The Harvest of Hope Festival 2010 brings more than just bands onto the fairgrounds of Saint Augustine. The three-day concert shares the stage with the Harvest Of Hope Foundation and raises awareness for the oftentimes unknown plight of the migrant farmworker. In only its second year, the Harvest of Hope Festival 2010 has gained considerable praise and appreciation for its cause and grabbed the attention of some of the biggest names in independent music today, all of whom were eager to dedicate their time to play at this year's gathering.

The Harvest of Hope Festival 2010 is a true Gainesville creation that was formed when Ryan Murphy of No Idea Records and Phil Kellerman, president of the Harvest of Hope Foundation, came together to organize the charitable event, merging both music and non-profit fundraiser into one weekend. Not to be drowned out by all the amps and mics, this year's fest will focus more on educating the public of the foundation's mission. In the fifteen years of operation, the HOH Foundation has been instrumental in providing direct emergency relief and financial assistance to "those who bring us our bounty of food." The aid for migrant farmworkers and their families is not seen by Kellerman as mere charity but rather relief that is earned through hard work. We spoke with Phil Kellerman about the organization's history, their unique approach in providing direct assistance and the impact of the Harvest of Hope Festival 2010.

Reax:  The foundation was established from your Grandmother's inheritance and certainly honors her longtime dedication to social service but when did you first realize that Harvest of Hope would focus its efforts exclusively on the needs of migrant farmworkers?
PK: In 1995 I began work at the State University of New York at Oneonta responding to calls from migrant farmworkers to a newly established National Migrant Education Hotline.  A fair share of the calls were requests for financial aid for car repairs due to breakdowns while traveling, gas, medical services, rent, utilities, food, clothing and funeral expenses. However, the federal funding for the Hotline did not provide money to provide emergency financial aid. I soon discovered that federal, state and local financial aid to migrant farmworkers was often limited or not available at all. While it was not one personal experience that solidified my commitment to this cause, it was the result of responding to thousands of calls and situations involving migrant workers, and getting to know in-depth their struggles.  Prior to her passing in 1996, my grandmother, Dr. Helen Zand told me that I would be receiving an inheritance from her.  I knew then that I was going to use part of my inheritance to set up the Harvest of Hope Foundation, in honor of her, to provide financial aid to migrant farmworkers calling the Hotline and other migrant farmworkers and families. 

Reax: The Harvest of Hope foundation provides emergency aid to migrant farmworkers and their families through "direct services."  What is the impact of this method on its recipients and how does it differ from other non-profit foundations?
PK: The mobile needs of migrant farmworkers differentiate themselves from other populations.  Because their employment is in seasonal or temporary agriculture, they often must travel many miles to make their living. This necessitates a need for vehicles in running condition and for gas, tires and car repairs due to breakdowns. In addition, finding temporary housing is a challenge as well as securing health services in rural areas where health care is often out of reach.  Federal, state and local resources for transportation and immediate housing are almost non-existent making the Harvest of Hope Foundation unique in providing the “direct” aid that migrant farmworkers and their families need - for example when they are broken down at night halfway between their homebase of Texas on their way north for field work.

Some non-profit organizations do provide “direct services” but tend to have regulations that make it difficult for a mobile population such as migrant farmworkers to receive help.  The Harvest of Hope Foundation has a nationwide network of migrant advocates, social workers and teachers we coordinate with to bring immediate help to migrant farmworkers without a lot of paperwork or delay.  Other non-profit foundations are not in the business of “direct services” and in fact have denied funding to Harvest of Hope because we do provide immediate and direct assistance.  They prefer to focus their funds on “long range or strategic policy” change.

