As the entire nation has felt the grave impacts of COVID-19, workers across Oregon have seen layoffs, furloughs, and more — all with serious concerns as to whether those jobs will return anytime soon.
Recognizing the growing need in the community, Oregon’s unions joined together to create and host the Workers Helping Workers food drive and distribution program. The goal of the program is to host at least three Workers Helping Workers distributions in the Portland Metro Area over the next two months. The first distribution was held June 6, at Laborers Local 737 Training Center in Northeast Portland. Organizers boxed and distributed 1,000 boxes of food staples provided at a discount by Safeway. Franz Bakery donated 1,000 loafs of bread.
Nearly two dozen labor groups are participating, including the Northwest Oregon Labor Council, Oregon AFL-CIO, and Labor’s Community Service Agency.
The next food distribution is tentatively set for Thursday, June 25, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555, 7095 SW Sandburg Road, Tigard. You can pre-register for a designated pickup time at www.workershelpingworkers.com. You don’t have to be a union member or union family to get a food box. The distribution is open to anyone whose household has been adversely impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.
