In early November, days of heavy rain flooded communities across Central and South Florida, and the state declared an emergency in 14 counties. In Fellsmere, in Indian River County, the flooding hit our farmworker community especially hard.

A week without work means a week without pay. For more than a week, local farmworkers and H-2A guest workers could not work because the fields were flooded and unsafe. For families already living paycheck to paycheck, that means no money for food, rent, or bills. Many H-2A workers also send money home to children and parents who depend on them, so the loss reaches far beyond Fellsmere. These are the same workers who worked through freezing, wet conditions, or lost their income completely, in January.

"Farm workers have been coming into our office asking for canned goods, food, clothing, and other necessities," says Bricia, our Fellsmere organizer. "These are not people who are unwilling to work. They are people who want to work but have been prevented from doing so because of circumstances beyond their control."

No one should have to choose between safety and their family. When shelters opened across Indian River County, many immigrant workers were afraid to leave their homes because of immigration enforcement. Some stayed in their homes or with relatives instead of seeking shelter. No one should have to choose between staying safe during a disaster and the fear of being separated from their family.

Climate disasters hit poor, rural, immigrant, and Black and brown communities the hardest, even though they do the least to cause climate change. Recovery is not just about clearing roads and waiting for the water to go down. It is about the people behind every missed paycheck and every request for a bag of groceries.

How your gift helps. For 43 years, the Farmworker Association of Florida has stood with farmworker families when disaster hits. Your gift will help provide:

Food and groceries for families who lost income
Clothing and other basic necessities
Financial support to help families cover rent and bills

Our goal is to raise $5,000 by November 18. The people who feed us all need us now. Please give what you can and share this page so these families know they are not alone.

Florida Flood Relief: Stand With Farmworker Families

Rapid response for farmworker families hit by the November floods