Individuals from several Medicine Hat and District Labour Council member unions, collected donations totalling more than $5,000 in value last year, during the council's inaugural food drive.--SUBMITTED PHOTO
kking@medicinehatnews.com
The Medicine Hat and District Labour Council is continuing its work to improve workers’ economic and social welfare through a Labour Day food drive.
MHDLC has a long-standing tradition of celebrating Labour Day through community action as a volunteer worker advocacy group comprised of local union members from the Health Sciences Association of Alberta, Canadian Union of Public Employees, Public Service Alliance of Canada, United Nurses of Alberta, Canadian Union of Postal Workers and United Food and Commercial Workers.
“We used to do a Labour Day barbecue,” MHDLC president Clifton Campbell told the News. “It was a free community event to celebrate Labour Day, as put on by workers for people in the community, and just to celebrate all the gains that have been made through labour history.”
In 2020, the council was forced to end its barbecue tradition, however members came together again last year to establish the now annual food drive.
The food drive will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 5 in front of the Superstore entrance. MHDLC is inviting community members able to give to donate non-perishable food items and other necessities, like diapers, baby formula, personal hygiene items, etc.
All proceeds from the food drive will go toward the Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter Society and the Root Cellar.
“Along with this event, the Medicine Hat and District Labour Council has decided to do a $1,000 donation to the Root Cellar, formerly the food bank for Medicine Hat. And we’re also doing a $1,000 donation to the Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter Society. And we will be presenting cheques that day to those two organizations.”
Campbell says the council hopes these donations make an impact on community members struggling with living expenses.
“With inflation getting out of control and the cost of living increasing for everybody, we really want to see things like wages increase and working conditions to improve for people all across the province,” said Campbell. “When workers do better, our communities do better.”
Last year, the council raised approximately $5,000 in cash and material donations – an amount Campbell aims to raise again this year.
“Hopefully the turnout is similar to last year and people continue to support these organizations, because what we do know is people are hurting,” he said. “And when people are struggling to make ends meet, our food bank services, they need more help. (And) there’s more demands placed on women shelter services and people are acting out because (they are experiencing) a higher level of stress.”
