How To Get Involved – Flint, MI Water Crisis

 Community, Good And Welfare, News, United Way  No Responses »
Jan 262016
 

give-advocate-volunteer

Give.

The United Way of Genesee County is accepting monetary donations for the purchase of filters, bottled water, emergency support services and prevention efforts.  100% of these funds are used for these projects and no administrative fee is assessed.  Donations can be done either by:

  • Online:
    At www.unitedwaygenesee.org, click the GIVE button.  This will then provide a choice to designate to the Water Fund.
  • Checks mailed to:
    United way of Genesee County
    Attn: Cindy Cromwell
    P.O. Box 949
    Flint, MI  48501
    Memo line:  Water Fund

Please note that any remaining funds will be directed to the Flint Child Health & Development Fund at www.flintkids.org.   This fund will provide aid to children and families with interventions that support positive health outcomes.

  • Optimal child health & development
  • Early childhood education
  • Continuous access to a pediatric medical home
  • Access to infant and child behavioral services
  • Nutrition education
  • Healthy food access
  • Safe & healthy home environments
  • Integrated social services
  • Research

In regards to dropping off donated water, donations can be delivered at the following locations:

  • Large Donations (100 cases/pallets or more):
    Foodbank of Eastern Michigan –   2300 Lapeer Rd, Flint, MI  48503.
    Contact:  810.239.4441, please call prior to making delivery to ensure they are open (staff available)  The Food Bank needs cases to be on pallets for quicker unloading and on trucks with lift gates.  To insure wait time will be minimal, please schedule ahead of time for specific day, time, and drop off location.  Also, please note who you speak with when making any arrangements in case I need to track arrangements.   Staff and available bays for unloading is limited especially due to the extra deliveries coming in.
  • Smaller Donations (less than 100 cases):
    Monday thru Friday:
    Catholic Charities, Center of Hope – 901 Chippewa St., Flint, MI  48503.  Please do not call prior to delivering, M-F – 8:00 to 4:00
    Saturday thru Sunday:
    American Red Cross, 1401 S. Grand Traverse St, Flint, MI  48503.  Please do not call prior to delivering, 8:00 to 5:00

Advocate.

By sharing this article far and wide!

Volunteer.

If you are in the area and wish to volunteer, the United Way of Genesee County, the Michigan Community Service Commission and the American Red Cross of East Central Bay-Michigan have come together to operate the volunteer center.

They need volunteers to do data entry (inside work), as well as going out into the community (must be at least 18 years of age) to distribute water, filters, etc.

The Volunteer Reception Center hours:

M-F   11:00am-6:30pm
Saturday 9:00am – 2:00pm
Sunday Noon-5:00pm

American Red Cross
1401 S. Grand Traverse St
Flint, MI  48503

Note*

If you have groups coming from out of the county who want to volunteer, please do not show up at the Red Cross expecting to work in the community precisely at that time.  If you wish to be part of a team working within the community, you will have to register beforehand, have a background check, have proper ID and be assigned in advance to work with a team.  This is for your safety as well as the safety of residents in the community. Groups over five in number, please call (810) 232-8121 in advance to set you up with the coordinator.

 

Our Community Still Has Hungry People – Here’s How We Can Help

 Community, Feeding America  No Responses »
Feb 182015
 

2014-12-18 Feeding AmericaUnemployment numbers in Michigan may be trending downward in recent months, but for many, wages remain stagnant, social service programs that offer financial and food assistance are being cut, and families are having to work longer hours just to keep food on their tables. Last year was the first full year of our Food Truck Program in Kent County. Through our Local Labor Liaison at United Way we were able to secure a Mobile Pantry Account from Feeding America West Michigan.

For $500 we purchased a 5,000-pound Mobile Pantry each month except January and February of 2014. In 2014, the Kent-Ionia Central Labor Council and its Community Action Team was able to distribute an incredible 64,927 pounds of food through its Food Truck Program, with Union members and retirees volunteering their time to distribute it on the third Thursday of each month, at a different church or Food Pantry location around Kent County.

“This is just further evidence that the need for food assistance has not decreased in our community,” said Feeding America West Michigan CEO Ken Estelle. “Too many of our neighbors are still battling underemployment, joblessness, rising food and healthcare costs. In many cases, this isn’t a one-time emergency. It’s a chronic need.”

