Donations of long-sleeve shirts to protect farmworkers from pesticide and heat exposure will be accepted at sites statewide, including Maui Economic Opportunity in Wailuku and the American Job Center in Kahului, from March 24 to 31, as part of the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs (AFOP) annual national drive.
In addition to heat exposure in fields across the nation, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports more than 20,000 cases of doctor-diagnosed pesticide poisoning annually, AFOP said. The drive is held during Farmworker Awareness Week, which brings attention to the contributions of farmworkers and honors them.
Shirts need to be new or slightly used, a light color, made of natural fabric and long-sleeved.
In Maui County, drop-off locations include:
- MEO Community Services, 99 Mahalani St., Wailuku, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays, (808) 249-2970.
- American Job Center – Maui, Maui County Service Center, 110 Ala‘ihi St., No. 209, Kahului, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays, (808) 270-5777.
- MEO Hana, 1501 Uakea Road, Hana, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays, (808) 248-8282.
- MEO Moloka‘i, 380 Kolapa Place, Kaunakakai, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays, (808) 553-3216.
- MEO Lana‘i, 1144 Ilima Ave., No. 102, Lana‘i City, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, (808) 565-6665.
Drop-off locations in the other counties:
- American Job Center – Hilo, 88 Kanoelehua Ave., Suite A-204, Hilo, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays, (808) 935-6527.
- American Job Center – Hawaii (Oahu), 680 Iwilei Road, Suite 700, Honolulu, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, (808) 768-5705.
- Kauai Economic Opportunity, 2804 Wehe Road, Lihue, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, (808) 245-4077.
For more information, call MEO National Farmworker Jobs Program specialists Suzette Bacarro or Uilani Ah Chan at (808) 344-5550 or email [email protected] or [email protected].
Information also can be found on the website, www.afop.org/nfaw
