Union volunteers help getting kids ready for school

By ED FINKELSTEIN
Publisher Emeritus

Continuing a decades long tradition, union members and staffers stepped up to volunteer for the National Council of Jewish Women’s (NCJW) 24th annual Back to School! Store, which this year served more than 2,100 children.

On July 30, the union helpers unloaded trailers of brand new backpacks, school supplies, books, coats, hats, gloves, socks, shoes, and personal care items and other essentials for underserved elementary school children throughout the St. Louis Greater Metropolitan area needed to start the school year with confidence and self-esteem. Other volunteers then created a comprehensive backpack of the various materials.

At a second effort on Aug. 4, union volunteers loaded boxes of filled backpacks into cars for delivery to 36 local agencies who will distribute them to more than 1,100 families.

This annual program of organizing union brothers and sisters to set up the NCJW Store has been a public service effort for many years by Missouri AFL-CIO, spearheaded by President Jack Hummel, initially when he was the Council’s executive secretary-treasurer.

This year union volunteers included, from United Food & Commercial Workers Local 655, Assistant to the President Laura Kelley, Union Representative Prudence LaFerney; from Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 562, Tom Malecek, Scott Ramshaw, Doug Beck and Tom Madden; from Electrical Workers Local 1, Tim Cleveland, Doug Boyher and Frank Valleroy; from MidAmerica Carpenters Regional Council, Josh Brunkhorst, Jason Spieckerman and Mark Dalton; and from the Missouri AFL-CIO President Jake Hummel, Levi Lovell and Tim Hummel. Also helping – Dan, Brian and Corey Beck.

In explaining the unions support of this effort, Hummel noted that the program is designed to alleviate the financial burden underserved families face as they prepare to send their children to school.

“The lack of supplies and personal items is a primary barrier to attending school,” Hummel said. “It’s a great confidence boost for the kids knowing they have the essentials to succeed. Being prepared for school instills a joy of learning in students. We’re proud to be able to lend a helping hand.”

He added: “NCJW was a tremendous partner to us during our ‘right-to-work’ fight and has stood by our members ever since.”

Since the first Back to School! Store in 2000, NCJW’s program has served more than 30,000 children in our community.

“Children leave the Back to School! Store with the supplies they will need to focus all of their attention on learning and with increased self-esteem and excitement about the first day of school,” said NCJW Executive Director Ellen Alper. “We deeply appreciate the unions’ continuing support of this vital community project.”