Long-sleeve shirt drive for farmworkers a success in Florida

Published: 2006-04-19

ORLANDO, Fla. (CNS) -- A drive to collect long-sleeve shirts that will protect migrant farmworkers from pesticide exposure has been a success, said Chris Gunty, associate publisher of The Florida Catholic. The "Long-Sleeve Relief" drive, sponsored by the diocesan newspapers and the Florida Catholic Conference, was embraced by more than 60 local churches and schools across the state during the Lenten season, Gunty said. "All seven of our dioceses participated," said Gail Botticello, receptionist for The Florida Catholic in Orlando. "I thought that we would only receive 1,000 shirts, but we have received much more than that." Tirso Moreno, general coordinator of the Farmworker Association of Florida, said the shirts are distributed at the association's health and safety classes for farmworkers. "We give them out in a creative way," Moreno said. "When we take them to the classes, we ask them (the workers) questions at the end and if they answer the questions correctly, they get some shirts. Then at the end of class, they all get to choose shirts to take home. The people at the classes are mainly pickers and they were really happy about getting the shirts."

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