n October when community members in small-town, rural Brasher Falls began to panic that their SNAP benefits would be affected by a federal government shutdown, St. Lawrence Central United Teachers President Margaret Dean knew she wanted to do something.

“About 40 percent of our student population is economically challenged,” she explained. “As teachers, we see these kids every day and their basic needs aren’t being met. They’re showering at school or wearing the same sweatshirt every day because it’s the only one they have.”

The high school English teacher worked closely with Karen O’Gorman, SLCUT building representative at-large, and district administration to identify roughly 200 families who would be impacted and then came up with a plan to ask two things of her membership: sponsor one family on the list and find someone else to sponsor another family.

Her plan worked and SLCUT quickly raised more than $11,400 to purchase gift cards for 216 families including 427 students.

“It was overwhelming, but not surprising because we have a lot of what I call ‘doers’ in our union, which I’m really proud of,” Dean said. “Several retirees stepped up as well. Our people just really embraced the idea and the number of friends and family who haven’t even stepped foot in St. Lawrence County and still donated because one of our members asked them to is just amazing.”

Because her members surpassed their initial fundraising goal, Dean said they used the extra money to buy gift cards for all 62 residents at a local subsidized housing program for seniors and people with disabilities.

In Western New York, Seneca Falls Support Staff Association President James Marley felt a similar call to action in response to SNAP recipients fearing their benefits were at risk. As a school bus driver, Marley said he knew that many families in the district don’t have their own means of transportation and were therefore unable to access the school-based pantry. So he and his members brought the pantry to them.

“Through four mobile pantries, we have helped 37 families,” Marley said. “Now 144 parents and children have extra food in their homes that they would not have otherwise had access to because they do not have vehicles.”

Marley said the disruption to SNAP benefits also hit close to home for some SFSSA members. “I told them your union will not let you or your family go hungry. We got them gift cards and extra food boxes from the pantry. We take care of our own.”

In November, NYSUT joined forces with the NYS AFL-CIO and other labor organizations for Labor Feeds NY: A Week of Action Against Hunger. The statewide effort called on union members to help New Yorkers in need amid rising grocery costs, the federal shutdown and the holiday season. NYSUT locals led the way, and thousands of NYSUT members across the state went above and beyond to support their communities.

In the Southern Tier, the Canaseraga Teachers Association — with only 30 members — collected more than 500 pounds of food to provide families with full meals over the holiday break.

In Western New York, NYSUT Board members donated thousands of dollars and hundreds of pounds of food to FeedMore WNY.

In New York City, the United Federation of Teachers hosted an event for 150 students living in temporary housing and provided each child with a new winter coat, a pair of gloves or mittens, a scarf and a hat to keep them warm in the coming winter months.

And on Long Island, William Floyd United Teachers came together to collect and distribute 3,000 winter coats; 1,000 winter hats, gloves and scarves; 500 wrapped toys; 300 children’s books; 300 backpacks filled with school supplies; 200 Thanksgiving turkeys; and 235 bags of Thanksgiving sides.

“Every act of solidarity, large or small, helps make a difference for families this fall,” said NYSUT President Melinda Person. “In New York, feeding our neighbors is what solidarity looks like. This is our union in action.”

See page 35 for more examples of labor feeding our neighbors.

n October when community members in small-town, rural Brasher Falls began to panic that their SNAP benefits would be affected by a federal government shutdown, St. Lawrence Central United Teachers President Margaret Dean knew she wanted to do something.

“About 40 percent of our student population is economically challenged,” she explained. “As teachers, we see these kids every day and their basic needs aren’t being met. They’re showering at school or wearing the same sweatshirt every day because it’s the only one they have.”

The high school English teacher worked closely with Karen O’Gorman, SLCUT building representative at-large, and district administration to identify roughly 200 families who would be impacted and then came up with a plan to ask two things of her membership: sponsor one family on the list and find someone else to sponsor another family.

Her plan worked and SLCUT quickly raised more than $11,400 to purchase gift cards for 216 families including 427 students.

“It was overwhelming, but not surprising because we have a lot of what I call ‘doers’ in our union, which I’m really proud of,” Dean said. “Several retirees stepped up as well. Our people just really embraced the idea and the number of friends and family who haven’t even stepped foot in St. Lawrence County and still donated because one of our members asked them to is just amazing.”

Because her members surpassed their initial fundraising goal, Dean said they used the extra money to buy gift cards for all 62 residents at a local subsidized housing program for seniors and people with disabilities.

In Western New York, Seneca Falls Support Staff Association President James Marley felt a similar call to action in response to SNAP recipients fearing their benefits were at risk. As a school bus driver, Marley said he knew that many families in the district don’t have their own means of transportation and were therefore unable to access the school-based pantry. So he and his members brought the pantry to them.

“Through four mobile pantries, we have helped 37 families,” Marley said. “Now 144 parents and children have extra food in their homes that they would not have otherwise had access to because they do not have vehicles.”

Marley said the disruption to SNAP benefits also hit close to home for some SFSSA members. “I told them your union will not let you or your family go hungry. We got them gift cards and extra food boxes from the pantry. We take care of our own.”

In November, NYSUT joined forces with the NYS AFL-CIO and other labor organizations for Labor Feeds NY: A Week of Action Against Hunger. The statewide effort called on union members to help New Yorkers in need amid rising grocery costs, the federal shutdown and the holiday season. NYSUT locals led the way, and thousands of NYSUT members across the state went above and beyond to support their communities.

In the Southern Tier, the Canaseraga Teachers Association — with only 30 members — collected more than 500 pounds of food to provide families with full meals over the holiday break.

In Western New York, NYSUT Board members donated thousands of dollars and hundreds of pounds of food to FeedMore WNY.

In New York City, the United Federation of Teachers hosted an event for 150 students living in temporary housing and provided each child with a new winter coat, a pair of gloves or mittens, a scarf and a hat to keep them warm in the coming winter months.

And on Long Island, William Floyd United Teachers came together to collect and distribute 3,000 winter coats; 1,000 winter hats, gloves and scarves; 500 wrapped toys; 300 children’s books; 300 backpacks filled with school supplies; 200 Thanksgiving turkeys; and 235 bags of Thanksgiving sides.

“Every act of solidarity, large or small, helps make a difference for families this fall,” said NYSUT President Melinda Person. “In New York, feeding our neighbors is what solidarity looks like. This is our union in action.”

See page 35 for more examples of labor feeding our neighbors.