Organized Labor and United Way holiday food distribution

(From left) Dr. Kenneth S. Robinson, President / CEO of United Way of the Mid-South, celebrates the success of this year’s AFL-CIO Labor Council food distribution partnership with Irvin Calliste, AFL-CIO President; Paul Shaffer, Business Manager of IBEW Local 474; retired labor leader Ida Leachman; and Gail Floyd-Tyree, United Way AFL-CIO Labor Liason.

Earlier today, the AFL-CIO Labor Council and representatives from numerous labor unions across the Mid-South assembled and distributed over 150 Christmas food boxes to local families in need thanks in part to a special grant from United Way of the Mid-South.

Dr. Kenneth S. Robinson, United Way President / CEO joined the labor team to assist with distribution alongside AFL-CIO President Irvin Calliste and Paul Shaffer, Business Manager of IBEW Local 474. Calliste and Shaffer are active board members for United Way, and Calliste is Chairman of Labor Participation on our board. United Way AFL-CIO Labor Liason Gail Floyd-Tyree and labor union members from the Memphis area assembled the boxes at the AFSCME building at 485 Beale Street this morning.

Pre-screened families received the boxes at the headquarters and labor union representatives personally delivered many boxes to families in need.

Our thanks to all the men and women from organized labor who give of their time and resources to help people in need and support the United Way of the Mid-South resource development campaign, and special thanks to Kroger, ConAgra, Kellogg’s, Riviana Foods and other local vendors for food donations and discounts which made the project even more rewarding for local families this holiday season.

Additional photos are provided below – simply click on an image to see it in a larger size.