UFCW/MCGEO 1994 Aids Alabama Tornado Victims
Monday, August 15, 2011
(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)Members from UFCW Local 1994
MCGEO left Gaithersburg, Maryland Friday bound for Birmingham, AL in a truck
loaded with household goods, furniture and supplies for victims of tornados that
tore through that region earlier this year. “We’re grateful for the
generosity of our members, their neighbors, friends and family who donated
thousands of dollars worth of goods to replace what was lost and help our
brothers and sisters get back to normal lives,” said Local 1994
Secretary-Treasurer Yvette Cuffie. Cuffie reached out to Local 1994’s sister
Local in Birmingham—UFCW Local 1657—earlier this year to coordinate the
distribution effort. “Our union is all about people helping people in all
different circumstances. The tragedy that befell the region last Spring cost
over one hundred lives statewide and destroyed hundreds of households. This is
something we can do to help our UFCW brothers and sisters get back to a normal
life,” Cuffie said. She credited Retired Local Vice President/retired union
member Barbara Jackson with sparking the drive to collect merchandise.
“Barbara said she wanted to do something and I suggested let’s give the
whole union the opportunity to help,” Cuffie noted.
photo: (l-r): UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO volunteers Frank
Beckham, Nelvin Ransome, Tony Thomas and Greg Goebel prepare the Local 1994
truck for the trip to Birmingham, Alabama. Photo courtesy Greg
Kenefick