WORKING WITH FARMWORKERS ON THE NORTH CAROLINA COAST

Farmworkers face unique challenges during and after disasters, including lack of transportation to evacuate, loss of work and visas if crops are damaged and possible exposure to hazardous and toxic substances. In addition, many of them are put in jeopardy because of literacy issues and not understanding emergency warning messages. Fortunately, Episcopal Farmworkers Ministry, in partnership with Episcopal Relief & Development, is leading the way to improve disaster preparedness and response capacity of this group. Their efforts help ensure that the workers realize a full and sustained recovery after disasters. The Episcopal Farmworker Ministry has been diligently working in advocacy and supportive roles with migrant and seasonal farmworkers on the North Carolina coast for many years. Episcopal Relief & Development has partnered with them in emergency response during Hurricane Dorian as well as Hurricane Matthew in 2016 to provide water and food to stranded individuals and families in need after many lost work due to crop destruction.

In the past, the ministry regularly convened disaster preparedness workshops for agricultural workers. Now, they still raise awareness, with a twist. The ministry has been offering food to families in need during COVID-19, and as people wait in a line of cars to receive food, staff use a reacher pickup tool to share Spanish-language resources through an opening in car windows.