School supplies distributed to 242 children of local farm workers
– On Wednesday, Food Empowerment Project (F.E.P.), a vegan food justice organization based in San Luis Obispo, concluded its latest School Supply Drive. This year, F.E.P. delivered 242 backpacks filled with school supplies to farmworker families in Santa Maria and Paso Robles.
The backpacks, filled with essentials such as folders, notebooks, and pencil pouches, were made possible through donations from supporters. The organization also included an encouraging quote from José Moreno Hernández, a former farm worker and retired NASA astronaut. The quote, “Dream Big! ¡Se vale soñar en grande! Échale ganas!” translates to “Dream Big! It’s worth dreaming big! Go for it!”
F.E.P. partnered with farm worker activists and the Farmworkers Institute of Education and Leadership Development, founded by Cesar Chavez, to distribute the backpacks.
“Our School Supply Drive is not an act of charity, but a way to right an injustice taking place against farm workers,” said Lauren Ornelas, founder of F.E.P., “Farm workers sacrifice so much to feed us, and by doing this for them, we’re saying thank you.”
Food Empowerment Project, founded in 2007, aims to create a more just and sustainable world by highlighting the power of food choices. The organization advocates for fair conditions for farm workers, healthy food availability in underserved communities, and animal protection. F.E.P. is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
