(ARCADIA, Fla.) – Joe Romero spends most workdays driving through the rural backroads of Florida's storm-battered southwest communities, looking to help migrant farmworkers who are still struggling with their once-flooded mobile homes and limited resources after Hurricane Ian.
Romero, migrant farmworker paralegal for Florida Rural Legal Services, has seen firsthand the hardship brought on by the storm’s damage.
Storm victims, who are living in already chronically poor neighborhoods at the heart of Florida’s agricultural industry, in the southwestern part of the state, are in desperate need for disaster relief resources but some are reluctant to seek aid or don't qualify for federal disaster assistance.
Florida Rural Legal Services, Inc. (FRLS) and community partners are mobilizing relief efforts for the farm working communities in Arcadia, Fla. A citywide outreach event is set for Saturday, Nov. 19 from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Marme Travel/Salon El Mexicano de Arcadia, 414 S Brevard Ave., Arcadia, FL.
The Arcadia Disaster Relief event will bring various social services, limited food and water distribution, and community non-profit organizations directly to the rural storm-ravaged community.
In attendance will be University of South Florida’s Salud Latina, Redlands Christian Migrant Association, Florida Help Center, Farmworker Association of Florida, All Faith Foods Bank, and Marme Travel/Salon El Mexicano De Arcadia.
“It was great to see so many partners participate in Florida’s first migrant farmworker (MFW) disaster event in Immokalee on Oct. 29 where comprehensive disaster aid was led by FRLS’ MFW Managing Attorney, Tia Hagger and FRLS’ migrant unit,” said Jaffe S. Pickett, executive director and chief executive officer of FRLS. “Tia has worked with FRLS’ MFW Helpline Managing Attorney, Angela Thompson to ensure our statewide services to farmworkers continue, even during times of disasters. I am excited about the follow-up event in Arcadia this week, since no other disaster relief events are targeting and catering to migrant farmworkers. Many of whom have not worked since Hurricane Ian and have transportation barriers so taking services into these farming communities is critical.”
There are about 700,000 farm workers in Florida. The sunshine state is the country’s second-largest producer of vegetables and top citrus producer, and its $8 billion agricultural economy depends on migrant workers.
“It is our mission to work alongside other agencies in Arcadia and beyond, in order to provide a
variety of services/resources needed on behalf of the farm working community there,” said Tia
Haggar, migrant unit manager of FRLS. “We hope to do additional events going forward on behalf of the farm working community in Arcadia.”