Unemployment 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.

WOW!!  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.

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.