Eastern Farm Workers Association

Three representatives addressed issues central to the mission of the Eastern Farm Workers Association, a local mutual-benefit association: Kaaren Remley, Florence Allen, and Amina Musa, who came to this country from Kenya one year ago at age 20. 

Eastern Farm Workers Association is a volunteer-run organization involved with low-income working families. Kaaren stressed that although EFWA does a lot of work with migrant workers on local dairy farms, it supports other low income groups such as those affected by factory closings, farmers during “bad years,” service employees, single parents, and the elderly.

Among the many services provided: driving workers to medical, business and Social Services appointments, hosting several parties through the year including Easter and Halloween, packing and delivering Thanksgiving boxes. They offer job and housing referrals, distribute clothing/food, help clients deal with utility companies when heat is about to be shut off, and refer people to volunteer dental, legal and medical services.

Our guests stressed that EFWA is not a charity but more a mutual cooperative association; those who join help others in many ways. Although there are sister organizations throughout the country, priorities are established at local meetings. EFWA serves a lot of individuals on the North and West sides of Syracuse from their offices at 525 N. Salina St. They get no government money; monetary donations from Rotary and local churches including First Unitarian and May Memorial Unitarian Universalist congregations. One EFWA major fundraisers is an annual tamale sale where volunteers make 3,000 pork, chicken, and vegetarian tamales; they also offer calendars describing their projects for a $20 suggested donation.

Eastern Farm Workers Association is a volunteer-run organization involved with low-income working families. Kaaren stressed that although EFWA does a lot of work with migrant workers on local dairy farms, it supports other low income groups such as those affected by factory closings, farmers during “bad years,” service employees, single parents, and the elderly. Among the many services provided: driving workers to medical, business and Social Services appointments, hosting several parties through the year including Easter and Halloween, packing and delivering Thanksgiving boxes. They offer job and housing referrals, distribute clothing/food, help clients deal with utility companies when heat is about to be shut off, and refer people to volunteer dental, legal and medical services. Our guests stressed that EFWA is not a charity but more a mutual cooperative association; those who join help others in many ways. Although there are sister organizations throughout the country, priorities are established at local meetings.

EFWA serves a lot of individuals on the North and West sides of Syracuse from their offices at 525 N. Salina St. They get no government money; monetary donations from Rotary and local churches including First Unitarian and May Memorial Unitarian Universalist congregations. One EFWA major fundraisers is an annual tamale sale where volunteers make 3,000 pork, chicken, and vegetarian tamales; they also offer calendars describing their projects for a $20 suggested donation.

Joy Pople moderated a discussion to share information about problems faced by those served by EFWA and conversations we may have had with migrant workers that might help us understand their concerns. Amina shared her story: a refugee, she is working toward her GED and living with her sister’s family of six children. Though her family has few resources, she is volunteering with EFWA and giving back to help others. Kaaren learned about EFWA though speakers at First Unitarian Universalist Church.

One of the main topics that came up was how we could help. The greatest need is for volunteers—especially drivers! Other services needed are:  answering phones; typing; personal skills like singing, cooking, sewing; transporting other volunteers; canvasing door to door for potential members and volunteers. We could support “Operation Camp”—choose a farm that has EFWA members who can’t get to meetings and bring benefits to them. Workers at one farm asked for box fans in summer; another asked for raincoats. Another way to help is donate supplies for the parties held several times a year; St. John the Baptist Church offers storage space for party supplies, all of which are donated by local community groups and businesses.

After thanking Kaaren, Florence, and Amina for joining us today, we gave them the canned goods we had collected for EFWA.