Wethersfield, CT Dec. 4, 2017 -- Responding to the continued problem of food insecurity throughout Connecticut, members of AFSCME Local 318, representing more than 600 state administrative and clerical workers in central Connecticut, have donated $500 to Foodshare.

“As state employees and union members, we are blessed to have decent, family-supporting jobs,” said Local 318 President Robert Augusta, who works for the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DHMHAS). “We want to give back to the community in a meaningful way. Donating to Foodshare is a way to help the countless working people in our state who don’t always know where there next meal is coming from.”

Augusta and fellow Local 318 Executive Board Members, Patricia Davis, Jennifer Pelletier, Rose Phillips, Anthony Ruggiero and Valencia Johnson presented the donation to Al Marino, Foodshare’s Corporate and Community Giving Manager.

“We applaud the public service workers from AFSCME Local 318 for their generous contribution to our cause,” Marino said. “There are currently 127,000 people living in Hartford and Tolland counties who are food insecure. Every dollar donated provides two-and-half meals to individuals and families in need.”

Headquartered in Bloomfield, Foodshare is the Feeding America food bank serving Hartford and Tolland counties. In partnership with the food industry, donors, community leaders and volunteers, Foodshare distributed 11.5 million meals worth of food to a network of 300 local partner programs including food pantries, shelters and community kitchens. Learn more at www.foodshare.org.

AFSCME Local 318 is affiliated with Council 4 of the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME). Headquartered in New Britain, Council 4 represents 35,000 hard-working women and men in the public and private sector. Learn more at www.council4.org. Find us on Facebook at Council 4 AFSCME, Twitter at AFSCMECT4 and Instagram at Council4_AFSCME.