UFCW/MCGEO 1994 Aids Alabama Tornado Victims

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)Members from UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO left Gaithersburg, Maryland Friday bound for Birmingham, AL in a truck loaded with household goods, furniture and supplies for victims of tornados that tore through that region earlier this year. “We’re grateful for the generosity of our members, their neighbors, friends and family who donated thousands of dollars worth of goods to replace what was lost and help our brothers and sisters get back to normal lives,” said Local 1994 Secretary-Treasurer Yvette Cuffie. Cuffie reached out to Local 1994’s sister Local in Birmingham—UFCW Local 1657—earlier this year to coordinate the distribution effort. “Our union is all about people helping people in all different circumstances. The tragedy that befell the region last Spring cost over one hundred lives statewide and destroyed hundreds of households. This is something we can do to help our UFCW brothers and sisters get back to a normal life,” Cuffie said. She credited Retired Local Vice President/retired union member Barbara Jackson with sparking the drive to collect merchandise. “Barbara said she wanted to do something and I suggested let’s give the whole union the opportunity to help,” Cuffie noted.
photo: (l-r): UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO volunteers Frank Beckham, Nelvin Ransome, Tony Thomas and Greg Goebel prepare the Local 1994 truck for the trip to Birmingham, Alabama. Photo courtesy Greg Kenefick