Normally at this time of year, the busy summer tourist season might be winding down in Atlantic City and the Jersey Shore. But there was no tourist season – and no income from tourism – in this abnormal year for the thousands of workers hit hard by the coronavirus.
Still, as a result of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO’s ongoing five-month effort, solidarity did shine a ray of summer sun on Thursday, Aug. 20, in the form of much-needed relief from food insecurity.
The New Jersey State AFL-CIO and its affiliated unions, the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority and the Community FoodBank of New Jersey distributed some 2,250 food kits to laid-off union members and the resort city’s community at Bader Field.
Dozens of volunteers from IATSE, IUOE and UNITE-HERE donated their day to union families and neighbors with smiles that masks could not hide and with a spirit of dignity that elevated every person who drove through. Union sisters and brothers verified the visitors’ registrations, guided traffic smoothly, and then hoisted boxes of groceries and bags of produce into waiting car trunks. Many of the volunteers themselves have been hit by layoffs themselves, so they sympathize completely with what their Atlantic City neighbors are going through.
The New Jersey State AFL-CIO intends to continue these union-led food distributions as long as the need remains. We want our brothers and sisters to know we are there for them, so in the spirit of solidarity, please be generous.
Please make checks payable to our 501(c)(3) account.
New Jersey State AFL-CIO Community Services Agency Inc.
106 West State Street
Trenton, NJ 08608
