Riverwards Produce Employee Layoffs
Donation protected
On 3/18/2020, the majority of the Riverwards Produce staff (~15 people) were laid off permanently due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We, the staff who were there day in and day out, are asking for your help in this precarious and frightening time.
We have always appreciated you, the community members, who have supported Riverwards and who have treated us like family. Right now, we are asking for your support in a time of need. Riverwards was a full-time job for most of us and without that income we will be short on the necessities we need to sustain ourselves. If you are able to, please consider donating to help us have some sort of short-term monetary stability in this crazy time.
EDIT: Did not want to get into details here, but Riverwards deleted my comment on the Instragram page promoting this GoFundMe.
Two days ago (3/16/20) we were all told our jobs were secure and our hours would not change. Afterwards, we all got organized and signed a petition asking for Hazard Wages of a $5/Hour increase for the physical and mental tolls of working through this pandemic. If you have been to RW recently, you know how crowded it has been. 48 hours later, we were all laid off permanently instead. None of us were contacted re: the petition.
EDIT #2:WOW! Thank you so much to everyone within the community who has donated, shared, or sent a message of solidarity and support to us. It all means so so much and we are completely in awe of how much love is in everyones’ hearts. We wanted to give an update and say we surpassed our original goal of $10,000 which is amazing. Since we have surpassed our original goal, we have moved our goal to $18,000, which is the estimated cost of two-weeks pay for everyone who was laid off. Again, we feel so appreciated, loved, and cared for by everyone who has contacted us in anyway during this hard time. Many other businesses who had to lay-off employees in the area also have relief funds. In our latest post on our instagram page, @riverwardsemployeecoalition, we linked to some of the other relief funds that people can support if they are able to.
EDIT #3: For whatever reason, Instagram has removed our page @Riverwardsemployeecoalition. Trying to get access to it again.
Thank you so much and stay safe.
We have always appreciated you, the community members, who have supported Riverwards and who have treated us like family. Right now, we are asking for your support in a time of need. Riverwards was a full-time job for most of us and without that income we will be short on the necessities we need to sustain ourselves. If you are able to, please consider donating to help us have some sort of short-term monetary stability in this crazy time.
EDIT: Did not want to get into details here, but Riverwards deleted my comment on the Instragram page promoting this GoFundMe.
Two days ago (3/16/20) we were all told our jobs were secure and our hours would not change. Afterwards, we all got organized and signed a petition asking for Hazard Wages of a $5/Hour increase for the physical and mental tolls of working through this pandemic. If you have been to RW recently, you know how crowded it has been. 48 hours later, we were all laid off permanently instead. None of us were contacted re: the petition.
EDIT #2:WOW! Thank you so much to everyone within the community who has donated, shared, or sent a message of solidarity and support to us. It all means so so much and we are completely in awe of how much love is in everyones’ hearts. We wanted to give an update and say we surpassed our original goal of $10,000 which is amazing. Since we have surpassed our original goal, we have moved our goal to $18,000, which is the estimated cost of two-weeks pay for everyone who was laid off. Again, we feel so appreciated, loved, and cared for by everyone who has contacted us in anyway during this hard time. Many other businesses who had to lay-off employees in the area also have relief funds. In our latest post on our instagram page, @riverwardsemployeecoalition, we linked to some of the other relief funds that people can support if they are able to.
EDIT #3: For whatever reason, Instagram has removed our page @Riverwardsemployeecoalition. Trying to get access to it again.
Thank you so much and stay safe.
Fundraising team: Riverwards Produce Team (2)
Alexander Loscko
Organizer
Philadelphia, PA
Alix Hagan
Team member