Here are ways to support the 680 immigrant food workers who were detained in the ICE raids in Mississippi on August 7.

1. Donate to the UFCW Local 1529 Strike and Emergency Fund. The union represents workers at 2 of the plants where the ICE raids took place. The local’s fund is providing workers with financial support to pay for rent, food, and other basic needs. Send a check to UFCW Local 1529 Strike and Emergency Fund, Memo: MS Raids, UFCW Local 1529, 8205 Macon Road, Cordova, TN 38018. 
2. Volunteer your time and skills. The Southeast Immigrant Rights Network is coordinating solidarity on the ground in Mississippi.They’re looking for people and groups to volunteer in various ways, including from afar, especially if you speak Spanish or indigenous languages, as well as people who can travel to Mississippi. Click here to fill out the form letting them know how you can help.
3. Provide legal assistance. If you’re an attorney and may be able to help, the Mississippi Center for Justice wants to hear from you. Click here to fill out their form.
4. Join a local immigrant rights group / support a local immigrant workers center in your area and participate in local protests against ICE.

Support grocery workers, not Wall Street
Corporate grocery stores are making record profits but refuse to provide workers enough pay or hours to support themselves or their families. Sign this petition to support grocery workers!

Nobody should work 2 or 3 jobs and not be able to afford housing, food, and basic healthcare. Especially when the CEO of Ralphs-Kroger Co. makes 547 times what the average worker earns in a year. As shoppers, let’s join together with workers to fight for what’s fair.

Check out this great profile of our co-director Jose Oliva in Food Print. He shares his personal story and celebrates the 10th Anniversary of the Alliance in the article.

Solidarity with immigrants is a core value of the FCWA. As such, our members asked how could we collectively support the caravan of Central American migrants who are seeking asylum in the United States but are stuck in Mexico as the Trump administration refuses to process their asylum applications in a timely manner.

We partnered with DREAM Team LA to collect donations and organize a delegation to deliver supplies to the migrants waiting across the border. Each of our organizations contributed funds, and we also fundraised from supporters and member groups. With over $700, we bought new t-shirts and toiletries and created 100 care packages. We also collected donations of used clothing, toys, books, and shoes from community members in Los Angeles.

On December 9, 2018, our delegation drove down to the border. Our Co-Director Joann Lo, her two children, and our intern Kayla Jaspeado took a van full of donations to a migrant camp that had been rained out of Benito Juarez park in Tijuana–their tents displaced from the park onto the street. Even under difficult conditions, the people in this camp are doing what they can to collaborate as a community. They cook together and work together to keep the camp clean and safe.

Currently our member organization, United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) Local 770, has an active campaign at Overhill Farms. This fight began in 2009 when Overhill Farms unjustly fired 254 workers claiming “irregularities with their documentation,” and almost 10 years later the fight continues as Overhill Farms continues to deny workers the respect and dignity they deserve. Overhill Farms Workers continue to stand strong and united, fighting for a fair union contract with the support of UFCW Local 770, despite the company’s countless attempts to intimidate them.UFCW 770’s Bargaining Committee Members have been negotiating with Overhill Farms on behalf of 400 packinghouse employees working at two plants in Vernon, California. Unfortunately, Overhill Farms has failed to agree to a fair union contract for Overhill Farms workers which we know means livable wages, affordable health care, respect, and dignity on the job.

After receiving yet another bad contract proposal, UFCW Overhill farm workers have voted to authorize a strike. Stand in solidarity with the 400 Overhill Farms’ Union Employees strike and stand up to Overhill Farms! Get the latest updates and find how you can plug in or support the Overhill Farm Workers’ Campaign by following their Facebook page @OverhillFarmsWorkers.

It seems only yesterday when our Co-Directors, Joann Lo and Jose Oliva, had the honor of receiving the 2017 James Beard Foundation Leadership Award. We were delighted to hear that Ramon Torres, the President of one of our member organizations, Familias Unidas por la Justicia, and Dara Cooper from theNational Black Food & Justice Alliance, a co-founder of the HEAL Food Alliancewith us, were selected to be two of 2018 James Beard Foundation Award recipients! Jose and Joann nominated both of them for this year’s award!

We are fortunate to have such wonderful, hardworking members and allies and overjoyed to see their hard work be recognized. Let’s celebrate with Ramon, Dara, and the thousands of workers and farmers in the food sector who are benefiting from their great work!And congratulations to all the James Beard Foundation recipients! They include Ferd Hoefner, Senior Strategic Advisor, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition; Doug Rauch, President/Founder, Daily Table; and Shirley Sherrod, Executive Director, Southwest Georgia Project.