Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
Last week, members of the Ohio Association of Public School Employees (OAPSE)/AFSCME Local 4 embodied the true spirit of solidarity as they helped distribute meal and snack bags to students in Akron Public Schools.
OAPSE’s nonprofit arm, OAPSE Making a Difference (OMAD), was created to establish a charitable organization that focuses on fighting food insecurity among the students that members serve every day. Akron is home to one of Ohio's poorest school districts and these dedicated school staff know that when students are hungry, they can’t achieve their highest potential in classrooms.
“Being able to help the children we serve where the need is so high makes me so proud of my union and the entire OAPSE family,” said OAPSE President Lois Carson. “Members of OAPSE will continue to help the community every chance we can.”
“The poverty rate is double in Akron compared to the state average, and there are so many food-insecure children in the district,” said Sheila Dawkins-Flinn, OAPSE state secretary and chairwoman of the OMAD program. “We are doing what we can to help the children we serve.”