Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
The Blair-Bedford Central Labor Council (CLC), led by President Bob Kutz (IBEW), participated virtually in the 2021 National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) food drive by raising $10,000 for five food banks in their community. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the Blair-Bedford CLC held a series of annual events (a food drive, a dance, a banquet and the annual Labor Day parade), but during quarantine, it had to shift its approach. “We decided we would do something good,” Kutz said to each of five local food pantries before giving each a check for an equal share of the raised funds. The funds were raised by the Blair-Bedford CLC and included contributions from locals of the Electrical Workers (IBEW), Transport Workers Union (TWU), United Steelworkers (USW), International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART), Machinists (IAM), AFSCME, Fire Fighters (IAFF), South Central Building Trades and United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America and the Pennsylvania State Education Association.