As you can imagine, this has been a difficult year for many farm workers. In addition to deplorable working conditions and lack of a living wage—which impacts their ability to have decent housing, among other things—they have also had to contend with more overt racism along with the escalated possibility of deportation for themselves and/or family members.

It is heartbreaking to think that the people who work day in and day out and put food on our tables are treated this way.

F.E.P. does not see this drive as an act of charity but as a way of thanking those who feed us and to help right another injustice against them.

This year we are again working with our contact Lizbeth Valdez. Backpacks filled with school supplies will be going to farm workers in the Central Coast of California who pick our strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and vegetables.