My dad came home from work last week and asked me if I could buy an insulated water bottle that he could give to his coworker, who is a 70 year-old-man barely able to keep up with the harvest in 95+ degree weather and who carries with him an empty plastic water bottle attached to a string...

Hi everyone- I am raising funds to assemble and distribute heat kits to farmworkers in need who I've met and become close with during my time doing research in the Central Valley.

My dad's story of his coworker is not unique or uncommon. Farmworkers often labor in unfair and unsafe conditions, with limited protections and high productivity demands. Despite their essential contributions to the state and national economy, the average farmworker makes less than $30,000 a year, making it difficult for them to purchase their own protections, like hats and electrolytes. Now, climate change and rising temperatures are further putting farmworkers at risk of illness, injury, and death: farmworkers are 35 TIMES MORE LIKELY to die of heat stress compared to all other workers.

I am asking for your help to assemble and distribute heat kits - which include water bottles, long sleeve shirts, hats, and electrolytes - to 15 farmworker families in need across the Central Valley, including some of my dad's coworkers. Each kit costs $230 to assemble. It includes two water bottles, a hat, electrolytes, and 3 long sleeve shirts, as well as a $100 gift card. Why does the heat kit include a gift card? Many farmworkers are paid based on their productivity, so they often push their bodies to the limit in extreme heat or skip water rest and water breaks to make ends meet. $100 goes a long way towards groceries and other basic needs, and making workers feel safe to take a 5 minute break when their body needs it.

Thank you in advance for caring and taking action towards this urgent matter!