(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) – For the second year in a row, the Western New York AFL-CIO Area Labor Federation (WNYALF) is holding a major community event that expands the involvement of the Labor Movement in the communities where its Members work, live and raise their families. 

And, you might say, the WNYALF - backed by a bevy of sponsors (including the New York State AFL-CIO) and with the power of nearly 140 affiliated Unions that combine to represent more than 145,000 Members, will hit the ground, running on Saturday (September 2nd) on Buffalo’s West Side.

The WNYALF’s Hit The Ground Running - WNY Labor Giveback 2023 will happen two days before thousands of area Unionists gather to march in the annual Labor Day Parade that will be held Monday (September 4th) in South Buffalo. 

Saturday’s event will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Public School 198 (International Prep at Grover Cleveland High School, which WNYALF President Peter DeJesus attended). 

During that time, the WNYALF will hand out 200 pairs of new sneakers to children in Kindergarten through Grade 8. 

Also, backpacks full of school supplies and haircuts will be offered to those kids who are getting ready to return to school, as well as some opportunities for them to have some fun, including an on-site bounce house.

But this effort is just as important - or maybe even more for the Labor Movement here in Western New York, according to WNYALF President Peter DeJesus (Pictured Above/WNYLaborToday.com Photos).

“Labor Day ‘is just not for the Labor Movement to march in a parade,’” DeJesus told WNYLaborToday.com.  “It’s ‘also a chance to show our presence in our community.’  Where we will be on Saturday ‘is an area of extreme poverty and we’ll try to try to take some of the financial burden off those Mothers, take some costs of their plates.’  ‘And I’m looking forward to seeing a lot of smiles on those kids’ faces.’  ‘We’ll be putting our best foot forward.’”

In a letter to the WNYALF’s affiliated Member Unions, DeJesus wrote:

As the President of the Western New York Area Labor Federation, I write to request your help with an upcoming event.

For our community, Labor Day is an opportunity to give back and empower our communities.

Each year we honor that work by hosting a community giveback event designed to deepen our roots in service to those families who need it the most.

Last year’s event on Buffalo’s East Side in the aftermath of the 5/14 Tops massacre was so successful and well-received that we have decided to set our sights even higher in 2023 (Read WNYLaborToday.com’s Labor News Report, Headlined: “We’re Shining Our Light, Bright:” Labor ‘Gives Back’ To The Jefferson Avenue Community Where Tragedy Struck On 5/14 – A Job Fair, Free Haircuts For School Kids, Grocery Gift Cards & A Car Wash Highlight Labor’s Community Event At www.wnylabortoday.com/news/2022/09/04/buffalo-and-western-new-york-labor-news/we-re-shining-our-light-bright-labor-gives-back-to-the-jefferson-avenue-community-where-tragedy-struck-on-5-14-a-job-fair-free-haircuts-for-school-kids-grocery-gift-cards-a-car-wash-highlight-labor-s-community-event/). 

This year we are thrilled to launch Hit the Ground Running, a back-to-school event for K-8 students.

Hit the Ground Running is being organized to provide students in need with a free pair of sneakers so that they can kick off the school year the right way - ready to learn and to stay active!

We are excited to be partnering with Buffalo Public Schools to host this giveback event Buffalo’s Lower West Side, a community that counts many new American and international refugee students among its diverse population.

Some of our affiliates, like New York State United Teachers, are already doing the hard work of supporting students’ success, and others have already pledged substantial levels of financial and in-kind support in conjunction with their employers.

While the Lower West Side is a vibrant, multi-cultural community.

It is also an underserved neighborhood with significant needs with 41% of households in this zip code earning less than $34,999 annually, and nearly 38% of households have used SNAP or food assistance within the past twelve months.

We know that back-to-school shopping places a strain on Working Families, especially in a neighborhood where 65% of households led by a single mother are below the poverty line.

At the same time, kids’ shoe prices are rising across the country, with recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicating that kids shoe prices are up 12% compared to this time last year.

Hit the Ground Running will be held Saturday, September 2nd.

We’re asking you to partner with us as a banner sponsor for this event.

If you’re able to provide any level of financial or in-kind support, not only will your company be highlighted in our on-line and day-of materials, but your donation of shoes or funds will make a lasting difference in the lives of this community’s students in need.

DeJesus also told WNYLaborToday.com: “(The Labor Movement) ‘has always been here and has always given back.’  The support we’ve received (from the Labor Movement) ‘has been fantastic.’  Our affiliates ‘are excited’ (about participating in the event).  ‘It will be somewhat of a homecoming for me too.’”

WNYLaborToday.com stopped in at Saturday's even to take a number of photos that appear with the Labor News Story.

Speaking with DeJesus, he related a story he had with a woman who was a foster parent of two young children, whose took them in just the day before: "She said to me, "I don't know who to thank, but these children came to me yesterday with nothing.  You don't know how much we appreciate this."

"That's," DeJesus said, "is what all of this is about."