Car parade honors local farm workers
CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA, KSWT) - Cars paraded through the streets of downtown Calexico Friday morning, to honor and celebrate local farm workers.
One man described the parade as surprising and very touching.
"It’s emotional, honestly and really we’re just thankful for this," said Alfredo Guerena, farmworker.
Guerena has been working in the valley fields for 24 years. He’s one of the many farm workers that cross the border daily to work. He says the pandemic has changed many things, but not his will to keep working.
“We’re here daily no matter what, and we give it our all," said Guerena.
As workers ate their breakfast and prepared to travel to their work location, community members paraded through downtown Calexico saluting what they say are unsung heroes.
“Very grateful and appreciative of the work that they do, and not to forget the work that they do is very meaningful to society to all of us," said George Miranda, school counselor.
“To get up in the morning it was not easy and those people that have to do it everyday, I just thank them very much," said Sombra Chaney, El Centro Regional Medical Center employee.
“They’re heroes, they’re out there putting the food on the table so, they're heroes to me," said Maribel Padilla, Brown Bag Coalition Co-founder.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor's National Agricultural Workers, about three million people work in the Ag industry in the U.S.
With the pandemic, their labor has become more essential than ever before, but it’s also become more dangerous.
“It’s difficult because we’re exposing ourselves to the virus. We carpool together and work in close proximity. We are wearing our masks and we are practicing social distancing but it’s still a risk," said Dana Vega, farm worker.
With help from donations, Migrant Education Harvest of Hope was able to hand out snacks to workers. Vo Medical Center in Calexico also handed out free physical exam vouchers for farm workers.
Tune in to 13 On Your Side at 4 p.m. as Alexandra Rangel speaks to farm workers about staying strong through the pandemic.
