A Day at Home” buys time for COVID-19 testing for vineyard workers
WALLA WALLA, WA (May 21, 2020)—Vital Winery launched an effort to help keep vineyard workers safe during this COVID-19 era. “A Day at Home” raises money to keep vineyard workers home if someone that they’ve come into contact with contracts COVID-19, or if they are at high risk of developing the virus. It buys time to save lives.
“In order to stay at home and get paid by the U.S., you have to have a doctor’s note in hand, which is not immediately available for a lot of people who are at risk of contracting the virus,” said Ashley Trout, Founder & Winemaker of Vital Winery. “A day of unpaid work for many of these crew members is simply not an option, so this fund helps buy time for the whole crew to get tested and stay safe.”
“A Day at Home” asks for donations of $108, which is the approximate daily pay for a vineyard worker in the Walla Walla Valley. It launched on April 30 and has already raised $15,000, all of which has or will be distributed to local vineyards workers at risk.
“‘A Day at Home’ was our response to a local vineyard worker contracting COVID-19, and it’s been amazing to see the community come together,” Trout said. “Unfortunately, despite many safety measures in our vineyards, we fear this may be just the beginning. We hope to raise more money to help as many people as possible throughout the Walla Walla Valley and the state of Washington stay home and stay safe.”
Donations can be made directly through the Vital Winery website. Those who qualify must fall under a set of criteria that includes working in a vineyard within the Walla Walla Valley AVA or the state of Washington, and are thought to be at high risk for developing COVID-19 as defined by the CDC.
About Vital Winery
“Taking care of each other”
Vital Winery is a non-profit winery whose 100% profits go toward better healthcare for vineyard and winery workers in the Walla Walla Valley. Practically every part of the winemaking process has been made possible by donations, including both raw materials and services.
