Total Relief Payments:
Total Beneficiaries:
Total Farmworkers:
Total Meatpackers:
States & Territories:
Funds Usage
Food, Medicine, Health Care, Hospitalization, Childcare, School Supplies, Internet/Technology, Personal Protective Equipment, Funeral expenses
+120 Trainings, National Meetings, Working Sessions, and Technical Assistance to advance program execution.
Testimonials
Ilsa Quinones
Ilsa works in agriculture and the coffee industry.
After being referred by a coworker who had previously applied for the FFWR program, she applied through the same organization, Procafe, hoping to qualify for the funds.
As a result of the pandemic, there were many setbacks in many different areas, and through these funds, Ilsa was able to pay for necessities, such as buying groceries and paying electric bills.
“I liked the idea that they consider us, that they help us financially because financially, well, a little help is always needed, right? Since agriculture, well, is something that doesn’t have much economic benefit due to the little we can earn.”
Stephanie Colon
“Many people talk about agriculture with incredible ease, but the reality is that every farmworker knows the effort required to keep the farms up to date. Going out in the sun, in the rain, under various circumstances to support each home and family. This help has benefited many households in this rural area where we live, in this mountainous region where we are often forgotten. But on this occasion, we were remembered by you, so we thank you.”
Yanet Molgado Tapia
“Yanet is a Mexican farmworker with 17 years of experience in agriculture. She cleans and cuts lettuce, cilantro, and parsley. Despite the pandemic and the fear of being exposed to the virus, she continued working.
She used the funds from the FFWR program to buy food for her family and accessories that help make her work more manageable. Considering that agriculture is a very demanding job and that factors like heat, humidity, wind, cold, and chemical exposure can harm her health, she continues to work hard to support her family.”
Farmworker
“The pandemic has been devastating for our family. We were stable, but when COVID-19 hit, everything changed. I lost my job as a farmer, and my wife, a meatpacking worker, was also affected. We struggled to survive until we learned about the FFWR program through community advocates like Araceli Vazquez from Forward Latino.”
“The relief aid helped us tremendously. It allowed us to buy food and essentials for our family during this difficult time. We are so grateful for this support.”
Maria
“With this help that they are giving me, I can buy food for my children and my family.”
Laura Firte
“It’s providing people who didn’t have access to other resources during COVID with a way to begin to catch up. Most people have moved on from COVID, but folks who didn’t have those resources are still struggling, and so this program is a lifesaver for them.”
Ruth Martinez
“I want to thank Hispanic Federation for having integrated us into the program with the Department of Agriculture which has provided recognition to all the people who worked in the fields during the times of COVID. For us it is a great satisfaction to be able to reach these communities and share with them each of the stories we have lived, since it is a way to be grateful that we never lacked food on our tables and that we realized the hard work it represents.”
Darryl Morin
Forward Latino National President Darryl Morin stated, “We wish to thank the USDA for their Food and Farm Worker Relief Grant program and the Hispanic Federation for selecting Forward Latino as a trusted partner to distribute $2,340,000 worth of benefits to essential food workers across Iowa. This program is providing immediate relief to workers who all too often live paycheck to paycheck and who put their own lives at risk so that America’s families could be fed through the pandemic. We are truly grateful for this opportunity as are Iowa’s food and farm workers.”
Alexandra Sossa
“As the Bilingual Executive Director of the Farmworker and Landscaper Advocacy Project-Proyecto de Ayuda par Trabajadores del Campo y Jardineros-FLAP, I am immensely grateful for the collaboration between FLAP, the Hispanic Federation and the USDA’s Food and Farm Workers Relief Program. Here in Illinois, the need for such programs is vital. It is our responsibility to make sure our low-wage Farmworkers and Meatpackers who play a crucial role in the food chain, have the support they need. These group of workers are invisible and people do not realize often the struggles they are going through. They work tirelessly to ensure access to food for all of us, facing unprecedented challenges. Our partnership aims to address this need, empowering these essential workers to access basic resources. By facilitating their qualification for the $600 relief card, we stand united in our commitment to support those who sustain us all.”
