Long Sleeve Shirt Drive for Farmworkers
By Cole Goodwin
The Dalles, Ore., March 12, 2024 – The Oregon Human Development Corporation (OHDC) and the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs (AFOP) are hosting a long sleeve shirt drive to help farmworkers in need mitigate exposure to pesticide residues and reduce direct exposure to heat.
The drive is in honor of National Farmworker Awareness Week (NFAW), which runs from March 24-31st, 2024. The week brings attention to farmworkers and honor them for the contributions they make to our daily lives.
“Our nation’s 2.5 million farmworkers face long hours of arduous work putting their health and safety at risk due to exposure to dangerous pesticides and heat stress. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency indicates that over 20,000 cases of doctor-diagnosed pesticide poisoning are reported yearly,” reads AFOP.org.
So why long sleeve shirts?
“A gently used long-sleeve shirt that is light colored and natural fabric can help prevent exposure to pesticide residues and prevent suffering a heat-related illness,” says AFOP.
Long Sleeve Shirt Donation Drop off locations:
The Dalles:
Oregon Human Developlment Corportation
502 Washington Street, Suite 208 The Dalles, Or 97058.The Next Door
1113 Kelly Ave The Dalles OR 97058.One Community Health
1040 Webber St The Dalles OR 97058.North Central Public Health
419 E 7th St The Dalles OR 97058.
Donation drop off hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Hood River:
The Next Door
965 Tucker Rd, Hood River OR 97031One Community Health
849 Pacific Ave, Hood River OR 97031The Hood River Library
502 State St Hood River OR 970311100 E Marina Way, Suite 102 Hood River Oregon 97031.
Donation drop off hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Why celebrate National Farmworkers Awareness Week?
Farmworkers feed the world- 85% of our fresh fruits and vegetables are handpicked.
“There are an estimated 2.5-3 million men, women, and children who work in the fields in the United States. Farms are in every state, including yours, yet farmworkers remain largely invisible and continue to live and work in horrific conditions. We demand dignity for farmworkers.” says AFOP.
Farm work is one of the most dangerous jobs in the United States.
“The people who plant and harvest our fruits and vegetables suffer from the highest rate of toxic chemical injuries of any other workers in the nation and have higher incidences of heat stress, dermatitis, urinary tract infections, parasitic infections, and tuberculosis than other wage-earners. We demand safe working conditions for farmworkers.” says AFOP.
Farmworkers are treated differently under the law.
“Overtime, unemployment insurance, and even protection when joining a union are not guaranteed under federal law. Farmworkers were excluded from almost all major federal laws passed in the 1930s. The Fair Labor Standards Act was amended in 1978 to mandate minimum wage for farmworkers on large farms only and it still has not made provisions for overtime. We demand just living and working conditions for farmworkers and an end to unfair treatment under the law.” says AFOP.
To learn more about farmworker awareness week or learn more about how to become a AFOP partner click visit AFOP.org.
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