BY REV. RICK WILLIS, Special to the Eastern Shore Post —
Tears of joy welled up in the eyes of an Eastern Shore seasonal agricultural worker as she spoke with her family in Mexico on her cellphone. The call was made possible by newly installed Starlink satellite equipment that gave her direct internet access to her family.
The equipment was installed in one of the largest of 12 work camps on the Eastern Shore by members of the Agricultural Workers Advocacy Coalition. The coalition’s mission is to welcome and support the temporary H-2A visa workers who plant, tend, and pick food crops on the Eastern Shore each year.
After three years of dedicated efforts on the part of the coalition, which was hampered by a lack of support from the farm producers and the prohibitive costs charged by private internet providers, the Agricultural Workers Advocacy Coalition found a viable and lower cost alternative.
Two members of the coalition internet committee bought, tested, and successfully installed the first Starlink satellite kit in the largest camp.
Now, some of the workers can communicate with their families, call for emergency or medical assistance, and talk with their contractors.
A second kit was installed, and in the test of the equipment over fifty users simultaneously connected to the internet.
The workers can now use the communication app WhatsApp on their cellphones to talk with their families in distant parts of Mexico, including the states of Veracruz, Pueblo, Oaxaca, and Guerrero. The smiles and expressions of “gracias” were priceless.
Air Conditioning
Heat stress is an oppressive condition for workers toiling long hours in the fields. Global climate change has had a deadly and disproportionate impact on agricultural workers. Summers on the Eastern Shore are notoriously hot.
After struggling with heat in the fields, workers return to the stifling camp barracks, which are usually non-insulated concrete block buildings. In one of the 22 rooms of a potato camp, only two rooms have AC. This situation is common to most camps.
Responding to workers’ concerns and enabled by generous donations from churches, individuals, and organizations, as well as coalition partners such as the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia, the coalition has purchased and installed 37 units in two of the largest camps for workers.
Five additional units are available to install. A dozen used air conditioners have been donated through coalition members. The workers have expressed their gratitude for the donations and contributions that have made these two “miracles” possible.
The coalition is aware that its efforts are inadequate to provide these resources to all the H2-A workers, who number more than 1,200 during the season.
The coalition has reached out numerous times urging the owners of the farms to partner with them to expand internet access and provide more air conditioning for the barracks. These efforts are continuing.
The coalition engages with the workers at its monthly dinner meetings, where workers share issues affecting their quality of life on the Shore.
The workers have raised concerns such as food insecurity, confusing contracts regarding pay and work hours, disrespect from many residents, lack of shopping opportunities, and other issues. Together, the coalition and the workers seek solutions to these issues.
The coalition seeks involvement and contributions, which are essential to benefit the workers.
Donations can be made through the coalition’s sister organization, Dos Santos Food Pantry and Thrift Store.
Checks can be sent to Dos Santos, P.O. Box 867, Onley, VA 233418. Note AWAC on the memo line.
Online donations can be made at: http://dossantosfoodpanty.org
For more information on the coalition visit: http://www.awaccoalition.org
