Community leaders urge support for Lexington families impacted by Tyson Foods plant closure

Help is pouring out from Omaha to Lexington.

Community leaders gathered Tuesday to request urgent community and state support for the 3,200 Tyson Foods employees and their families affected by the upcoming closure of the Lexington beef plant.

The event was organized by community activist Mark Martinez. He said the magnitude of the situation made him do something.

“And it does take that, that walking in someone else's shoes to really begin to feel, not completely, but just begin to feel what they might be feeling,” said Martinez. 

That’s why leaders are urging people to contribute to the Lexington Community Relief Fund.

By supporting this fund, local nonprofit organizations will be able to offer resources such as access to childcare, education, resources, and housing, as well as ensuring their families have basic needs met during this transition.

The Heartland Workers Center is joining the effort by offering a 10-hour OSHA training course in Spanish in Lexington.

“This training is a crucial step in preparing these dedicated workers for their next job, equipping them with knowledge of the rights and safety certifications needing for various industries across the heartland. We believe in upscaling people, and this is one way that we can support doing that,” said Executive Director of the Heartland Workers Center Lina Traslavina Stover.

To support the fund, visit lexfoundation.org

The plant is scheduled to close on January 20.