Appreciation Caravan: Migrant Farmworkers in California Receive Heartwarming Tribute
Farmworkers in California, mostly immigrants from Latin America, received a heartwarming appreciation caravan through a parade of love for their sacrifice in sustaining the food supply in the country amid COVID-19, according to a recently published article.
Farmworkers in California
There are more than 400,000 Latino and Hispanic farmworkers who work hard night and day in California just to make sure that the food chain in the country is enough. Many of them are migrants who are explicitly coming from Latin America.
While most of the Americans are in their homes to protect themselves from the infectious and deadly virus, many of the farmworkers are on the American fields planting and harvesting agricultural products. This is the ironic reality in the United States.
In a previous article of Latin Post, it was reported that if not all but many of the farmworkers who work hard without complaining received low wages and are at high risk of being infected for COVID-19 due to lack of gloves and masks.
Additionally, many of them do not also have insurance due to their immigration status. This means that once they get infected by the virus, they cannot easily access the government's healthcare services because they might be deported.
California Governor Gives Monetary Relief to Undocumented Immigrants
It is undeniable that many of the undocumented immigrants are playing an essential workforce in the state, and that includes undocumented farmworkers. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced recently that he plans to give monetary relief to the undocumented immigrants that worth $125 million.
Other groups are raising funds to fill the gap of Newsom's monetary relief that can cover only around 150,000 undocumented immigrants. It is estimated that there are more than 2.2 million undocumented immigrants in the state.
Earlier this week also, Trump announced that an amount of $19 billion relief fund for farmers is intended that will be divided into two programs. $3 billion will be used to buy the agricultural products that will be given to people who require food, and the remaining $16 billion will be paid directly to the farmers and ranchers.
California's Appreciation Caravan to Farmworkers
In this time of global health pandemic that negatively impacts the economy of all countries around the world, there is one sector that remained unrecognized despite their efforts to sustain the food supply of the country, and these are the farmworkers.
Farmworkers are today's "Unsung Heroes" who deserved to be applauded because they risked their lives on the American field behind the health threat brought by COVID-19. No matter what is happening, even the increasing number of cases of COVID-19 in the country every day, they are always there, making sure that there is enough food to be served on the table.
Most of the migrant and undocumented farmworkers are picking and harvesting fruits and vegetables while others are at home following the stay-at-home policy. Despite low wages they continue to work.
A group of farmworkers from California received a tribute through a parade of love. People of all ages brought sweet messages to the farmworkers and thanked them for their efforts in sustaining the food chain in the country.
This went viral on different social media sites and many of those who participated in the parade uploaded their photos showing their message of love and gratitude to the farmworkers.
Moreover, the group called "Farmworker Appreciation Caravan" is also raising money to help farmworkers and their families in this time of the global pandemic. Many of them are under financial stress, just like many of the American families.
Read related articles:
- Recognizing the Modern Heroes: Trump Announces $19 Billion Relief Fund for Farmers, Says It is 'Well-Deserved'
- California Governor Plans to Provide Monetary Relief to Undocumented Immigrants
- Real Heroes: Mexican Farmers Work Hard To Supply Food Amid COVID-19
- Real Heroes 2.0: Latino Farmworkers Sustain Food in the US, but Are They Protected Against COVID-19?