Tag Archives: Charity

May 11th Support The 21st Annual “Stamp Out Hunger” Food Drive

  By Bill Brickley | April 22, 2013 - 7:00 am | , , , ,
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NALC Stamp Out Hunger --STAMP Date

NALC Stamp Out Hunger --STAMP DateThe National Association of Letter Carriers (AFL-CIO) will be holding their 21st annual food drive on Saturday, May 11th. On that day letter carriers will pick up non-perishable food as they deliver mail on their postal routes. The food donations collected will stay in the towns and cities where they are collected.

When we decided to take our food drive nationwide more than two decades ago, food banks and community service organizations told us that the best time for us to do it would be when people aren’t really thinking about it”, NALC President Fred Rolando noted, “to remind people that, sadly, the need for food is year-round.”  In November and December— around the holidays—many folks get caught up in a spirit of giving, so food pantries and other such organization see a major upswing in food donations,” he said. “But by May, their shelves begin to empty out.”

As the men and women who touch every neighborhood in America six days a week, letter carriers far too often see first-hand how poverty and hunger affect the customers we serve.

“Each year, the second Saturday in May is a day when all citizens have an opportunity, with the help of their letter carrier, to easily donate food to needy families in their community,” Rolando said.

The drive, the largest one-day food-collection event in the nation, has been a success every year. This year’s drive is co sponsored by National Rural Letter Carriers, AARP, AFL CIO and the United Way.

“We are pleased to announce that the United Way will continue to partner with the NALC Food Drive in 2013” United Way President Stacy Stewart said “This effort is a tremendous example of the importance of working with organized labor to advance the common good in communities throughout the United States”

Residents are asked to leave non-perishable food donations in a bag by their mailbox on Saturday May 11th before their letter carrier arrives. It will be picked up and then delivered to a local food bank.

Thank You in advance for your support, Bill Brickley.
(NH Letter Carrier for more than 27 years.)

Below is a great video from the National Association of Letter Carriers about this great event.  Click Here to share to your facebook wall.  For twitter users you can click here to tweet a pre-written message.  Or you can share this YouTube link (http://youtu.be/Uwkr-LJmWwI)

Help Give The Gift Of Breath With The Second Wind Foundation for Pulmonary Fibrosis

  By Matt Murray | January 25, 2013 - 8:43 am |
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Second Wind Foundation Final Copy

Second Wind Foundation Final CopyThe NH Labor News is not usually in the habit of promoting individual charity organizations however the Second Wind Foundation holds a special place in my heart.

The Second Wind Foundation for Pulmonary Fibrosis was founded by my good friend and fellow union member, Ron Geoffroy.  Ron has been and continues to be a mentor to me.  Ron started the foundation shortly after his wife Marylou was diagnosed.  There is not much information about Pulmonary Fibrosis, and in turn there are not many ‘foundations’ working to raise money for research.

The Second Wind Foundation for Pulmonary Fibrosis is a 501 C(3) non-profit organization established in June of 2010.  We provide funding for research to find a cure for Pulmonary Fibrosis, promote events that create awareness of the disease, and assist with support of families affected by PF. The foundation has just completed its second year of fundraising and is proud to announce that we have distributed our first grant for research to the Mass General Hospital Pulmonary Research Group.

Our fundraising efforts continue with a partnership with the Manchester Monarchs by having the Second Wind Foundation for PF hockey night at the Verizon Wireless Arena on Saturday February 16th at 7pm.  Tickets for this event are $20.  For every ticket sold, the Second Wind Foundation for PF will receive  $8.  Each ticket holder will receive one entry into the “Chuck-a-Puck” event as well as be entered into a drawing to be one of 20 people selected to hold the American flag on the ice during the National Anthem.  We are grateful to the Manchester Monarchs for their assistance with non-profit organizations like ours.

The Second Wind Foundation for PF hopes that hockey night will become a significant event for our organization.  With your help, by attending our event, we’ll continue with necessary funding for research and helping families affected by this disease,.  For information on the event or tickets, contact Ron Geoffroy at 603-396-9535 or rgeoffroy@comcast.net.

