(LOCKPORT, NEW YORK) – Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) Members from across Niagara County have joined forces with government leaders this Holiday Season to launch a food drive to assist struggling area families.

Festively-decorated containers and bins have been placed in Employee Work Areas throughout all Niagara County Office Buildings so donations can be made to the drive.  CSEA Leadership is requesting County Employees donate non-perishable food items and canned goods that will be delivered to area food banks and pantries in Niagara County just before the holiday.

According to Federal Government Statistics, in 2016 41.2 million people lived in food-insecure households while 10.8 million adults lived in households with very low food security.  These statistics include the grim reminder that 6.5 million children lived in food-insecure households in which children, along with adults, were food insecure.

Sue Young, who serves as President of CSEA’s Niagara County Unit, said the concept of starting a December Food Drive was initiated from community members sharing their stories of food insecurity with County Workers.

“CSEA Workers deliver ‘many valued services’ to county residents.  We ‘know firsthand what is happening on the streets and in our homes.’  ‘We have seen a real uptick in food insecurity and we wanted to address these concerns for our most vulnerable residents,’” Young said.

CSEA Western Region Director Robert Mootry praised the effort: “It’s ‘gratifying to see’ our Members ‘partnering with’ management and elected officials ‘focusing on matters of real importance.’  I ‘applaud’ our CSEA Members for their ‘genuine concern for’ Niagara County families ‘who may be struggling to make ends meet this Holiday Season.’”

Suzanne Needler, a Principal Social Service Worker and an Officer with CSEA, said food insecurity has always been an issue in Niagara County.

“We hope this effort can make this Holiday Season ‘a bit easier for those who need assistance,’” she said.

All items donated from this effort will be distributed to area food banks and pantries beginning on December 22nd.

To Directly Access This Labor News Report, Go To: https://cseany.org/workforce/csea-regions/region-6/csea-niagara-county-launches-holiday-food-drive/