Thanks to a generous anonymous private donation, Telamon-TRC, whose mission is to provide educational services that lead to better jobs, better lives, and better communities, has announced resources to issue emergency financial assistance to farmworkers in need with an emphasis on assisting those who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program will run now through Jan. 31 or until funds are exhausted.
To be eligible to receive assistance, an individual or family must have worked in agriculture sometime during the 2020 season. This applies to both domestic and foreign agricultural workers, regardless of their immigration status, and they do not need to provide any documentation to Telamon other than a signature to acknowledge receipt of the funds. The funds are available for the following needs:
- Food/personal care
- Health/medical
- Utilities
- Rent
- Transportation
- Childcare
- Other emergency needs
The assistance will be distributed through the local Telamon field offices in the form of a check in the amount of $1,000 per individual or family.
In order to apply for the assistance, the worker should reach out to the Telamon staff member listed below for the Telamon office location closest to them. All staff members listed below are bilingual in English and Spanish. The Telamon staff member will then complete the application over the phone with the worker by asking a few basic questions. This process will take about 10 minutes.
The application will then be sent for approval. Telamon is anticipating the turnaround time for workers to receive the assistance after completing the application to be approximately a week. Telamon staff contact information:
- Sparta: Oscar Dalmasi – (616) 213-7659 / odalmasi@telamon.org
- Hart: Maria Garcia – (231) 301-0807 / mgarcia2@telamon.org
- Paw Paw: Elmira Morales – (616) 268-0484 / emorales@telamon.org
- Holland: Guadalupe Moreno – (616) 403-2333 / gmoreno@telamon.org
- Lansing: Anett Espinoza – (517) 803-8279 / aespinoza@telamon.org
Telamon indicates employers can send names and phone numbers of workers to their representatives who will reach out to them directly. Requests for assistance are coming in quickly, so inquiries should be made as soon as possible, as funds are being disbursed first come, first serve.
