$21,345 raised for $5 for the Fight Fund

Fund needs your continued support

By TIM ROWDEN

Editor

Bridgeton, MO – Union members and friends of working families gave generously to help union members and their families facing financial hardship by contributing $21,345 to the “$5 for the Fight” fund at the recent St. Louis Labor Council Christmas Party. The annual holiday gathering is a major fundraiser for the Fight Fund.

“Every year we take a collection up for ‘$5 for the Fight,’” Labor Council President Pat White said, “and the fund gets a big injection from this party.”

This year, union members dug especially deep. Among the highlights, Laborers Local 110 members donated $5,885 to the fund, Machinists District 9 members donated $4,400, CWA Local 6300 members donated $2,500, Utility Workers Local 335 donated $1,000 and “Labor’s Priest” Father Richard Creason, who recently retired for health reasons, donated an astonishing $2,000 to the fund.

The fund is administered by the United Way and makes payments directly to vendors to help union members with rent and mortgage payments, utilities, medical bills and other needs.

“This was a great year,” United Way Vice President of Labor Engagement Roz Sherman Voellinger said of the fundraiser, adding that demand remains high. As cold weather sets in, Sherman Voellinger said, demand increases as well because certain types of construction work slows down just as utility bills are increasing.

Even with the generous donations made by union members last week, the fund needs your continued support.

To help union brothers and sisters in real need, there are three ways you can donate:

• Mail: Send a check/money order to “$5 for the Fight” to: $5 for the Fight, c/o St. Louis Labor Council, 3301 Hollenberg Drive, Bridgeton, MO 63044. Please include your union affiliation.
• Online: Go to labortribune.com and click “$5 for the Fight Donations” to be taken to a secure payment site.
• Recurring credit card donation: Go to labortribune.com, click “$5 for the Fight Donations” to go to the secure donations page, check the “Automatic monthly deduction” and the amount you want to give. Each month your designated donation will be automatically deducted from your credit card.

Your donation will help union brothers and sisters in need and ensure the fund is there should you ever need assistance.