Estamos Aquí Fund Update
In April of 2020, Mano en Mano opened the Estamos Aquí Fund, a mutual aid fund designed to support immigrants and farm workers in Maine with financial challenges associated with COVID-19.
As of May 1, 2022 the Estamos Aquí Fund has successfully redistributed a total of $613,358, supporting a total of 2,991 individuals across the state of Maine.
The fund was designed to support community members receive direct funds for whatever immediate needs they were facing, as well as support individuals and families that were not eligible for government support.
Community members were able to request and receive direct funds for whatever immediate needs they were facing including housing, utilities, food, and more. On average, individual awards totaled $571, and requests were fulfilled in about 11 days.
Community members that received support are immigrants, farmworkers and their families who were affected by the Covid-19 public health emergency, of which 75% were not eligible for government support like unemployment assistance and economic impact payments.
The Estamos Aquí fund filled an important gap as a low-barrier, quick turnaround funding source and has proven crucial in assisting Maine families in meeting their basic needs during this crisis.
As of May 2022 the fund will close, and Mano en Mano will direct efforts to continue providing community members support through our emergency fund. If you would like to support these efforts please donate here.
Numbers and metrics often fail to measure the true impact of these awards. In hopes of illustrating the resilience of our community and the support these grants provided, below we have shared some stories from community members:
Mi experiencia principalmente empecé con miedo cuando empezó la pandemia, me quedé sin trabajo por mucho tiempo, y no tenía entrada de dinero. Gracias al programa de Estamos Aqui nos benefició demasiado. En ocasiones ya no tendríamos luz porque la tendrían que cortar sin esta ayuda. Ahora todo está tan caro que la verdad si nos ha ayudado muchísimo para poder hacer compras de casa y gas. Nos ayuda a sacar adelante nuestros pagos de renta, los biles que nos íbamos atrasando. Para mí fue un gran apoyo.
My experience principally started with fear when the pandemic started. I was out of work for a long time and I had no money coming in. Thanks to the Estamos Aqui program I benefited tremendously. On some occasions we wouldn’t have electricity without the money we received because the company would have to cut it since we were behind on the bill. Everything is so expensive that, to be honest, it has helped us so much to buy things for our home and gas. This helped us carry out our rent payments and bills that we were behind on. For me it was a huge help.
-Anonymous, Gouldsboro, ME
La pandemia me afectó tremendamente, pero Mano en Mano me ayudó mucho. El fondo de Estamos Aqui me ayudó porque pude comprarle a mi hijo ropa y a mí también. Siempre había alguien que estaba dispuesto a ayudar y de eso estoy muy agradecida.
The pandemic affected me tremendously, but Mano en Mano has helped me a lot.The Estamos Aqui fund helped me because I could buy clothes for my son and myself. There is always someone who was willing to help and I am thankful for that.
-Anonymous, Machias ME
Esta pandemia ha afectado mucho a toda la gente, a unos más que a otros claramente. A nosotros sí nos dio el COVID. La pandemia nos afecta laboralmente. Tuvimos reducción de horas en el trabajo y tuvimos que estar en casa. La experiencia que tuvieron mis hijos en la escuela fue un poco difícil y estresante, porque no estábamos acostumbrados a tener clases en línea. Con mucho esfuerzo logramos superar esa etapa. El fondo nos ha apoyado bastante. El fondo nos ayudó para pagar biles de las tarjetas de crédito. También nos ayuda a pagar alimentos y cobros indispensables como el aceite de calentón.
This pandemic has affected everyone, some more than others. We did get COVID and the pandemic has affected us at work. We had hours reduced at work and we had to stay at home. The experience that we had with our kids at school was a little bit difficult and stressful because we were not used to having online classes. With a lot of hard work we were able to get over that stage. The fund has helped us tremendously. The fund helped pay a credit card bill. It has also helped us pay for food and essential charges like heating oil.
-Anonymous, Milbridge. ME
La pandemia si nos afectó mucho porque terminó mi trabajo. En otros lugares no estaban ocupando a más gente para trabajar por lo mismo-por la pandemia. Estuvo muy duro porque hizo falta el trabajo. El fondo que recibimos nos va ayudar mucho. No va ser para una sola cosa porque se puede dividir poquito para la renta, poquito para la comida, y para otras cosas que necesita uno. Fue una ayuda muy grande.
The pandemic has affected us a lot because I lost my job. In other places they didn't need more workers because of the same reason-because of the pandemic. It was very difficult because there was no work. The fund that we received helped us a lot. We will not use it for only one thing because we can divide it. A little for rent, a little for food, and other necessities. It was a huge help.
-Anonymous, Milbridge
Durante la mayoría de la pandemia, yo estuve embarazada y no trabajé, y gracias a dios tampoco nos hemos contagiado del virus. Hemos estado bien. El fondo de Estamos Aquí me ayudó bastante, como en biles y todo eso.
During the majority of the pandemic, I was pregnant and didn’t work. Thanks to God we also didn’t get the virus. We have been well. The Estamos Aqui fund has helped me quite a lot, in paying bills and other things.
-Maricela, Harrington
If you would like to support Mano en Mano and community members in Maine, please donate today.