The Second Wind Foundation for PF hosts many events throughout the year, so if you cannot attend this event, there will be more.  Be sure to like them on Facebook to keep up to date on upcoming events.

If you plan to give to a charity this year, consider giving to the Second Wind Foundation for Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Professional Fire Fighters Of New Hampshire Give Back To Their Communities This Holiday Season

  By New Hampshire Labor News | December 20, 2012 - 3:45 pm | , ,
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Nashua Local #789(3)

Concord, NH – The Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire on behalf of their 42 locals throughout New Hampshire are proud to announce that this holiday season their locals have raised thousands of dollars through fundraisers and toy drives over the last few weeks, to bring gifts to children all across the state.

“Each holiday season our members take time to help the families and children in their communities, whether it’s hosting fundraisers and toy drives to collect gifts, providing holiday meals, or delivering toys to hundreds of children on Christmas Day.   Local fire fighters’ care about their communities and the families they serve each and every day,” said David Lang, President of the Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire.

An example of what some locals have been doing for their communities:

  • Claremont Local #1571 is expected to raise $2,000 for Toys for Tots.
  • Dover Local #1312 and Dover Officers Local #2909 are continuing their 35 year tradition of providing toys to children age infant to 14 years old. Through their toy drive they expect to be able to provide 3 toys to each child in the community. Last year the local was able to provide gifts to over 900 children.
  • Hanover Local #3288 purchased toys to support Toys for Tots.
  • Hudson Local #3154 will continue their 20 year tradition of supporting one family (2 adults and 4 children) in their community to deliver gifts on Christmas Eve.
  • Keene Local #3265 has purchased gifts for 2 families in their community.
  • Laconia Local #1153 supported the WLNH auction. The local raised over $3,000 and purchased over $1,000 dollars’ worth of items that were auctioned off.
  • Manchester Local #856 is doing a pajama drive in conjunction with Kid Café (a Salvation Army affiliate).
  • Nashua, Local #789 did a Christmas Basket drive, where they provided approximately 70 families with a basket of Christmas Dinner fixings. They were delivered to each of the families on December 20th.
  • North Hampton Local #3211 is helping 20 families, 42 children total, with toys and Shaws gift cards.
  • Pelham Local #4546 is hosting a toy and food drive for families in their community.
  • Somersworth Local #2320 is holding a toy drive for 185 applicants, providing toys to 400-500 children.
  • Portsmouth Local #1313 and Portsmouth Officers Local #4039 provided toys and gifts to 39 families in Portsmouth. They are also taking a trailer full of gifts to New York City tomorrow for the Fire Fighters families who lost everything in Hurricane Sandy.

“We know that the holiday season can be a difficult time for some New Hampshire families, and we want to make sure we do our part to bring some comfort and happiness to the children of New Hampshire and their families during this season,” stated Lang.

Please contact your local fire department for more information on how to donate toys for children in New Hampshire this holiday season.

The PFFNH, headquartered in Concord, NH represents more than 2,000 active and retired fire fighters and paramedics.  More information is available at www.pffnh.org

This Thanksgiving (and every Thanksgiving) Unions Are Giving Back

  By Liz Iacobucci | November 19, 2012 - 2:46 pm | , ,
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Vintage-Happy-Thanksgiving-card

The “union-avoidance” industry isn’t taking the election results lying down.  The Andrew Breitbarts of the world are already busy spinning the Hostess Brands liquidation and Wednesday’s planned protest in Los Angeles.  (If you’re wondering: there may be delays on surface streets around LAX – but the protest is not expected to impact any air travel.)

In these days leading up to Thanksgiving, you’re probably going to hear a lot of other anti-union stories in the media.  (The union-busters have a lot of money to spend on PR.)

What you’re probably not going to hear is how union members nationwide are celebrating the holiday.  A quick sampling:

  • In Palm Beach, Florida, labor unions are part of “The Big Heart Brigade”.  Last Thanksgiving, the Brigade fed 100,000 people – and they are hoping to feed even more, this year.   “Several local unions have already donated time and funds to help, including Plumbers and Pipe Fitters (UA) Local 630, Ironworkers Local 402, Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 728, Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 3181 and Machinists (IAM) Local 971.”

