Nutrition and Housing Assistance

The premium participants of JAS Family Farms Organics, a California based producer of artichokes, peppers, squash, specialty tomatoes and more, indicated that housing and nutritional assistance are the areas of greatness need. As a result, the JAS Family Farms Organics Fair Trade Committee planned to distribute two gift cards valued at $1,000 each for 34 beneficiaries. These cards are intended to help ease the financial burden of rising food and housing costs, particularly during the leanest months. The production season is from May to October. Assistance is welcomed in November, December, January, and February, as identified in the original 2021 needs assessment.
To ensure the funds are used appropriately, the premium participant is required to submit receipts as proof of purchase. For housing-related expenses, acceptable documentation includes rent receipts, a copy of the housing contract showing monthly bills, mortgage statements, or property tax bills. For nutritional needs, participants must provide store receipts.
There are specific guidelines regarding eligible purchases. The gift cards may be used to buy food, non-alcoholic beverages, cleaning supplies, clothing, and hygiene products. However, they cannot be used for alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, restaurant meals, car maintenance items, gasoline, or household appliances.
The goal of this initiative is to alleviate financial stress during the months when participants face the greatest hardship, ensuring that essential needs are met with dignity and accountability.
A member of the JAS Family Farms Organics Fair Trade Committee shared "For the past 3 years we have focused on projects that tackle housing and nutritional needs. The last projects have been for $1000 in rent, $400 in household appliances and housing needs, and $400 gift cards for grocery stores. We are still in the process of setting up another round of projects that will address nutritional needs."
Rose C., who has benefited from this project, shared "Comercio Justo y la ayuda que recibimos es increíble. Me permite tener un respiro durante el invierno cuando no estamos trabajando. Aprecio tener proyectos que me ayuden con la vivienda y los alimentos porque esos son los mayores gastos que tenemos. " (Fair Trade and the support we receive are incredible. It allows me to have a break during the winter when we're not working. I appreciate having projects that help me with housing and food because those are the biggest expenses we have.)