Despite working in a myriad of different industries, with extremely diverse skills and knowledge sets, for different employers, and under contracts just as varied (each with its own work rules, pay scales and bespoke peculiarities), we in the Labor Community refer to each other as “Brother” and “Sister.”

We feel this kinship in spite of our differences because we recognize the commonality of the struggle for a better life for ourselves, our families and for future generations.

We also adopt this bond because we recognize the strength found in numbers when pursuing that unifying goal of the larger Labor Movement.

I’d like to suggest, however, that we share our struggle with more than just other Unions.

Members of our own communities, be they Unionized or not, partake in that same battle for a better standard of living for themselves and their families.

While we largely continue to achieve a level of security for ourselves through our efforts, many in our local area do not and grapple daily with food insecurity.

Feedmore WNY (a charitable organization that serves Erie, Niagara, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua Counties) reports that levels of food insecurity in our region are higher than they’ve been since the pandemic, noting a stunning 46% increase in people turning to them for food over the last three years.

They are now serving more than 165,000 people - the majority of whom are seniors and children.

It’s no secret, Brothers and Sisters, that groceries are more costly than ever - and there seems to be no end in sight to the rising prices.

We won’t even talk about eggs, which for as long as I have been alive seemed like a universal necessity that would simply always be in supply (and always be affordable!) wherever you went.

Not even that can be taken for granted, anymore.

All this is to say that our community understandably needs our help.

So, what can we do?

The Members of Branch 3 of the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) want to make it easy for you.

NALC’s annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive (conducted jointly with United States Postal Service) is the largest single-day food drive in America.

Since 1993 we have been donating our time and efforts to help the hungry in our local communities - the only missing element is the food!

Branch 3 has collected hundreds of thousands of pounds of food each year from our generous customers and this year we hope to rise to the challenge of our community’s current economic difficulties and make this our biggest collection yet!

That’s where you come in, Labor Family, and so we come to you - Bernie Sanders meme in hand - and ask that those who are able to give do so.

All it takes is leaving a grocery bag of (new) non-perishable food goods by your mailbox on Saturday, May 10th.

That’s really it!

From there, your Letter Carrier or a community volunteer will pick up your donation and we will ensure it gets delivered to a participating food pantry in your area - where your generosity will directly benefit the people in your community who need it most.

Of course, if you feel compelled to go above and beyond, you could also spread the word to your neighbors, friends, family and colleagues, and encourage them to help us make as big an impact in the lives of our Brothers and Sisters in need as possible.

Let’s work together to show our Western New York Family the meaning of strength in numbers!

Thank you for helping Branch 3 to stand in solidarity with those in our community who share our struggle.

You are what makes Buffalo the City of Good Neighbors!