Reax:  The Harvest of Hope website is constantly updated with your foundations expenditures and allows donors to see where their money goes.  What are some of the most important needs of migrant farmworkers and their families?  And other than monetary donations, what else can people do to help the foundation?
PK: Two thirds of expenditures by the Harvest of Hope Foundation go to the two things most needed by migrant farmworkers and their families.  1) Transportation in the form of funds for gas, tires and car repairs to safely get to where they need to go; 2) Housing including rent and utility payments so that they have a roof over their heads and electricity.  Ten percent of our funds have gone for medical services.   Ten percent, sadly, for funeral expenses. Ten percent for scholarships for children of migrant farmworkers to attend college.   The rest for food and clothing.
 
There are several simple ways to support agriculture and the migrant farmworkers who work so diligently. One, shop at local farmers markets or buy produce from small to medium size farms.  Two, demand that supermarkets buy their produce locally and pay a fair price to farmers without the “middleman.”  Three, write to legislators about passing immigration reform to allow hard-working immigrant workers to come out of the shadows and become citizens.  Four, support the Dream Act which would allow undocumented high school graduates the opportunity to adjust their status to legal if they can complete college. Five, make a donation or put together an event to help raise funds for the Harvest of Hope Foundation.  For information on this last suggestion we welcome folks to go to our web-site at www.harvestofhope.net.
 
Reax:  In only its second run, the Harvest of Hope Fest is bringing awareness to the foundation's mission and the plight of migrant farmworkers.  How did the Fest come together in its first year? And in what ways did the Fest help the foundation? 
PK: When I moved to Gainesville from upstate New York in 2003 a colleague of mine suggested that I contact her friend Ryan Murphy of No Idea Records in Gainesville.  Ryan happened to have come from the same NY town I resided in for 16 years – Oneonta.  We met and he was very interested in migrant farmworker issues and in fact later on he was  involved in a literacy project with migrant children in Alachua County run under the Foundation.  He suggested to his friends of the band Against Me! to do a benefit.  They liked the grassroots cause of the Foundation and wound up performing six benefit concerts for the Foundation which raised $18,000.  From there Ryan spoke with Ryan Dettra, manager of the St. John’s County Fairgrounds and the first Harvest of Hope Fest was born.  Against Me! agreed to headline and before we knew it, we had 141 bands play.
 
Since the Harvest of Hope Foundation provides direct financial aid and advocates for a largely unknown and misunderstood population of workers, the organization receives almost no corporate financial support.  Thus, the Harvest of Hope Fest has been a tremendous boost to the Foundation.  The music at the Fest is progressive, alternative and non-commercial in nature and thus the musicians and fans are open-minded to the grassroots work of the Foundation.  During the first Fest, I think we opened lots of eyes to the work of migrant farmworkers
 
Other beneficial offshoots from the Fest for the Foundation have included a slew of smaller music benefits across the country to raise funds; the production by Fail Safe Records  of a double CD from last year to raise funds, and a documentary of the Fest and Foundation by Double Donuts Productions to come out soon.

Reax:  There will be a plethora of musicians and artists at this year's Fest.  What is the reaction and response from bands who want to participate(or have participated)?  And what are you expecting from this year's 3-day event?  And will there be any changes?
PK: The reaction by bands has been overwhelming positive. This year we have searched for bands that understand the message of the Fest in bringing awareness of migrant farmworkers to the public.  We have had hundreds of bands apply to play.  This year’s Fest will be a bit more eclectic in nature.  While we still will have many progressive punk rock, heavy metal and hip/hop acts we will also have an increased number of indie, blues and acoustic acts.  We will also have some performances geared just for children.  We will have 154 bands as compared to 141 last year.

Reax:  Finally, what are you and the Foundation looking forward to in 2010?
PK: Another successful Harvest of Hope Fest which brings in ever more folks that last year.  Increased attendance will hopefully generate a profit which will go to the Foundation to help more migrant farmworkers and families in need of emergency and educational financial aid.  I am looking forward to making more connections with the progressive music industry to generate additional local benefits around the country for the Foundation, and to continue to press on with the message that migrant farmworkers earn our support.