Tens of thousands of AFT members were personally and professionally affected by Superstorm Sandy, which devastated the northeastern seaboard of the US. In challenging times like these, the solidarity and support of the labor movement shines through.
From the beginning, the national AFT has been assisting in disaster relief efforts by donating and soliciting funds and lending volunteer support. Now it’s time for AFT-West Virginia members to help our union brothers and sisters in New Jersey and New York by participating in Hoodies for Hope, a hurricane relief campaign sponsored by AFT-West Virginia.
As part of Hoodies for Hope, AFT-WV is asking members to donate new hoodies to assist our northern colleagues in need from now until December 7, 2012.
Collect in your communities! Ask local businesses or civic groups to contribute and involve the teachers and service personnel in your school. Print a Hoodies for Hope flyer to attach to a collection box in your school or county. The AFT-WV local who collects the most hoodies will win free AFT-WV Summer School registration for five participants (local share cost will be paid by AFT-WV.) Also, the individual AFT member who collects and/or volunteers the most in each local will win $100 cash…just in time for holiday shopping!
Members and building reps should contact their local president to arrange drop off of all hoodies collected in each school. Local AFT presidents will need to contact their AFT-WV staff representative before December 10th to arrange pick up for their county by December 13th. On December 14th, all donations will be loaded onto a truck at our Charleston office and transported to the United Federation of Teachers office in New York City, where they will distribute the jackets to those families in need.
Our union family members in New Jersey and New York have experienced devastating losses as a result of Hurricane Sandy; homes and businesses leveled, schools destroyed and families left in limbo. Help AFT-WV bring hope and comfort to those who have lost so much by participating in our Hoodies for Hope campaign. As the holidays approach, let’s show our thanks for the blessings in our lives by giving to those who have suffered so greatly from the hurricane.