From left: Rise Food Pantry volunteer, NxtUp94 members Nick Allessandro, Matt Nee, Ed Cody, Joe Davis, Mike Garcia, Rise Food Pantry Director Julia Badulescu, NxtUp94 members Mike Butler, Joe Checkley, Hal Cunningham, Shawn Sawicki.
Even though many members of NxtUp94, the young workers’ committee of IBEW Local 94, have been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, they still stood with their community by sponsoring their seventh annual food drive.
On June 6, 2020, these young workers sacrificed their time and well-being to donate $8,000 worth of food to Rise Food Pantry, located next door to Local 94 headquarters in Hightstown.
With food insecurity on the rise due to the massive impact of COVID-19, this year’s drive was all the more urgent. Special recognition must go out to each of the members of the NxtUp94 young workers’ committee. These selfless acts do not go unnoticed, and the New Jersey State AFL-CIO and the IBEW are proud of our young workers, honorably leading the way for the next generation of Local 94.
Middlesex County Freeholder Leslie Koppel, who serves as executive director of Rise Community Services, was delighted and grateful that NxtUp94 held their annual food drive. These contributions will greatly benefit local households, especially during this unprecedented time when donations are also seasonally at their lowest. She noted the donations will help feed 125 families per week, for two full months.