Catholic charities USA (CCUSA), based in alexandria, virginia, is the national office of the 167 membercatholic charities agencies across the united states

The Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service awarded Catholic Charities USA a $9,021,306 Block Grant under the Pandemic Relief Activities: Farm and Food Worker Relief Grant Program (CFDA 10.181) to distribute one-time funds to meatpacking and farm workers from October 4, 2022 to October 4, 2024. As the national office for 167 Catholic Charities agencies across the U.S., Catholic Charities USA will oversee subawards to 12 member agencies and Escucha Mi VOZ Iowa to provide outreach, education, and application assistance to an estimated 13,274 beneficiaries eligible for the Farm and Food Workers Relief Grant Program. Subawards were made to Catholic Charities offices and affiliates in Oregon, Washington, California, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, and Idaho to distribute funds to meatpacking and farm workers in their respective regions who have been negatively impacted by COVID-19 through job losses or reductions.

This network of agencies served over 15 millionindividuals in 2021, through a diverse array of human services. CCUSA will leverage its experience as anational coordinator of federal and private grants to direct, support and report on the work of subgrantees in this proposal. The twelve agencies bring extensive experience of working with farmworkersand those employed in the meatpacking industries through the services documented in this application.member agencies distributed personal protective equipment, food and other support needed whenindividuals working in these industries were experiencing work reduction, job loss, health crises andother negative impacts due to covid 19. This grant will enable the agencies to continue and expandtheir work with those employed by these industries by providing outreach, education and applicationassistance for the farm and food workers relief grant program, (FFWR). Agencies will follow theeligibility criteria and application process as outlined by USDA AMS. The agencies are positioned toleverage new and existing community partnerships to conduct outreach, education and applicationassistance for the FFWR grant program. With this application we request 9,877,007 to secure thebenefit for the 13,274 beneficiaries who are projected to qualify for this program through the proposed activities.