COVID-19 Bag Project
 
In this time of uncertainty during COVID-19 and the resulting difficulty reaching out to our OSY, migrant families, farms, and agribusinesses, GOSOSY and IRRC are excited to join together to create COVID-19 bags available to our member states.
 
Included in each bag will be: 
  • facemask
  • large oversized bandana
  • soap and plastic soap box (hand sanitizer is cost prohibitive)
  • washcloth
  • high-quality, nitrate-coated washable work gloves that can be used at work and as a way to protect their hands
  • packet of sunscreen
  • information about how to protect themselves during the pandemic
  • educational resources, including the new GOSOSY Website Student Page
The  Student Page  includes:
  • ELL resources
  • COVID-19 resources
  • Free online resources that parents can use to help their children continue to study basic subjects. For example:
  •  http://www.iowamep.net/ss.html
  • All of the sites referenced will have a language widget that families can use to access the materials in their native languages. We believe this will be a helpful tool. 
  •  cards printed in both English and Spanish with information about materials available
We will be sending between 50 - 100 bags to each state that chooses to participate in the project. This is a concrete way to provide hard-to-get supplies to migrant workers and their families. It is also a first step to starting additional services and a way to provide a benefit that farms and agribusinesses will see as a real value to their workers. 
 
We also have the online  Occupational Survey Tool  that can be used in conjunction with this project to gain referrals from companies with potentially eligible workers, without having to be onsite at the company or a family’s house. We realize these times are unprecedented and we want to provide something to assist as you continue working to open the door to businesses and to provide supports to migrant families and youth. IRRC and GOSOSY will offering a joint training on this tool to interested states soon.
 
Our plan is to send the bags out to states within the next several weeks. Please think about where you would like your bags to be sent and develop a plan for using them.  If you do not want to participate in this optional project, please let us know as soon as possible.  We want the resources to go where you believe they will be most helpful. Bags will need to be shipped to one or two locations only. 

Please email Tracie and Jessica the following information by May 5:
1.    How many bags are needed for OSY in your state (no more than 95 bags to any state)
2.     Where the bags need to be shipped (no more than one or two locations)
GOSOSY and IRRC are paying for the initial COVID-19 Bag Project materials. This will allow us to better determine the costs of each bag and shipping materials; we estimate the bags will cost between $9 - $12 each. In the future we will share the sources for the bags and state programs can then buy and put together additional bags; or we will have an option for you to buy bags via the IRRC website. Fort Scott Community College will collect the payment and the bags will be shipped directly to you. More information on this second phase of the project will follow. 
 
While the circumstances leading to this project are troubling, we are nonetheless excited to have the opportunity for our consortia to work together in this way. 
 
Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions you have. 
 
Thank you for all that you continue to do,
Tracie Kalic (GOSOSY) and Jessica Castañeda (IRRC)
Tkalic@embarqmail.com and  jcastanedaidr@gmail.com