123 union members, families helped by the $5 for the Fight Fund this year

Labor’s generosity has yet another “giving” component – the Robert J. Kelley $5 for the Fight Fund which this past year provided critical help to 123 union families thanks to your kindness and donations.

A total of $30,544.66 was spent to help these union members and families and we thank each individual and organization, said St. Louis Labor Council President Pat White. “The Fund was a helping hand, making a difference in difficult circumstances facing our members.”

HOW YOUR DONATIONS HELPED
Examples of how your donations helped:

• A clerk who commutes by public transit had his work hours reduced. A shut-off notice was issued on his electric service. To help pay his bills, he is currently looking for a second job. The Fight Fund kept his electric service on.
• A single parent works on an assembly line but was laid off. Her electric service had a shut off notice.  Payment of the electric bill by the Fight Fund enabled her to go on the Cold Weather Rule and avoid disconnection.
• A member going through a messy divorce, who has full custody of his 9-year-old child, was notified his gas service was to be turned off. The Fight Fund paid the utility bill to keep his gas service on.
• A single parent tested positive for COVID-19 and was put on unpaid leave. She quickly fell behind on her bills. The Fight Fund kept her utilities on.
• A single parent of two, released from the hospital following two surgeries, fell behind in rent and faced eviction. The Fight Fund help stopped the eviction process.
• A single parent of four received a water disconnect notice. The Fight Fund kept her water on.
• The sole provider of a family of three had a stroke and was unable to return to work. While he was awaiting a decision on his disability application, electric service was about to be turned off. The Fight Fund stopped the turn-off.
• A single parent of four called the Labor Help Line requesting assistance when her gas service was cut off. The Fight Fund paid the utility bill, which enabled her to go on the Cold Weather Rule. Her gas service was turned on.

Organizations making donations included the Northside Athletic Clubs, Tri-County Labor Club, Insulators 1, Rockwood Labor Club, Machinists District 837, UFCW 655, Gas Workers 11-6, St. Louis Labor Council, Sheet Metal Workers 36, Glaziers 513, Plumbers & Pipefitters 562, Iron Workers 396, St. Louis Union Label & Service Trades Council, Operating Engineers 148, AOH St. Louis County Board and Just Sue’s.

LEVELS OF GIVING
There are 10 categories of giving to the Fight Fund:

• Apprentice – $1 to $12/George Washington Honor Roll.
• Journeyman – $13-50/Andrew Jackson Honor Roll.
• Steward – $51-$99/Ulysses S. Grant Honor Roll.
• Chief Steward – $100 +/Ben Franklin Honor Roll.
• Job Foreman – $500+/William McKinley Honor Roll.
• General Foreman – $1,000 +/Grover Cleveland Honor Roll.
• Major Donors – $2,500 +.
• In Memoriam – to honor a loved one, friend or fellow union member.
• In Honor of a friend.
• Organizations/Companies

An Honor Roll of givers is published periodically in the Labor Tribune.

If your gift moves you from one category to another, your name will automatically move into the appropriate Honor Roll listing.

One-hundred percent of your donation goes into the Fight Fund. All efforts to promote and service the Fund are donated by the St. Louis Labor Council, the United Way and the Labor Tribune.

From a lot of grateful people, “thank you” for agreeing that “we share because we care for one another.”