We could use your help! For $500, you can join Teamster Local 406, UAW-1D, UA 174, KICLC, UFCW 951, IBEW 275, GREA and the RWDSU in sponsoring one or more trucks in 2015. That’s right, just $500 purchases thousands of pounds of food each month to help the communities in which we work and live. Whether you sponsor a whole truck or cannot do as much, it all helps! Whatever the amount, please make the check out to Feeding America West Michigan and write “Account #00191” in the memo line and send here:

Kent-Ionia Central Labor Council
918 Benjamin NE
Grand RApids, MI 49503

Questions or concerns? Please call 616-456-8233 or email the KICLC.

CWA 4034 And Feeding America Step Up

 Community, Feeding America  No Responses »
Dec 222014
 

10258393_666087520167356_7791723783338281191_oOver 100 struggling families were given food assistance last week thanks to a partnership between the Kent-Ionia Labor Council and Feeding America, with special thanks to the First Community Church AME for providing space and cheerful volunteers. Volunteers from union locals all over Grand Rapids showed up to donate their time and treasure to ensure those in our community who need help do not go hungry. Feeding America and the Kent-Ionia Labor Council set up a community food-distribution truck 2014-12-18 Feeding Americaonce a week, generally on Thursdays, all over Kent County. The next food-truck event will be on January 15. The location will be announced soon, so watch this space. In the meantime, if you need assistance or know someone who does, more information can be found here.

 

A Holiday “Thank You” To Our Generous Members

 Community, Feeding America  1 Response »
Dec 192014
 

Christmas-RaffleWOW!!  Our Lead Stewards and helpers were able to collect $1400 in raffle ticket sales.  Which means that:

Our Lucky Winner: Dionje Evans, UVERSE Manager, Won:  $700.00

Feeding America, West Michigan will get $350.00 from the raffle and Mid Michigan Food Bank will get $350.00 from the raffle.

Dionje graciously donated $350.00 of his winnings back to the cause, so another $175.00 to each organization.

In addition to that our Grand Rapids Retirees Club donated $400.00 from their treasury so each organization will get an extra $200.00 from them.

And, that’s still not all.  Our Layout and Design Group held a bake sale which raised another $206.00 and we received $10.00 in donations from others giving a grand total of: $833.00 to each worthy organization at a time when they can really use it.  We also received canned goods that will be distributed accordingly.

Grand Rapids Design Layout members donate to local charities.

Grand Rapids Design Layout members donate to local charities.

The Officers and Staff of Local 4034 would like to thank each and everyone of you that participated in our 2014 Holiday Giving Program.  We most certainly are: The Community Minded Union!!!!

Happy Holidays to your and yours.

4034 Design-Layout Needs Your Help To Help The Homeless

 Community  No Responses »
Dec 052014
 

CWA 4034 Blanket DriveOur members in Design-Layout at the 955 36th St. location in Grand Rapids need help collecting blankets for the homeless. Even so early this season, winter is shaping up to be another brutal roller coaster ride for all of us, but much more so for the less fortunate. Every year, there are tragic stories of homeless folks suffering cold-injuries and even death from exposure.  While there are a few shelters in Grand Rapids, they fill up fast and those who can’t get in are forced to spend the night on the street in sub-freezing temperatures. We would appreciate any and all donations of gently-used blankets.

Blankets may be given to the lead steward of Design-Layout, Celeste Davis at 955 36th St. SE in Grand Rapids or dropped off at the Union Hall at 3281 Kentland Ct. SE in Wyoming (map). Please have your donations in by December 19th.  Thanks to all. Community!

Our Community-minded Local

 Community  1 Response »
Nov 262014
 

Community ServiceGood Morning All,

I just wanted to pass on something quick.  Dave Elam (Grand Rapids Premises Technician)  just called me from a customer’s house whose water heater had just broken down.  Dave helped them to get it shut off.  They are an elderly couple, on a fixed income and were very upset.  Dave called his Local to see what could be done to help. I called our friend Dan at the United Way and he got them a number where they should be able to get help if they qualify financially; if they don’t qualify financially, they will get a referral where they can at least get some sort of payment plan.
I just wanted to share the info with you, I thanked Dave for calling here and I was able to get right back to him with the number to give to the couple. I really love the fact that he called his union to look for help and the fact that, because we have a long-standing relationship with Dan and  the United Way, we were able to pitch in with some help.  My pledge is going UP!!!!!
Thank you Dave and Dan, and all of our members who take that extra step to lend a hand in the many communities in which we work and live. Read on below to find an excellent community resource for those in need of a little help.
Shelly Lubbinge, Office Manager
CWA Local 4034

Need Help? Know Someone Who Needs Help?

