Florida Institute for Community Studies, Inc.

The Florida Institute for Community Studies (FICS – https://www.ficsinc.org/) partners with communities across Florida to help them achieve their goals through research, education, training, social services, and the arts. During the COVID-19 pandemic, SCCAHS support FICS work in the Wimauma area of Hillsborough County, home to many of the county’s farmworkers. FICS distributed disinfecting wipes, bleach, paper towels, hand sanitizer, baby wipes, garbage bags, laundry detergent, and 1,000 disposable masks, gloves at the La Estancia Apartment complex, which is designated farmworker housing. Additionally, FICS recognized the impact the pandemic had on farmworker children whose education had been disrupted. At the summer youth camp that FICS coordinates, the organization provided sanitizing cleaner for supplies; bilingual tutoring services; and personal school supply kits for each child receiving tutoring and learning supervision, including notebooks, reading logs, pencils, erasers, highlighters, and pencil cases