  • Feed The Community Day

    Near Los Angeles, ILWU Local 13 is holding their 15th annual “Feed the Community Day”.  They will be distributing 1,500 turkey baskets with all the trimmings to help feed low-income families in surrounding communities.

  • Throughout the country, IAFF Locals are giving coats to kids through “Operation Warm”. IAFF Local 157 is distributing more than 2,000 coats to needy children in Oklahoma City, OK.  IAFF Local 215 is giving away almost 1,000 coats in Milwaukee, WI.  In New Jersey, IAFF Local 2657 is donating 350 coats.  In Pennsylvania, IAFF Local 10 plans to give a new coat to every single child who attends George Washington Elementary School, after firefighters noticed that most students didn’t have anything warmer than a hooded sweatshirt (87% of the school’s families live at or below the poverty line).
  • And of course, Hurricane Sandy relief efforts will continue through the holiday.  Nationwide, union members are contributing to various Hurricane Sandy Relief Funds.  Union members in the hardest-hit areas will continue to do what they have been doing for weeks: cleaning up, fixing up, and taking care of the people around them.

This Thanksgiving, let’s give thanks for our union brothers and sisters.  Our union family is not just standing behind us in our workplaces – unions are giving back to our communities, making things better for families in need.

 

 

JDRF Walk in Manchester this morning…

  By The New Hampshire Labor News | October 3, 2011 - 12:03 am | Uncategorized
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Before

In the mist of an overcast Sunday morning we walked three miles to help raise money for the JDRF.  We walked down Elm Street and back up Commercial to the Fisher Cats Stadium.  Over 250 people join in the walk this year and together raised over 150,000 dollars.

Personally I would like to thank all of the people who donated to the JDRF in support of me. I helped to raise over $1250 and am only $250 away from my goal.  There are too many people to thank individually so I hope you all see this message.   Here are a couple of pictures take from this mornings walk.

After

If you have not donated or missed the links before, I have included my previous post. You can still donate to this years walk for the next two weeks.

  Previous Post        

This Sunday the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) will be holding their annual charity walk in Manchester at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium.  Diabetes is one of the nations “Top Ten Killers”. It effects more that 28 million people nation wide or over 8% of the U.S Population.  Over 300,000 of these are people under the age of 20.  The bigger problem is that more than 1.9 million people are newly diagnosed with Diabetes every year.  According to the JDRF Diabetes effect nearly 285 million people around the world and is expected to reach 435 million by 2030 if we cannot find a cure.  Diabetes has been proven to lead to Heart Disease, Liver Disease, and Kidney Failure.

In 2007, I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Type 1 Diabetes is an Auto-Immune disorder where your body begins to attack itself and eventually destroys you Pancreas.  Without the Pancreas you body cannot produce insulin, the hormone that regulates blood sugar levels.  For all Type 1 Diabetics this means they have to take supplemental insulin by either multiple injections or by insulin pump.  While supplemental insulin helps to control my blood sugar,  insulin is not a cure.  Until a cure is found I will continue to take injections prior to eating.

As a Union member I have been very active over the last few year.  After I was diagnosed, my Union was greatly influential in helping me to get my medical certifications back and return to work. I also work closely with the New Hampshire AFL-CIO in their continuing fight to protect the workers in New Hampshire and across the United States.

Now I am asking for a little help from you.  The JDRF is the leader in research for Type 1 Diabetes and research costs money.  The JDRF has helped to improve the lives of all Type 1 Diabetic with ground breaking research and development of new devices to help control sugar levels.  Right now they are in the trial phase of the “Artificial Pancreas” a insulin pump that will be able to give both insulin and glucose to maintain a steady normal blood sugar level.

I know that money is tight for everyone this year with the recession, but if you can give please do.  Even if you can only give $10 it will be appreciated.  Please go the this page, JDRF WALK DONATIONS, and pledge your support.  If you are interested in more information about Diabetes and the JDFR click here.  You can even sign up to walk with me in Manchester on Sunday or in you home state.

Thank you on behalf of all Type 1′s
Sincerely

MATT MURRAY

Air Traffic Controller, Union Member, Activist, Philanthropist, Husband and Father, and Type 1 Diabetic