Posts Categorized: Community

On Oct. 23, UFCW Local 1208 partnered with United Way of Robeson County to distribute much needed food to members across southern North Carolina and northern South Carolina who are still struggling to recover from the devastating effects of Hurricane Matthew. The event, which was held at the Family Dollar in Lumberton, provided assistance to over 150 workers and their families. Members of UFCW Local 204, along with the Second Harvest Food Bank of Southeast North Carolina and corporate partners like Kroger and Kellogg’s, also donated items to help Local 1208 members and their families.

Stephanie Franklin, a member of Local 1208 who has worked at Smithfield Foods in Tar Heel for more than 11 years and lives in Lumberton, was one of the recipients.

“The whole area was affected by Hurricane Matthew,” Franklin said. “I’ve lived in North Carolina my whole life, and this was one of the worst storms I’ve seen. My son is four years old, and we were stuck in our trailer for two days during the storm and we didn’t have enough food or water. Our trailer is up high, but the bathroom ceiling caved in a little bit and the water was still up to my waist.”

“The relief effort meant a lot and shows that Local 1208 is there for you. I appreciate everything they gave me and my son,” Franklin said. “We’re slowly getting back to normal.”

“Hurricane Matthew brought incredible hardship to our friends and neighbors, and it is times like these that we must come together to help those in need” said Ella Ellerbe, who has worked in packaging at Smithfield for ten years. “Our union family, working with our partners, are proud to help our local members and their families get the food assistance they need. We’re committed to doing all that we can to help our members recover from this storm because no hard-working family should ever have to struggle alone.”

UFCW Local 1208 worked with Smithfield Foods to ensure that everyone at the plant in Tar Heel received a full week’s pay when Hurricane Matthew struck, regardless of actual time on the job. Members of Local 1208 have contributed more than $10,000 to United Way of Robeson County to help their community recover from Hurricane Matthew.

In late September, UFCW International President Marc Perrone got the chance to meet and thank one of the youngest participants of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Light the Night efforts. Five-year-old Mason Mazzuca attended the UFCW Charity Foundation’s golf tournament held at Norbeck Country Club on September 26 with his parents, Bob and Keli Mazzuca, in order to serve as the hero for that LLS fundraiser. Mason is a t-cell patient in treatment at Children’s National Medical Center, and was diagnosed in February.

Mason’s mother, Keli, said he “thanks everyone for his new golf clubs, shirt, and balls! He is very interested in how he will keep his new clubs clean…and he is all set for the golf tournament in the spring!” She thanked President Perrone for meeting with Mason. “We were honored to attend,” she said, “and truly felt the united, positive energy from everyone there.”

Mason’s prognosis is good, thanks in part to UFCW members who’ve raised money for LLS to fight blood cancers like his. The UFCW has been a strong partner LLS for nearly three decades.  The mission of LLS is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma.  The UFCW has raised more than $80 million dollars to support LLS’s efforts to invest in research to advance lifesaving treatments and cures, and to provide free information and support services to blood cancer patients and their families around the world.  The UFCW, along with the UFCW Charity Foundation, raises funds for this important work through its successful charity golf tournaments, auctions, bottle drives and a range of other events.

The UFCW staff, local union leadership, and rank and file members also participate in LLS fundraising campaigns like the Light the Night Walk and Team in Training.  Together, with this special partnership, LLS and the UFCW are truly helping blood cancer patients live better, longer lives.