Special Fund For Mr. Pablo Iglesias
Donation protected
Visalia Latino Rotary has created a fund to provide financial assistance to Mr. Iglesias. He was recently featured in KMPH Fox 26 (see article below). He is an inspiration to hard working individuals in farm labor. Please read story. Any amount helps.
Source: KMPH FOX 26By LIZ GONZALEZWhat started as another day on the job has now made one Tulare County farmworker a familiar face to thousands on social media.Like many others, he heads out every day to earn a living picking oranges, grapes, and mandarins in fields across the Central Valley.But what sets Pablo Iglesias apart from others, is that he relies on crutches to get his job done.He has one leg."I get ready early in the morning four, five I'm ready to go to work," he said.The orange harvest is slowing down, and he had no work Thursday.A day of rest, for the 68-year-old from Zacatecas, Mexico.He lost his leg in a farmworking accident 20 years ago in Mexico.This happened three months after his wife passed away."I didn't know what to do," he said. "I had to be strong. I didn't want to be cooped up, feeling sorry for myself. I had to get to work."He had to provide for his eight children.So, he made the decision to sell his home and property, leave his children with their grandparents, and head to the United States, where his brother was a farm laborer.He's been at it ever since-- raising eyebrows and spirits along the way."It beats asking people for money," he said."I've never seen it, in all the years, anyone in the field like that," said Rolando Saldivar.Saldivar and a crew had been servicing pumps in a field near Woodlake, when they spotted Iglesias working Tuesday morning.The crew did a double take, then approached Iglesias."Here's somebody who really has a reason not to work, but is working," Saldivar said.His crew decided to pool money together to help Iglesias - around $40."It really inspires a lot of people," said Saldivar, who later took a picture of Iglesias and shared it with many.Iglesias says he usually heads out to work with his nephews.They tackle the high limbs, climbing the ladders.He handles the lower ones."I lean to one side, putting my weight on one crutch," Iglesias said. "I reach out with the other arm and crutch to reach the fruit."He says there have been times he have been times contractors have hired his nephews, but not him."I tell them it's okay," he said. "I wait in the car until they're done."But when he does work, he puts all his effort into keeping up with others."I carry my weight and fill my bags like the rest of them," Iglesias said, proudly.On a good day, he says he averages about $40.He supplements his income by collecting aluminum cans around his work sites.He's found ways to stretch his money.For instance, he buys slip-on sandals."That way I use one, and when it wears out, I can use the other on the same foot," he said.Iglesias says he had a prosthetic leg about ten years ago, but had to stop using it after he lost weight.It no longer fit him properly.He has no health insurance to cover a replacement.A friend gave him a wheelchair but he prefers his crutches.He has no problem getting around his neighborhood, and walks to nearby shops.One time, he says a woman gave him money thinking he was a panhandler."I didn't ask for it, but sometimes people want to help me out," he said.He says that since he's healthy enough to work, he's happy to help others who are disabled and panhandling.As for the able-bodied panhandlers?"I invite them to come to work with me," Iglesias says. "So far no one has taken me up on the offer."
Source: KMPH FOX 26By LIZ GONZALEZWhat started as another day on the job has now made one Tulare County farmworker a familiar face to thousands on social media.Like many others, he heads out every day to earn a living picking oranges, grapes, and mandarins in fields across the Central Valley.But what sets Pablo Iglesias apart from others, is that he relies on crutches to get his job done.He has one leg."I get ready early in the morning four, five I'm ready to go to work," he said.The orange harvest is slowing down, and he had no work Thursday.A day of rest, for the 68-year-old from Zacatecas, Mexico.He lost his leg in a farmworking accident 20 years ago in Mexico.This happened three months after his wife passed away."I didn't know what to do," he said. "I had to be strong. I didn't want to be cooped up, feeling sorry for myself. I had to get to work."He had to provide for his eight children.So, he made the decision to sell his home and property, leave his children with their grandparents, and head to the United States, where his brother was a farm laborer.He's been at it ever since-- raising eyebrows and spirits along the way."It beats asking people for money," he said."I've never seen it, in all the years, anyone in the field like that," said Rolando Saldivar.Saldivar and a crew had been servicing pumps in a field near Woodlake, when they spotted Iglesias working Tuesday morning.The crew did a double take, then approached Iglesias."Here's somebody who really has a reason not to work, but is working," Saldivar said.His crew decided to pool money together to help Iglesias - around $40."It really inspires a lot of people," said Saldivar, who later took a picture of Iglesias and shared it with many.Iglesias says he usually heads out to work with his nephews.They tackle the high limbs, climbing the ladders.He handles the lower ones."I lean to one side, putting my weight on one crutch," Iglesias said. "I reach out with the other arm and crutch to reach the fruit."He says there have been times he have been times contractors have hired his nephews, but not him."I tell them it's okay," he said. "I wait in the car until they're done."But when he does work, he puts all his effort into keeping up with others."I carry my weight and fill my bags like the rest of them," Iglesias said, proudly.On a good day, he says he averages about $40.He supplements his income by collecting aluminum cans around his work sites.He's found ways to stretch his money.For instance, he buys slip-on sandals."That way I use one, and when it wears out, I can use the other on the same foot," he said.Iglesias says he had a prosthetic leg about ten years ago, but had to stop using it after he lost weight.It no longer fit him properly.He has no health insurance to cover a replacement.A friend gave him a wheelchair but he prefers his crutches.He has no problem getting around his neighborhood, and walks to nearby shops.One time, he says a woman gave him money thinking he was a panhandler."I didn't ask for it, but sometimes people want to help me out," he said.He says that since he's healthy enough to work, he's happy to help others who are disabled and panhandling.As for the able-bodied panhandlers?"I invite them to come to work with me," Iglesias says. "So far no one has taken me up on the offer."
Organizer and beneficiary
Raymond Macareno
Organizer
Visalia, CA
Anabel Chavez
Beneficiary