Applications are still open in various states to support farm and food workers.
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Chicago, Illinois – August 6, 2024 – Hispanic Federation (HF) held a press conference and toured an urban farm in Chicago, Illinois, to announce that, as of August 2024, it has distributed more than $30 million to over 50,000 farmworkers who worked on the frontlines during the COVID-19 pandemic, making it possible for millions of families to have food at their tables.
The payments are part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm and Food Workers Relief (FFWR) Grant program, which awarded Hispanic Federation a $44.2 million grant to distribute $600 one-time payments to farm and food workers in 19 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Since the program’s launch in March 2023, HF has achieved 79% of the program’s distribution goal, with beneficiaries in 48 states and territories receiving this one-time payment.
“Farmworkers and meatpackers are the backbone of our agricultural economy. They faced several challenges during the pandemic, including health risks, financial instability, lack of access to protective equipment for work, and healthcare services. These brave essential workers continued to work tirelessly to ensure our nation’s food supply chain remained intact,” said Laine Rolong, Hispanic Federation’s National Director for Economic Mobility. “That is why we are so proud to have distributed this much-deserved funding to thousands of workers nationwide. We urge any eligible essential worker to apply for this benefit.”
“We appreciate the work of the Hispanic Federation and their partners and their dedication to USDA’s Farm and Food Workers Relief program,” said USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt. “Their outreach with communities across the country helps ensure our nation’s essential food and agricultural workers have access to much-deserved relief from the effects of the pandemic.”
During the press conference, HF and its Midwest partners—FLAP, Forward Latino, and HOLA Ohio—highlighted the program’s positive impact, which has distributed over $5.5 million to essential workers in the Midwest. The organization also encouraged all eligible farmworkers and meatpackers to apply for this significant benefit.
“For far too long farmworkers and meatpackers have been invisible, even as they worked in the frontlines during the pandemic. I want to thank Hispanic Federation and USDA for providing support to these essential workers, and partnering with us to improve the living conditions of our community,” said Alexandra Sossa, Executive Director of FLAP.
“Being able to provide immediate relief to workers that kept us fed and alive during the pandemic has not only been impactful for them, but to us as well. We see them using this money to cover household expenses, to get their full allotment of insulin, or to invest in their education at the local community college, “said Darryl D. Morin, National President of Forward Latino, Inc. “Thanks to this program we have been able to distribute more than $2 million to these essential workers.”
“As someone who has spent over 30 years working with farmworkers, I have seen the barriers and hardships they face daily. That’s why this program by the USDA that provides $600 payments has been so impactful, because it has provided much-needed resources at a time of need,” said Veronica Dahlberg, Executive Director of HOLA Ohio. “We are grateful to the Hispanic Federation for helping us distribute over $700,000 to farm and food workers in our community who have been historically marginalized and overlooked.”
Illinois State Representative Edgar Gonzalez Jr. also joined the press conference: “This program is a lifeline for the 20,000 Illinois’ farmworkers. Illinois’ agricultural industry employs over 20,000 farm workers seasonally for planting, harvesting, hoeing, detasseling, weeding, cultivating, and many other jobs, and most of these workers are Latinos. Their average earned wage for a family of four is $10,000 below the poverty line. This cash assistance goes a long way in feeding the families of those that feed ours; that’s why I was glad to join the Hispanic Federation and allies in highlighting the benefits of this program.”
Hispanic Federation’s Food and Farm Worker Relief program is still accepting applications. This is a benefit that is released once per verified eligible worker. This is not a renewable nor annual benefit. There is no cost to apply. Only USDA-awarded organizations can process the program’s applications. For more information please visit ffwr.hispanicfederation.org/ or call the Hispanic Federation HF-AYUDA hotline at 1-844-432-9832.
ABOUT HISPANIC FEDERATION
Hispanic Federation (HF) is a nonprofit membership and advocacy organization, founded in 1990, committed to empowering and advancing the Hispanic community, with a focus on low-income, marginalized and immigrant Latine. With programs in 40 states, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia, HF’s focus areas include immigration, economic empowerment, civic engagement, disaster relief, philanthropy, education, health, and the environment. HF also maintains ongoing public education campaigns and meets the organizational development needs of its member agencies through grant-making and capacity-building assistance.
About The Farmworker and Landscaper Advocacy Project (FLAP):
FLAP’s mission is to improve working conditions and opportunities for low-wage workers and their households in the cannery, farming, greenhouse, landscaping, meat, nursery, packinghouse, poultry, restaurants, and snow plowing industries through advocacy, community outreach and education, legal services, community legal education, information and referrals, partnering with other organizations to fight human labor trafficking, preventing family separations by helping immigrants secure dual citizenship for their children and facilitating access to technology and cash transfers to very low-income populations. FLAP provides these services free of charge and without regard to immigration status.
About Forward Latino:
Forward Latino empowers affiliates to inspire and engage communities, strengthen our democracy, improve the lives of working families, protect the environment, and stand up for equality and civil rights. We cultivate, train, and support a diverse national network of Latina/o/x community leaders addressing the civic, economic, and political challenges of the 21st century.
About HOLA Ohio:
HOLA Ohio is a 501 (c) 3 Latino organization with a mission to improve educational outcomes, support financial and employment stability, facilitate access to medical and mental health care and celebrate Hispanic culture.
About the Funding from USDA:
Funding for The USDA’s Farm and Food Workers Relief grant was made possible by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service through grant [Federal Award Identification Number (FAIN): AM22FFWNY0016]. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the USDA.Federal Grant Agricultural Marketing Services (AMS), USDA. Authorized and funded under section 751 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (Pub. L. No. 116—260). USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. Non-Discrimination Statement | USDA
Farm and Food Workers Relief Grant Program | Agricultural Marketing Service (usda.gov)
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