Just dial 2-1-1 (or click here)

Heart of West Michigan United Way 2-1-1 is a free health and human service hotline that connects callers to more than 2,900 distinct services in Kent County. 2-1-1’s extensively trained and certified staff members offer help to people in need 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Dial 2-1-1 from a landline phone or call us long distance/toll-free at 1 (800) 887-1107.

Thousands of Services, One Call

United Way’s 2-1-1:

  • Offers connections to food, housing, utilities, health care and many more services.
  • Is free of charge to all Kent County residents.
  • Defines the community’s greatest needs and works with other nonprofits to fill gaps in services.

United Way Thank You

 Community, Good And Welfare, United Way  No Responses »
Sep 242014
 

2014 UW HeartOn behalf of the United Way, we would like to send a heartfelt thank you to those who have taken the time to contribute to this year’s campaign.

As you know, economic difficulties have left many families struggling with foreclosures, unemployment, and insufficient medical care. The United Way is committed to lessening these difficulties for families in an effort to strengthen the communities in which our members live and work.  Your donations will help fund different charities and provide emergency assistance and essential services to thousands of residents in need.

The United Way Campaign ends October 10th.  If you have not taken the opportunity to pledge your support, please take a few minutes to do so.  Your generosity is greatly appreciated.

If you have any questions about United Way or the at&t pledge site, please feel free to contact the Hall 616-241-4459 or email.

Thank you again for supporting the United Way!

CWA 4034 Members Participate In United Way Day Of Caring

 Community, Good And Welfare, United Way  No Responses »
Sep 122014
 

Over two dozen volunteers from Local 4034 accompanied by some AT&T management volunteers joined more than 1,300 other community volunteers for the 2014 United Way Day of Caring. They worked in their communities on a variety of projects such as community clean-up, assisting the Leukemia Lymphoma Society and many other worthy projects around the Grand Rapids area.

Our Local has long been known as the “Community-minded Union” and our members have never failed to step up when asked — in fact they rarely wait to be asked! Over the next few weeks, the Local chairperson of our Community Services Committee, Lynette Hooker, will be visiting AT&T locations to ask our members help in providing more help to our Local communities. Our Local partners with United Way in part due to their practice of putting local donations right back in to the local communities; so members can be assured that their money is being used to help others right in their hometowns.

If you are present in one of the meetings in your office or bull-room when Lynette makes “the ask” please consider putting your money towards the United Way! Thanks once again to our many volunteers both craft and management, active and retired.

Apply For The CWA Beirne Scholarship

 Community, Good And Welfare, Scholarship  1 Response »
Dec 262013
 
Union Scholarship

Union Scholarship

This is a reminder that applications are now being accepted through April 30, 2014, for the CWA Joe Beirne Foundation’s annual scholarship offerings for the 2014-2015 school year.

The Foundation’s Board of Directors has approved the awarding of fifteen (15) partial college scholarships of up to $3,000 each, and the winners also will receive second-year scholarships for the same amount, contingent upon satisfactory academic achievement.

Eligible for the scholarships are CWA members, their spouses, children and grandchildren, including the dependents of retired, laid-off, or deceased members.  Applicants must be high school graduates or high school students who will graduate during the year in which they apply.  Undergraduate and graduate students returning to school may also apply.

Applications will be available solely online for completion and submission to the Foundation’s website: http://www.cwa-union.org/pages/beirne_scholarship_application

Thanks To All Who Participated In Our Holiday Charity Drive

 Community, Feeding America, Good And Welfare  No Responses »
Dec 202013
 
Christmas-RaffleWe have always been proud of our members’ and retirees’ generous natures, and they (you!) have come through again to help those less fortunate. Whether it be our United Way campaigns, our Special Olympics Bowl-a-thon, or our Christmas 50/50 raffle.
Thanks to all who helped in selling tickets, especially our Lead Stewards; we were able to collect $1040.The winning ticket drawn was that of Michele Kenway of Alpine Construction, so a big congratulations goes out to her.
These proceeds, along with an additional $180 of generous donations from some of our brothers and sisters, mean that a total of $700 will be split between Mid Michigan Food Bank in Lansing, and Feeding America West Michigan in Grand Rapids.
Thanks also to our Retired Members Council for also donating $150 to each of these organizations.  They have never failed to step up.
Please have a very Merry Christmas, and a safe one, too!
Thanks again for all the hard work this year on everything you do, and hopefully you and your family have a safe and joyful holiday season.
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