Every Friday at Centro Cristiano Renacer in Greenport, Pastor Marcelino Mejicano and his volunteers are packing up several boxes of food.

“It’s very important because there are a lot of families during this pandemic that don’t have anything to eat,” said Mejicano, speaking through a Spanish translator.

About 4,000 pounds are delivered to 80 families in Columbia County each week. Many of them are excluded workers - individuals who did not receive stimulus checks and unemployment benefits during the pandemic.

“Without this program, there would literally be no food coming to them, outside of this program" said Mejicano.

In between packing up his van with much needed fruits and vegetables, Mejicano joins advocates in supporting state legislation to establish a fund for excluded workers. The money would assist undocumented, formerly incarcerated, and cash-economy workers.

“It’s an issue that affects excluded workers everywhere,” said Bryan MacCormack, executive director of the Columbia County Sanctuary Movement.

He says this bailout fund would be administered through unemployment.

The proposal would send a $750 check each week to workers who don’t qualify for benefits.

“Similar to how the rest of unemployment is done, except in this case, it is for people who are ineligible for unemployment,” MacCormack said.

Advocates say this could be funded by taxing billionaires to raise the $3.5 billion they’re seeking for the excluded workers fund.

The legislation is currently in committee in the state Senate and Assembly. Until then, Mejicano plans to continue helping individuals until they can get back on their feet.