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Migrant Farm Workers are essential to Canada's Food Supply & Local Economy!
Due to the pandemic these farmers have faced multiple ongoing challenges such as:
* Poor & Over-Crowded Living Conditions
* Many have been stranded for months due to red tape & border closures
* Lack of Government Support
* Descrimination
* Reduced / No Income for long periods
We have come together since December 2020 to help in raising funds to purchase food, clothing & essential items to help our fellow people through this difficult time.
In December we visited Schuyler Farms which housed approximately 100 Trinidadian Farmers that were stranded due to administrative processes and border closures. We had an amazing group of people that organized groceries, essential items & a hot meal for everyone catered by Pepper on the Side, Brampton & Radica's Restaurant, Brampton. The crew organized an amazing "Trini Christmas Motorcade" to help brighten their spirits. It was truly wonderful to see the Trinis Jump & Wine to the parang music as we arrived.
Our 2nd initiative was a few days before the New Year where we sent donations of gifts & prizes towards the "Schuyler Farms Virtual Old Year's Celebration" organized by Leanne Arnal.
At the beginning of February, Leanne reached out as she had located another farm with seven (7) Trinidadian Farmers in St. Thomas that were in pretty bad shape. They are housed all together in a trailer that is not properly winterized so it was very cold and because it's in the middle of nowhere the wifi signal is unreliable making it difficult to communicate with their friends and family. We immediately came together and prepared groceries, warm clothing & blankets.
On Feb 20 we had the Brantford Socacize group that ran an amazing "socacize fundraiser" that raised over $750 to help us help them. Another amazing example of "communities coming together"!
We were thrilled to hear that most of the workers that were still in Canada (waiting out the winter) are now collecting EI Benefits and some farmers have tried to keep them employed during the winter months. Kudos to those farm owners that have gone above and beyond to help them out.
So what's next?
Migrant Farmers are now slowly returning to Canada for Spring/Summer Employment. The first group will be arriving on March 12th with 50 Jamaican Nationals. Due to the pandemic, the returning farmers are required to be confined to their isolation hotel rooms for their entire 14-day quarantine.
Although the health regulations are in place to protect everyone involved; it is inhumane to have someone stay locked in a room for 14 days without any fresh air or exercise. These farmers spend most of the year with us here in Canada to work the fields bringing food to our tables. Due to their crowded living conditions, they are at higher risk than many of us to contact Covid-19.
We are collecting donations & delivering "Quarantine Care Kits" on March 20 for the group of Jamaican Farmers. We hope this little gesture will help them feel welcome and brighten their quarantine days.
THEY NEED OUR HELP!
Every small donation counts!
Due to the pandemic these farmers have faced multiple ongoing challenges such as:
* Poor & Over-Crowded Living Conditions
* Many have been stranded for months due to red tape & border closures
* Lack of Government Support
* Descrimination
* Reduced / No Income for long periods
We have come together since December 2020 to help in raising funds to purchase food, clothing & essential items to help our fellow people through this difficult time.
In December we visited Schuyler Farms which housed approximately 100 Trinidadian Farmers that were stranded due to administrative processes and border closures. We had an amazing group of people that organized groceries, essential items & a hot meal for everyone catered by Pepper on the Side, Brampton & Radica's Restaurant, Brampton. The crew organized an amazing "Trini Christmas Motorcade" to help brighten their spirits. It was truly wonderful to see the Trinis Jump & Wine to the parang music as we arrived.
Our 2nd initiative was a few days before the New Year where we sent donations of gifts & prizes towards the "Schuyler Farms Virtual Old Year's Celebration" organized by Leanne Arnal.
At the beginning of February, Leanne reached out as she had located another farm with seven (7) Trinidadian Farmers in St. Thomas that were in pretty bad shape. They are housed all together in a trailer that is not properly winterized so it was very cold and because it's in the middle of nowhere the wifi signal is unreliable making it difficult to communicate with their friends and family. We immediately came together and prepared groceries, warm clothing & blankets.
On Feb 20 we had the Brantford Socacize group that ran an amazing "socacize fundraiser" that raised over $750 to help us help them. Another amazing example of "communities coming together"!
We were thrilled to hear that most of the workers that were still in Canada (waiting out the winter) are now collecting EI Benefits and some farmers have tried to keep them employed during the winter months. Kudos to those farm owners that have gone above and beyond to help them out.
So what's next?
Migrant Farmers are now slowly returning to Canada for Spring/Summer Employment. The first group will be arriving on March 12th with 50 Jamaican Nationals. Due to the pandemic, the returning farmers are required to be confined to their isolation hotel rooms for their entire 14-day quarantine.
Although the health regulations are in place to protect everyone involved; it is inhumane to have someone stay locked in a room for 14 days without any fresh air or exercise. These farmers spend most of the year with us here in Canada to work the fields bringing food to our tables. Due to their crowded living conditions, they are at higher risk than many of us to contact Covid-19.
We are collecting donations & delivering "Quarantine Care Kits" on March 20 for the group of Jamaican Farmers. We hope this little gesture will help them feel welcome and brighten their quarantine days.
THEY NEED OUR HELP!
Every small donation counts!