Unions Donating Meals to Health Care Workers

May 19, 2020

King County Unions Raise Tens of Thousands To Provide Meals to Front Line Health Care Workers

The meals are being prepared by unionized cafeteria workers at Seattle University who were scheduled to be furloughed

King County Unions and workers have donated tens of thousands of dollars to provide free meals to frontline health care workers. The “Labor Supports Labor” meal donation drive seeks to provide a meal to every health care worker in King County who are risking their health to fight the coronavirus pandemic. Donations are being accepted over GoFundMe. However, many unions have been writing checks to pay for meals.

“Health care workers are essential. Everyone who works in a hospital — from the janitors and security to the RNs — is risking their lives to keep us healthy. We will never be able to thank them enough,” says Nicole Grant, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of MLK Labor.

Each boxed meal is being prepared at the Seattle University cafeteria (serviced by Compass Group USA) by a Unite Here Local 8 member who would have otherwise been furloughed. Each day 100 boxed lunches or dinners are being delivered to a different hospital in King County.

The meal drive was originally the idea of Kenny Stuart, President of the Seattle Firefighters Union, IAFF Local 27. Firefighters have seen the impact of the coronavirus firsthand and this was a way for him to thank the front line heroes working in hospitals.

“Seattle Fire Fighters know what it means to take great personal risks to help others. We want to support our union health care workers who are working long hours and taking care of people during this pandemic despite the risks,” says Kenny Stuart. “We want them to know that we are in this together.”

If you would like to donate to our meal donation drive, you can here: http://gf.me/u/xx649v