CoronavirusAt the peak of the pandemic, nearly half of positive covid-19 cases in North Carolina were among Latinos, despite just being 9.6% of the population. In the absence of adequate state or federal support, a group of Latina doctors and activists is taking the community’s health into their own hands.
N.C. Latinos fighting the pandemic
At the peak of the pandemic, nearly half of positive covid-19 cases in North Carolina were among Latinos, despite just being 9.6% of the population. In the absence of adequate state or federal support, a group of Latina doctors and activists is taking the community’s health into their own hands.
A young boy swings in a playground at a mobile home park where La Semilla distributed 300 boxes of food to immigrant families affected by the pandemic. His mother cooked lunch for the volunteers. She lost her fast food job in April, around the same time her husband was detained by ICE.
Victoria Bouloubasis
A box of tomatillos at a food distribution site represents a culturally appropriate model for emergency aid. La Semilla has delivered at least 30,000 pounds of healthy food throughout the pandemic to Latino neighborhoods, filled with seasonal produce like squash, tomatoes and tropical fruits and trays of meals prepared by chefs. The food comes from partnerships with existing local food banks, catering companies and farm networks.
Victoria Bouloubasis
In addition to boxes of food, La Semilla volunteers pass out bilingual voter registration guides and ask community members to fill out the U.S. Census so that more Latinos in N.C. are counted.
Victoria Bouloubasis
Almost half of Siler City, N.C.’s population is Latino. The town is also home to Mountaire Farms poultry plant, where workers are majority Latino. The zip code is among the highest in the state for covid-19 cases among Latinos. Jose Rodriguez, a plant worker, takes extra precautions with his family while at home. N.C. leads the nation in poultry plant outbreaks, though the state health department will not release data with company names and locations.
Andrea Patiño Contreras
Lizbeth Rodriguez, 17, was born in Siler City, N.C. to parents from Tabasco, Mexico. She worries about her father’s health and safety at the poultry plant where he works, and says some of her friends’ parents have contracted covid-19 there.
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