UFCW Local 342 Donates 375 Easter Baskets to Underprivileged Children

PRLog (Press Release) - Apr. 9, 2012 - Mineola, New York-

Members of UFCW Local 342, a union that emphasizes service and enriching the local communities where its members work, recently delivered 375 Easter baskets to four charitable organizations located within its surrounding neighborhoods so that underprivileged children in the area could have an opportunity to further enjoy their Easter.  The union represents nearly 10,000 workers in the retail food, wholesale food processing, distribution, manufacturing, and healthcare industries.  Local 342 members work at employers ranging from A&P, Pathmark, Waldbaum’s, Food Emporium, Stop & Shop and King Kullen, to wholesale shops located in the Hunt’s Point Market, as well as nursing homes.    

Each year, Local 342 members look forward to providing underprivileged children some happiness during the Easter holiday that they may not have received if it was not for local charities and their generous donors.  Wonderful organizations such as the Lighthouse Mission in Bellport, New York, Fellowship Baptist Church in Staten Island, New York, Angel Guardian- Mercy First Church in Brooklyn, New York, and Our Lady of Grace in West Babylon, New York give Local 342 members an outlet to truly display their kindness.  

For Dean Blafford, an active Local 342 member and Shop Steward who grew up near Angel Guardian- Mercy First Church in Brooklyn, the significance of distributing baskets filled with toys and goodies to the children during the Easter holiday was not lost.  “It’s just a beautiful thing,” Dean said.  “To see the faces of these children light up with excitement gives you a warm feeling and also makes you appreciate what you have,” the Stop & Shop meat cutter stated.  Ciro Sancimino, also a long time Union member and meat cutter in a Stop and Shop located in Brooklyn, had similar thoughts.  “It felt great to help out these kids.  It’s really nice that Local 342 gives us a chance to do this,” Ciro happily asserted.  

This year continued an Easter basket donation tradition that Local 342 members began many years ago.  The donations have only continued to grow as the membership has grown larger and become even more giving.      

“Our members seemingly want to donate more baskets and do even more to help these underprivileged children during Easter every year,” said Kelly Egan, Local 342 Safety, Education, Cultural, and Activities Director. “No matter what type of economic situation our country finds itself in, our members always find a way to go the extra mile and give a little bit more,” Egan proudly concluded.