TORONTO, ON. – CUPE Local 79 has joined forces with Second Harvest to launch a special week-long food drive that asks the union’s 18,000 members to help reach the charity’s goal of delivering a record six million pounds of food this year.
“Whether they work in public health or social services, at Bridgepoint Hospital or Toronto Community Housing, city workers see hunger every day,” said Local 79 President Ann Dembinski. “This is our opportunity to give to our community in a special way and help alleviate some of that hunger.”
“The union’s food drive and donation of $2,000 come at the right time,” said Melissa Dedic, foodraiser for Second Harvest.
“We are experiencing the highest demand ever for food assistance,” said Dedic. “Forty per cent of the people who need our help are children and youth. This food drive will go a long way to help us reach our goal of delivering a record six million pounds of food this year.”
Donation barrels for the drive, which runs from Monday, May 31 to Friday, June 4, have been set up at more than a dozen locations where Local 79 members work, including Toronto City Hall, all civic centres and all social services offices. Non-perishable items or cash donations will help with the 15,000 meals that Second Harvest delivers each day to children in after-school programs, seniors on fixed incomes, women fleeing domestic abuse, psychiatric patients, homeless people, and many others who have fallen on hard times.
City managers and members of the public are also welcome to drop items in the donation barrels at the civic centres and city hall.
For more information, contact:
Jacqueline Latter
CUPE Local 79
Tel: (416) 977-1629 ext 229
Pat Daley
CUPE Communications
Tel: (416) 616-6142