The members of AFSCME Local 2422, a union representing 50 city hall workers in Norwich, are hoping to lift up the community they serve during the holiday season.
Union members voted to expand their annual holiday giving program this year by selecting 11 local organizations to receive $100 donations. Those organizations are:
- Alzheimers Association of Norwich
- Habitat for Humanity
- Center for Hospice Care in Norwich
- Norwich Bully Busters
- Norwich Dog Pound
- Norwich Human Services Adopt a Family
- Rose City Senior Golden Wishes
- Safe Futures (helps victims of domestic violence or sexual assault in Eastern CT)
- St. Vincent du Paul Soup Kitchen
- Thames River Family Program (provides transitional housing to the homeless)
- TVCCA Santa Boots Program (providing boots for children in the community)
“We care about the City of Norwich and the surrounding community,” said AFSCME Local 2422 President Teresa Hanlon, a Civil Engineer in the Norwich Public Works Department. “As we deal with COVID-19, it’s more important than ever to support organizations that are making a difference in people’s lives, particularly those who are getting left behind.”
According to Local 2422 Vice President Katherine Milde, the Youth Employment Coordinator for Norwich, union members voted to expand the number of donations in 2020 to 11 groups from 5 in 2019. The motion to do that came from Local 2422 Steward Tenley Nelson, who is the Tax Collection Clerk and a long-time union activist.
“Obviously it’s been a difficult and trying year because of COVID-19,” Milde said. “With so many more people struggling, not to mention non-profits and charities, we just want to acknowledge that and do our part to help make people’s lives better.”
Pictured, l-r: Local 2422 President Teresa Hanlon, Vice President Katherine Milde and Steward Tenley Nelson.
