http://www.portervillerecorder.com/articles/2007/02/10/news/local_state/news1.txt

 Help on the way

For farmworkers nationwide, the United Farmworkers Foundation has been a symbol of hope in times of crisis.

On the eve of a major union-sponsored food distribution at the Comision Honorifica Mexicana Americana building, UFW officials believe their presence in Porterville will provide that same hope.

The distribution takes place three days after a rally in Porterville, where union President Arturo Rodriguez pledged to a group of over 250 farmworkers that he would take swift action to assist freeze victims, regardless of their legal status,

“People look to the UFW for that sense of security,” said Lupe Larios, who is coordinating freeze relief efforts for the union. “We just want to make a difference during these tough times.”

The freeze destroyed $800 million in citrus, but the human toll - unemployment estimates range between 12,000 and 28,000 people - sparked one of the largest humanitarian efforts in Valley history, Love in the Name of Christ Director Elva Beltran said.

“The calls have kept coming since the freeze hit, and we know that this will be going on for months,” said Beltran, whose organization has spearheaded local relief efforts. “We are really excited to have the UFW here again, working alongside us.”

Love INC has primarily provided utility and rental payment assistance, in connection with the Porterville Salvation Army, to workers affected by the freeze.

Saturday, Beltran said, the UFW will provide the food regardless of citizenship status, filling an important need of the people.

The UFW also played a major role locally during the freeze of 1998, handling food distributions and also acting as the voice of the farmworker in the political arena.

Larios said the union chose Porterville as the starting point for its relief effort because the support network is still in tact from 1998.

The union, Larios said, also plans to organize similar food distributions in Kern County, and smaller Tulare County communities, as well as in Porterville for months to come.

“We have a large support base, and its centrally located,” Larios said. “So we know that people from Terra Bella, Ducor, Woodville, Strathmore, Lindsay and elsewhere will come to the distribution.”

UFW officials signed a lease agreement with Comision Honorifica Feb. 5, to use space in the building for distributions, said Fred Beltran of Love INC.

Mirna Vasquez, a UFW member who organized the Porterville distribution, expects thousands to be in attendance Saturday, she said.

“Oh man, a lot,” Vasquez said. “Maybe 2,000, or even more.”

Also Saturday, the El Granito Foundation, a local nonprofit organization that provides assistance to the needy, will hold an auction to benefit those affected by the freeze.

The auction opens for public viewing at 9 a.m. and begins at 10 a.m. The location is 232 N. Main Street in the old Fun Zone Building, across the street from Union Bank.

All proceeds will go to help the victims of the freeze.

Contact Aaron Burgin at 784-5000, Ext. 1047, or aburgin@portervillerecorder.com.

This story was published in The Porterville Recorder on Feb. 10, 2007