Steelworkers Humanity Fund donates $20,000 to support wildfire evacuees in Labrador and Quebec
2024年7月26日 - 12:23AM
The Steelworkers Humanity Fund (SHF) is donating a total of $20,000
to provide support to people and communities evacuated by the
recent wildfires in Labrador City, N.L., and Port-Cartier, Que.
One of the many families evacuated recently from
Labrador City, N.L. – the biggest evacuation in the city’s history
– due to a massive, menacing wildfire. (Credit Photo: Canadian Red
Cross)
More than 7,000 residents of Labrador City were
ordered to evacuate last week, the biggest evacuation in the city’s
history, due to a menacing wildfire of more than 140 square
kilometres. Just over a month ago, 1,000 residents of Port-Cartier
faced similar circumstances. Fortunately, local authorities have
since lifted the evacuation orders.
United Steelworkers (USW) union members in
Labrador and Quebec who have been affected by the wildfires have
expressed how all their fellow residents have faced trying times,
highlighting how crucial Canadian Red Cross assistance has been
during the evacuations.
In recognition of the Canadian Red Cross's work
and of future relief efforts, the Steelworkers Humanity Fund is
making a $20,000 donation to support people and communities
impacted by wildfires across the country.
“Unfortunately, increasingly warm summers are
bringing their share of wildfires, forcibly displacing entire
communities across the country, including many of our union’s
members and their families,” said Marty Warren, Steelworkers
Humanity Fund President and USW National Director.
“As we continue to advocate for policies seeking
to address the roots of global warming, we will support
organizations such as the Canadian Red Cross and essential workers
attending the needs arising from those emergency situations,”
Warren said.
Anyone wishing to donate can visit the Red Cross
Canadian Wildfire Fund Appeal website. Furthermore, Newfoundland
and Labrador residents affected by the Labrador wildfires are
invited to register with the Canadian Red Cross in person, online,
or by calling 1-800-863-6582 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Atlantic
Time (AT). More information is available on the Canadian Red Cross
website.
Founded in 1985, the Steelworkers Humanity Fund
is a registered charitable organization that focuses primarily on
development projects and emergency aid in developing countries but
also supports Canadian communities. USW members contribute to the
fund through clauses negotiated into collective agreements. In some
cases, employers make matching contributions to the fund.
For further information:
Marty Warren, President, Steelworkers Humanity
Fund, 416-544-5951Guillaume Charbonneau, Executive Director,
Steelworkers Humanity Fund, 416-544-5944,
gcharbonneau@usw.caShannon Devine, USW Communications,
416-938-4402, sdevine@usw.ca
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7153b12f-4835-4792-9123-dd7a6b5d4c00