Hundreds Find Relief In CSA Holiday Basket Project

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

“The Community Services Agency’s 2010 Holiday Basket Project provided hundreds of struggling area families with much-needed assistance over the holiday season,” reports CSA Executive Director Kathleen McKirchy. “Thanks so much to everyone who donated food and funds; this project highlights the extensive generosity of the labor movement.” McKirchy told Union City that over 60 families received grocery store gift cards of up to $150; ten families received gift cards for toys; food baskets were given to 15 families; 12 families were adopted by local unions and other organizations that provided food, funds, toys and gifts; and that many boxes of canned and non-perishable food were provided to the Central Union Mission for their 300 plus homeless clients. Overall, $8,500 in direct contributions of funds and gift cards was donated by the following organizations and individuals: AFGE Council 1, AFGE Local 3615, AFL-CIO, Alliance for Retired Americans, DC CBTU, IBEW 26, IBEW 1900, Iron Workers Local 5, Office and Professional Employees Local 2, RBC Capital Markets LLC, SEIU 722, Sheet Metal Workers Local 100, UNITE HERE Local 25, Washington-Baltimore Newspaper Guild, Vineeta Anand, John Bonnage, Yvette de la Cruz, Rosanna Farley, Patricia Ford, Ron Hudson, Mark Monroe, William Simons, Kurt Vorndran and Robin Williams. The following organizations conducted food drives: Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers, National Electrical Benefits Fund (OPEIU 2), National Automated Sprinkler Industry (OPEIU 2), Operative Plasterers and Cement Masons Local 891. The following organizations adopted families: AFGE, AFL-CIO, AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust, Berman, Sobin, Gross, Feldman and Darby, Change to Win, National Labor College, and the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 400. - photo: Bricklayers Executive Vice President Gerard Scarano (r) delivered food donations to CSA Executive Director Kathleen McKirchy on December 17, 2010; photo by Jenna Gold