This is Karin & Jon, owners and farmers at Bear Roots Farm in Williamstown, VT. We've created this GoFundMe to help Denton & Mario, our long-standing farm workers from Jamaica. Yesterday, Jamaica was hit by the largest hurricane in its history, devastating the entire country.

As we write this, Denton & Mario are out harvesting potatoes for our organic vegetable farm. For the last few days, they have been unable to contact their families and had no idea what had occurred. Today, we have learned that Denton's house lost its roof and his yam farm was washed away entirely in the torrential flooding. Mario is still yet to hear from his family but has heard that his cab was lost in the torrential rains.

Denton & Mario travel to Vermont every growing season through the H2A visa program, which allows agricultural workers to work outside of their home countries to provide for their families. Denton is in his 60s and has been part of this program since he was 16 years old. Mario is newer to the program. It's been an honor to have them working for us for the last seven seasons. They are the hardest working people we know.

Denton and Mario are scheduled to head home on November 15. We expect the return to be challenging emotionally, physically, and financially. We are asking for donations so that they can both rebuild, feed their families, and get back on their feet. This return home is their "down time" and we're heartbroken knowing they will be spending this time rebuilding.

Farming is one of the most labor-intensive jobs. Denton and Mario’s hard work allows us to have food on the table all year long. In honesty, they keep our farm going. It is our hope that we can all come together as a community to show appreciation for their hard work. If you can, please help them in this very serious time of need.

With gratitude,

Karin & Jon - Bear Roots Farm