow the spread of the virus and save lives, decisions are being made that have an impact on the lives and livelihoods of workers, including farmworkers.

Farmworkers' Pandemic Relief Fund

Justice for Migrant Women joined with Hispanics In Philanthropy to raise funds to address the immediate needs of the farmworker community and mitigate the risks of the pandemic.

How were these funds used?

During the pandemic, more than ever, farmworkers needed our support during these uncertain times. All funds raised went directly to help farmworkers purchase basic, yet essential, materials, including masks for the farmworkers as well as the healthcare professionals who serve them, groceries, hygienic supplies, diapers, formula and medical supplies and to assist them with payments for rent, utilities and medical care expenses.

How were the funds distributed?

Our partner organizations, such as the Coalition of Florida Farmworker Organizations (FL), 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 Corporation (Multi-state), NC FIELD (NC), La Cooperativa Campesina de California (CA), Proteus, Inc. (CA), Student Action with Farmworkers (NC), Telamon Corporation (Multi-state), UMOS (WI, MN), La Union del Pueblo Entero (TX), Campesinos Sin Fronteras (AZ), Rural & Migrant Ministry (NY), League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) (PR), Centro de los Derechos del Migrante (MD), Campaign for Migrant Worker Justice (OH, NC), HOLA Ohio (OH), Community to Community Development (WA), Idaho Organization of Resource Councils (ID), Pioneer Valley Workers Center (MA), Migrant Justice (VT), Child and Migrant Services, Inc. (CO), Called to Serve Farmworkers, Inc. (FL), Southeast Georgia Communities Project (GA), El Comite de Apoyo a los Trabajadores Agrícolas (CATA) (NJ, PA, MD, DE), Hispanic Federation - Puerto Rico (PR), Farmworker & Landscaper Advocacy Project (IL), Illinois Migrant Council (IL), Proteus Employment Opportunities Inc. (IA, IN, NE), Community Resources and Housing Development Corporation (CO), Workers Center of Central New York (NY), Project Gettysburg-Leon/Casa de la Cultura (PA), Vecinos Farmworker Health Program (NC), Pinal Hispanic Council (AZ), Migrant Farmworkers Assistance Fund (MO), Rural Employment Opportunities, Inc. (MT), Bienestar Inc. (OR), Westminster Free Clinic (CA), Community Action Program for Central Arkansas (CAPCA, Inc.) (AR, LA), Community Council of Idaho (ID), Central Virginia Legal Aid Society (CVLAS) (VA), and La Conexion de Wood County (OH) received money from this collective fund to help provide farmworker community members with much-needed resources and goods to meet their basic needs.

Over $4,250,000 in aid was distributed through October, 2022, when the fund was fully distributed.

#Masks4Farmworkers

Many thanks to the talented and caring Mario De La Torre for generously offering to create #Masks4Farmworkers and their health care providers. We are honored to team up with him and his team to launch this project in partnership with Hispanic Heritage Foundation and National Center for Farmworker Health to help provide farmworkers and the rural health care providers who serve them with this much needed personal protective equipment (PPE). For more information on this project, click here.

Acclaimed Fashion Designer Mario De La Torre teamed up with Justice for Migrant Women, Hispanic Heritage Foundation, and the National Center for Farmworker Health to launch a new initiative called #Masks4Farmworkers. This campaign will help limit the impact of this virus on farmworkers, their families, consumers and other community members by helping provide key resources. De La Torre and his team of designers will be sewing tens of thousands of masks to protect these vital members of America’s workforce and communities.

Additionally, Actor Nicholas Gonzalez from ABC’s television series The Good Doctor will serve as the main spokesperson for the campaign. “I am honored to be asked to be the spokesperson for the #Masks4Farmworkers campaign,” said Gonzalez. “The injustice and danger our migrant farmworker brothers and sisters face on any given day is a travesty. In our current fight with COVID-19, they are even more deadly. We all must stand for humane conditions and enhanced protections for those that provide us all with an essential, life-saving service. I humbly stand alongside Mario de la Torre, The Hispanic Heritage Foundation, National Center For Farmworker Health and the tireless Mónica Ramírez and Justice For Migrant Women.”

Over 2 million masks were awarded via the #Masks4Farmworkers project.

#Masks4Migrants

During the past year, migrant women have informed us of the urgent need there is for reusable masks which is where #Masks4Migrants hopes to make a positive contribution. In recognition of International Women’s Day (March 8), a collective of Justice for Migrant Women, Mercado Global, This Is About Humanity, and Hispanic Heritage Foundation are now joining together to expand the work and launch this #Masks4Migrants campaign to protect migrant women and their families at the U.S. border. We launched our #Masks4Migrants campaign and met our goal of raising $75,000 during Women’s History Month 2021 and funded 20,000 masks for migrant women and children at the border.

Each mask is handmade by Mercado Global partner artisans – women in the highlands of Guatemala. Being involved in this campaign offers them the opportunity to play a critical role in relief efforts all while earning an income that is essential during a time of such need. With the main sources of revenue in the region, tourism and remittances, disappearing over the past year, many Mercado Global partner artisans have become the primary breadwinners in their households.

Even before the pandemic, people had fled from their communities due to systemic poverty, violence and racism, and the harsh effects of climate change. Many of the families who will receive masks hail from the communities those same masks were made in, renewing a sense of hope and care regardless of how far they are from their home. With the aid of Guatemalan women, we're supporting migrant women’s advocacy efforts for their communities’ wellbeing in spite of borders.

For more information about the other partners go to: www.mercadoglobal.org, www.hispanicheritage.org, and www.thisisabouthumanity.org.