Community Involvement Shows We Are Truly “All in This Together”

When the Centers for Disease Control’s recommendation regarding the use of face coverings to prevent COVID 19 spread was released earlier this month, many agricultural employers immediately began securing as many face masks and coverings for farmworkers as possible. This is not a small task since farmworkers need multiple masks so they can be washed and dried between their daily use.

But in addition to the purchasing of face masks by farm employers, the Central Coast community is stepping in to help. A local charity that supports the farmworker community, Casa de la Cultura in Pajaro (the Casa), is doing their part with volunteers working throughout the day to sew face coverings to help meet demand.

Sister Rosa Delores Rodriguez, director of the Casa, said that local farmers contacted her asking for help in sewing face coverings. In exchange, these farmers will provide a donation to the charity, which the Casa will use to benefit the Pajaro community. The Casa volunteers are currently sewing 400 washable face masks and coverings.
Farmers have also shared that they have been contacted by individuals with offers to sew face coverings for farm workers too. These offers are being gratefully accepted by farmers.

While efforts are ongoing to secure and purchase face masks by farmers and ag companies, the work by our community underscores that “we are all in this together.” Thank you Central Coast community for supporting our farmers and farmworkers.