TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Feb. 15, 2012) - More than $50,000 has been raised to date though a special fund to assist the families of the workers killed or injured in a horrific crash on February 6 near Hampstead, Ontario.

The MIGRANT WORKERS FAMILY SUPPORT FUND was set up by UFCW Canada and the Agriculture Workers Alliance (AWA) to provide the community with a way to reach out to the families of the victims of the tragic two-vehicle collision.

100% of the collected funds will be donated to the benefit of families of the injured or killed workers, who include 13 agriculture workers, as well as the driver of the colliding vehicle.

"Across Canada, people have always shown their compassion for those in need," says Wayne Hanley, the national president of UFCW Canada. "We are heartened by the tremendous support the fund has already received from individuals, from UFCW Canada members, and from community and labour organizations across the country."

"Nothing can replace the loved ones that were lost, but the MIGRANT WORKERS FAMILY SUPPORT FUND can help the families rebuild in the wake of this horrendous tragedy and the loss of a primary breadwinner."

Donations to the MIGRANT WORKERS FAMILY SUPPORT FUND can be made through PayPal at www.ufcw.ca/familysupportfund. Donations can also be made through direct transfer to the Fund's account:

Condolences can also be sent to the families through a special memorial Facebook page: Hampstead Tragedy Memorial Page. The page has been set up to commemorate the workers who died or were injured, and to mark the tremendous contribution and sacrifices that farm workers - many of whom are migrants - make to our food supply and the Canadian agriculture industry.

UFCW Canada is the country's largest private-sector union, and for over two decades has led the campaign for safety and workplace rights for agriculture workers in Canada. In association with the Agriculture Workers Alliance (AWA), UFCW Canada also operates ten agriculture worker support centres across the country.