AgriSafe Network is seeking funding to support an organized response to Virginia agricultural communities impacted by hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Historically, AgriSafe has maintained a culture of readiness to protect and respond. We are excited to be on the ground in Virginia to deploy our natural disaster recovery services in person, and we expect this to serve as the foundation for how AgriSafe responds on a national level in the future. We need your support to ensure our work and growth in this area.
FUNDING REQUEST
Our goal is to raise $80,000 to help cover the costs of attending FEMA-coordinated community events and to allow increased capacity for the AgriStress Helpline in Virginia. This funding will help AgriSafe offer a safety net for agricultural communities in Virginia affected by hurricanes Helene and Milton, ensuring they have 24/7/365 access to essential information and resources to bolster their recovery.
RESPONSE ACTIVITIES
FEMA has invited AgriSafe to attend in-person events in southwestern Virginia, called Agricultural Recovery Resource Day(s). These are one-day pop-up events held in Virginia counties most impacted by the aftermath of flooding from hurricanes Helene and Milton, supported by the Governor of Virginia.
AgriSafe will be present at each event to distribute resources, and engage with local farmers, farmworkers, and their families to provide support for their needs and challenges.
The first event is set to take place in Independence, Virginia, on Tuesday, October 29th, 2024.
More dates and locations will be forthcoming. Visit FEMA’s site for more information on the Virginia Agriculture Resource Recovery Days.
In addition to helping fund AgriSafe’s participation in the events for Virginia, a portion of the funds will support the AgriStress Helpline® for Virginia.
The AgriStress Helpline provides 24/7/365 support that is free, confidential, and available by both call and text at 833-897-2474. Phone calls have interpretation capabilities in 160 languages, and text is available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese. The helpline is answered by trained professionals who can offer crisis support, including suicide intervention and de-escalation, emotional support, and resource referrals for both agriculture and behavioral health needs.
We know that agriculture is unique – that is why the crisis specialists who answer the line have received additional training on factors that impact people working in the agriculture industries.
Virginia is not the only state impacted by natural disasters and loss. We hope that our work in Virginia serves as a launch pad to extend our work to other states, as soon as possible.
For resources on floods and recovery, please visit AgriSafe’s Flood Health page.
For resources on hurricanes and recovery, please visit AgriSafe’s Hurricane Health page.