Dave Gamache, President of IUE-CWA, Local 288 (right) and Rodney Cater, IUE-CWA, Local 288 Negotiating Committee Chairman, present check to Dawn Leaks, Red Cross Regional Director of Communications at the Red Cross Pioneer Valley Chapter. (Photo submitted)
SPRINGFIELD – Dave Gamache, President of IUE-CWA, Local 288, along with Rodney Carter, Chairman of the union’s negotiating committee presented a check for $500 to the American Red Cross Pioneer Valley Chapter for Sandy relief on Friday, November 9. The members of IUE-CWA, Local 288, the electrical workers union, which represents workers at Solutia, Inc., were moved to action by the footage of Sandy’s destruction and the Red Cross relief effort.
The American Red Cross is continuing the major effort we have underway to hand out relief supplies to help people in New Jersey and all five boroughs of New York, while also providing meals, shelter and comfort to people throughout the region. “The Red Cross has already provided over 5 million meals to those affected by Sandy,” said Dawn Leaks, Red Cross Regional Director of Communications. “This will be very costly and the Red Cross needs help now. We ask everyone to support us as we help people recover from this massive storm.”
While the local community wasn’t affected heavily by Sandy, many local people have volunteered in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey. The Red Cross Pioneer Valley Chapter sent over 50 volunteers on one to three day assignments to CT to assist with damage assessment. There are also 15 staff and volunteers in NY and NJ on long term assignments (2-3 weeks) assisting with sheltering, government relations and client casework. Gamache and Carter presented the check to Leaks at the Pioneer Valley Chapter offices last Friday.
“We are so grateful to the members of IUE-CWA, Local 288 for this donation,” said Leaks. “The Red Cross would not be able to support the community after devastating storms like Sandy without the generosity of our community partners.”
